When you hear terms like “eating disorder” or “body dysmorphia,” what comes to mind?

If you are like most people, you probably picture a teenage girl. But eating disorders and body dysmorphia are increasingly affecting males as well. Men today are bombarded with images of a body “ideal” that often requires extreme, unhealthy behaviors to achieve—behaviors that carry serious physical and mental health consequences. Chances are, you know a man struggling with body dysmorphia and/or an eating disorder.

Characteristics of Males with Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia

Because eating disorders are often thought of as conditions that affect only young girls, men may delay recognizing their own behaviors as symptoms (Räisänen & Hunt, 2014). Unlike the “thin ideal” common among females, men tend to experience pressure toward “lean muscularity,” with emphasis on upper body muscle definition (Mehler & Andersen, 2017).

To achieve this, males may engage in disordered eating and behaviors such as:

Excess protein consumption
Restricting food quantity or entire food groups (especially carbohydrates) to appear “lean” or “cut”
Bulking and cutting cycles
Anabolic steroid use
Compulsive exercise and weightlifting

Eating disorders and body dysmorphia also carry a higher risk of co-occurring depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide (Pope et al., 2005).

The Statistics

Eating disorders have the second-highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness, second only to opioid addiction (Arcelus et al., 2011).
About 1 in 7 American men develop an eating disorder before turning 40 (Ward, 2019).
Disordered eating behaviors are increasing at a faster rate among males than females (Gorrell & Murray, 2019).
Males experience eating disorders at a ratio of approximately 1 for every 2–3 females (Mehler & Andersen, 2017).
One-fifth of men in the veteran population report symptoms consistent with a DSM-5 eating disorder diagnosis (Masheb et al., 2021).
According to research from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University:
- 28.8% of teenage boys report trying to lose weight
- 28.2% are actively dieting
- 51% exercise with the goal of losing or preventing weight gain (CASA, 2003).
Eating disorders are also rising among children, including boys. Studies show that 30% of preadolescent boys dislike their body (Alleva, 2015).
Increased social media use and screen time are associated with muscle dysmorphia symptoms (Ganson et al., 2023).

Building Supportive Communities

Research shows that males with eating disorders respond well to participation in groups for boys and their fathers or brothers (Mehler & Andersen, 2017). Community or spiritual groups that foster intergenerational trust can be powerful spaces for honest conversations about body ideals, health, functionality, and self-worth.
Coaches play a critical role in shaping male athletes’ body image—positively or negatively. Some schools have rules to prevent weight cutting, but for those struggling with muscular dysmorphia, weight-training coaches, athletic trainers, and team doctors may have the most influence in encouraging functionality over appearance.
Eating disorders and body dysmorphia among males remain highly stigmatized. Speaking openly, without shame, helps normalize the conversation and supports those who need help.

If you or someone you know may be struggling, please reach out for help. Support is available through the National Eating Disorders Association, F.E.A.S.T., or our team at Atlanta Wellness Collective.

We would also love to connect with your community. Please reach out if you’d like someone from our practice to speak with coaches, trainers, athletes, parents, teachers, or spiritual leaders as part of pre-season safety protocols or community wellness events.

Here at Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. For support, contact us or schedule an appointment online.

References

Alleva, J. M., Sheeran, P., Webb, T. L., Martijn, C., & Miles, E. (2015). A Meta-Analytic Review of Stand-Alone Interventions to Improve Body Image. PloS one, 10(9), e0139177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139177

Arcelus, Jon et al. “Mortality rates in patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. A meta-analysis of 36 studies.” Archives of general psychiatry 68,7 (2011): 724-31. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.74

Ganson, K. T., Hallward, L., Rodgers, R. F., Testa, A., Jackson, D. B., & Nagata, J. M. (2023). Contemporary screen use and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia among a national sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults. Eating and weight disorders: EWD, 28(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-023-01550-7.

Gorrell, S., & Murray, S. B. (2019). Eating disorders in males. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 28(4), 641–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2019.05.012

Masheb, RM, Ramsey, CM, Marsh, AG, et al. DSM-5 eating disorder prevalence, gender differences, and mental health associations in United States military veterans. Int J Eat Disord. 2021; 54: 1171– 1180. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23501

Mehler, P. S., & Andersen, A. E. (2017). Eating disorders (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. (2003). Food for Thought: Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders. New York, National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse.

Pope, C. G., Pope, H. G., Menard, W., Fay, C., Olivardia, R., & Phillips, K. A. (2005). Clinical features of muscle dysmorphia among males with body dysmorphic disorder. Body image, 2(4), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2005.09.001.

Räisänen, U., & Hunt, K. (2014). The role of gendered constructions of eating disorders in delayed help-seeking in men: A qualitative interview study. BMJ Open, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004342

Ward ZJ, Rodriguez P, Wright DR, Austin SB, Long MW. Estimation of eating disorders prevalence by age and associations with mortality in a simulated nationally representative US cohort. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(10): e1912925. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12925

This blog post was written by Jennifer Oswald.

This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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