What’s more, since the assumption is that this is a girls’ issue, a boy with an eating disorder may not recognize it, or seek help. Likewise, parents and teachers may be less likely to recognize the signs and treatment can be delayed.
It’s true—girls are 10 times as likely to develop eating disorders as boys. But the number of boys with eating disorders is growing. A recent study found a large increase in weight control methods among males. These methods included dieting, using diet products, purging (vomiting or using laxatives to control weight), exercise and vigorous exercise.
What Causes Eating Disorders?
Just as for girls, eating disorders for boys have similar roots. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders have a variety of causes, which have its roots in three areas: psychological, interpersonal and societal. Psychological causes could include low self-esteem, depression or a feeling of a loss of control. Interpersonal causes could be troubled family relationships, history of abuse, and inability to express feelings. Societal pressures to have the perfect body also can contribute to an eating disorder.
In her book, Boys Get Anorexia Too, Jenny Langley wrote about her son’s anorexia and what may have caused it. Common triggers, Langley said, may include being teased about weight, a passive or absent father, a domineering mother, or a sense of being not in control.
While boys are more likely to binge eat (eating large amounts of food while feeling out of control) than purge, they can develop anorexia and lose more weight than is healthy. It’s not just young boys that are affected. In the article “Eating Disorders: Not Just for Men” in The Washington Post, writer Sandra G. Boodman describes several well known actors who became anorexic in an effort to achieve a desired shape for a movie role. Actor Dennis Quaid termed his experience “manorexia” when he lost 40 pounds for a movie role.
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Boys
How can parents and teachers tell if a child has an eating disorder? Whether it’s for a male or female, many questions are the same. Here are a few symptoms.
- Has the child begun to exclude certain foods?
- Does the child play with foods or have particular rituals regarding foods?
- Is the child exercising a lot more?
- Is the child exhibiting emotional stress, such as being withdrawn, sad or angry?
- Has the child had a recent dramatic weight loss?
- Does the child visit the bathroom immediately after meals (often with the water running)?
Eating disorders are serious physical and emotional problems that require a physician or counselor’s help. If you suspect your child may have an eating disorder, contact your pediatrician immediately. More information is available at the National Eating Disorders Association website.
