Eating disorders are still widely thought of as illnesses that exclusively affect girls and women, but that couldn’t be further from the truth: about 10 million American men will have an eating disorder at some point during their lifetime, and men are almost as likely as women to have disordered eating behaviors that don’t meet criteria for an eating disorder.
“Often in males, eating disorders, particularly anorexia, present with a desire to have a more muscular physique as opposed to being thin,” says Sam Kolander, MD. “Things to look out for include obsessive exercise, significant weight loss, and modification of diet with high amounts of protein and low amounts of carbohydrates.”
According to Equip Family Mentor Linsey Henry, when her son began struggling with disordered eating, he began to miss meals and make excuses for why he wasn’t eating with the family. He also shifted his sleeping habits and other behaviors to accommodate early gym sessions and his school work suffered. “Unfortunately one of the horrible additions that come with eating disorders is a big shift in values,” she says. “Our son had never misled us until the eating disorder grabbed him and took him hostage.”
Kollander remarks that overall, eating disorders in boys are underdiagnosed, and addressing a possible issue may require collaborating with a trusted and experienced professional. “If you suspect that your son has an eating disorder, a consultation with his pediatrician can be helpful to see if there are significant changes in his growth curve, or other concerning findings like abnormal labs or vital signs,” he says. “Non-judgmentally and curiously asking your son about thoughts or behaviors you’re concerned about can also be helpful to get more information.”
Henry also encourages parents to sit down with their sons outside of meal time and ask them about their goals for working out more or why their behaviors are shifting. “Openly ask them if they are reducing calories, restricting food, or more concerned about their bodies than they previously were,” she says. “Then if any answers hit an alarm button in your gut, reach out to your doctor.”