Anorexia is typically seen as a girls’ disorder, and this can have fatal results for boys whose disease often goes undiscovered too long, as parents, friends and loved ones don’t recognize the signs until the disorder has a firm hold on its sufferer, often with fatal results.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there are at least one million males in the United States that are fighting anorexia or bulimia. Some affected by these psychological illnesses are as young as ten years old. These numbers are probably lower than the reality. There is more of a shame when a boy suffers anorexia than when a girl does, so the number of boys who are affected is underreported, according to experts.
The stigma attached to boys with eating disorders may make them less likely to seek help or only to do so when they are very, very sick. On top of this, many therapies and treatments are geared more toward girls.
So how we help to identify boys who have the illness? Research shows that certain types of personalities are more prone to developing anorexia. Usually, the boy has straight A’s and may be a great athlete, driven to perfection. Certain sports, such as wrestling and track, which sometimes encourage a lower weight, may increase the motivation to starve oneself.
Early detection of the illness is key. The earlier a boy can get help, the easier it will be for him to overcome the illness and get healthy. At some point during the course of the illness, a desire for being healthy turns into a desire for control, and obsession sets in until the anorexia takes over.
There are resources out there for help, although many residential programs just won’t take boys, so some added research and advocacy are needed.
If you suspect a boy (or a girl, or woman or man) of suffering from an eating disorder, you can contact the National Eating Disorders Association at 800-931-2237.
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