Prevalence 

Due to secrecy and the imperceptible nature of eating disorders, it is difficult to determine exactly how many men have the conditions at any one time. Figures range from 10-25% of eating disorders cases being male. However, many experts believe that these stats are an underestimate due to the difficulties men face in getting help. Recent research by the the NHS Information Centre suggests that 6.4% (2.7 million) showed signs of some sort of eating disorder and men made up a quarter. It could be interpreted that this represents a growing trend, though at present there are no stats gathered around diagnosis and treatment.

Age of onset 

Males of any age can develop an eating disorder but are most likely to begin between 14 and 25. It is not unusual to have an eating disorder in middle age.

Risk factors

Comparatively little research has been done into eating disorders among males but it does seem apparent that many of the risk factors are applicable in men. In particular the role of eating disorders being a coping mechanism, or expression of, underlying emotional stress and is applicable to males as much as it is females, thus any unresolved distress consequently presents a risk to developing eating problems same as females.

In addition, there are a number of other risk factors that can contribute:

•    They were overweight as children and/or teased about their size.

•    They are dieting – one of the most powerful eating disorder triggers in both males and females and as much as 70 per cent of young people will diet at one time.

•    They participate in the sport that demands a particular body build (thin or big). Runners or jockeys are at higher risk of developing an anorexia and bulimia, while footballers or weight lifters will focus on getting bigger (known as ‘bigorexia’). Wrestlers who try to shed pounds quickly before a match so they can compete in a lower weight category seem to be at special risk. Body builders are at risk if they deplete body fat and fluid reserves to achieve high definition.

•    They have a job or profession that demands thinness. Male models, actors, and general entertainers seem to be at higher risk than the general population.

•    Some, but not all, male sufferers can be gay or bisexual. There is debate why the gay and bisexual male community is at particular risk but this may be partly because they are judged on attractiveness in the same way that women are in the heterosexual community. Fear of coming out and worry about rejection is also a possibility. In a study carried out by the Eating Disorder Association, they found that 20 per cent of male sufferers were gay making up twice the proportion of gay men in the population.

•    Living in a culture on fixed diets and physical appearance is also a risk factor. Male underwear models and men on the front pages of male fitness magazines and gay men’s press lead other males to compare themselves with these so-called ‘ideal’ body types. So do ads for men’s hair and skin care products. Weight loss and workout programs, as well as cosmetic surgery procedures, whose goal is chiselled muscularity can lead to the same sort of body dissatisfaction that afflicts women who read fashion magazines and watch movies and TV shows featuring so-called perfect people.

A study at the University of Florida found that young men’s beliefs about the perfect body size has changed over the past two decades put down to the cultural endorsement of the ‘perfect’ male body (i.e. the Daniel Craig or David Beckham style muscular-look – complete with six pack, toned arms and a slim waist). Researchers found that teens were increasingly experiencing body dissatisfaction, changing eating habits and using anabolic steroids and dietary supplements to control weight and gain muscle. Worryingly, a separate study at the University of Illinois found that the influence of abnormally muscle-bound characters in kids’ computer games drove boys as young as eight to try and build up their muscles.