Eating Disorder Research

Some researchers are highlighting that eating disorders may be overlooked in some groups — boys and some ethnicities. The problem is compounded when the sufferers don’t display the typical symptoms of disordered eating.

“We need to think more broadly about who struggles with eating disorders,” said adolescent medicine and eating disorder specialist Rebecka Peebles, MD, instructor in pediatrics (adolescent medicine).

Peebles pointed out that diagnostic and even treatment criteria were developed with Caucasian women or girls in mind. Hence, there is the fear that studies may be ignoring the other groups as well.

In the gender study, while she found that boys were less likely than girls to have used purging behaviors, such as vomiting or using laxatives, to control their weight , they were also more likely to be diagnosed with an “Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified,” or EDNOS, rather than with anorexia or bulimia. Her opinion was that they express themselves differently.

Boys more often that not talk about being fit. While being fit is fine, excessive exercising coupled with severely restricted food intake can spell trouble. Because people tend to associate eating disorders with young girls, boys as a group may largely be ignored.

Ethnic differences may also play into the range of symptoms experienced by sufferers of eating disorders. Peebles found that American Indians and Alaskan Natives, although a very small proportion of the overall sample, were significantly more likely than Caucasians to use laxatives to control their weight.

Studies that examine eating disorders should therefore take into account and not ignore the boys and different ethnic groups. There are clearly some differences as to the symptoms and how these other groups perceive their eating disorders. A more complete study can mean better treatment and recovery rates.

Eating disorders in men are hard to detect. Although more women than men get eating disorders, the numbers reported for eating disorders in men are believed to be understated. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, men are thought to make up about 1 million of the 8 million Americans with eating disorders.

Many men go untreated and undiagnosed for their condition. In a study by University of Toronto, although more than twice as many women as men had eating disorders, there were more men affected than would be expected. This suggests that the occurrence of eating disorders may be higher among men than the current estimates.

Just like the case of breast cancer, the misconception is that eating disorders is largely seen as a women issue. Men feel that it is impossible for them to have an eating disorder as it is one that is associated with young women.

Even for young women, many do not already seek treatment. What more can you say about the men with eating disorders and with their current misconception?