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The incidence of eating disorders is climbing among preteen and teen boys. Experts are urging parents to be vigilant about certain symptoms.
Research from Harvard University indicates that nearly 7 million males in the United States have experienced an eating disorder at some stage in their lives.
Jonathan Levine, who serves as a clinical supervisor and therapy lead at Equip Health—a virtual program specializing in eating disorder treatment—shared insights in an interview with Parents.com. “Eating disorders in boys often emerge as early as age 10, with most cases surfacing between ages 14 to 16,” he noted.
Levine further explained that boys are particularly vulnerable to developing eating disorders during puberty and the early college years. However, triggering events such as trauma or remarks from peers or adults can also precipitate these conditions.
According to a 2023 study by The Hospital for Sick Children in Ontario, hospitalizations for eating disorders among young males are on the rise. The study revealed a 416% increase in these cases from 2000 to 2019.
“Sadly, this increase does not surprise me,” Dr. Paul Houser, medical director of the eating disorder program at Dayton Children’s Hospital, comments on the study results. “Eating disorders can be difficult to detect in young people in general, but this is even more so the case for boys and young men.”
The difficulty in diagnosing eating disorders in young men stems largely from the stereotype of disorders happening only female patients. There is a negative stigma attached to young men seeking help and because of feelings of shame, they delay speaking up. According to Dr. Houser, this can lead to severe symptoms and consequences as treatment is delayed.
Underreporting of male eating disorders is one factor that is fueling the rise in cases. However, that is not the only reason. Cultural conversations around diet and exercise and social media are also adding fuel to the fire.
“Social media content, such as video ‘shorts’ on TikTok and other platforms, often emphasize physical characteristics that are easy to show in a brief video over character traits that can’t be displayed in this format,” Dr. Houser says. “Young males also seem more sensitive to these factors if they lack strong male role models or positive peer groups that emphasize skills and character over appearance.”
So, just what are the signs that parents should be on the look out for? The experts suggest that parents should not ignore the following signs:
- Sudden decrease in appetite or amount of food that a child eats
- Excessive worry about food being healthy, or refusing to eat foods previously preferred
- Arguing or defensiveness when a parent asks them to eat more
- Hiding or “diverting” by secretly throwing away food
- Intentionally vomiting after eating
- Spending excessive time focused on physical appearance, such as looking in the mirror or constantly comparing their body to other people
- Becoming dizzy, lightheaded, easily fatigued, or constantly cold
- Thinner or more brittle hair or fingernails
- Unexplained increase in upset stomach, nausea, or other digestion complaints
- Sudden unexplained weight loss
- Clothing that formerly fit suddenly being too large
“Eating disorders in boys more commonly overlap with a condition called muscle dysmorphia, where a young person can obsessively focus on building the largest possible muscles,” Dr. Houser says. “Therefore, boys are more likely to engage in excessive weight lifting and strength training as opposed to excessive dieting and cardiovascular exercise.”
If you suspect your son is struggling with an eating disorder, Dr. Houser suggests that parents talk to the child directly. Beyond that, he suggests talking to your child’s physician and/or therapist.