Written by: Vanshi Kumar
Edited by: Raghvi Sethi
TW: Unsafe eating habits and effects, effects of anxiety and depression, mention of suicidal ideation
An Overlooked Experience
I am not a boy. Because of that, I have found myself avoiding looking into male issues. After all, if I’m not experiencing their issues, why should I learn or talk about them? But the reality is clear: no matter who’s being impacted by an issue, it’s crucial for us all to learn about and respect each other’s experiences. Women and girls may make up the majority of those affected by eating disorders, but nearly a third of people with eating disorders are boys and men.
The Story of Nōn Wels
Nōn Wels was 19 years old when he first started limiting his food intake. His parents had a troubled marriage, and his father was emotionally abusive. Wels’ anxiety and depression went untreated for a large part of his childhood. And he wanted control. Unfortunately, starving himself seemed like his control. When he was in college, he went on to enroll in various fitness classes with the desire to look strong, agile, and fit. He participated in running, soccer, and surfing. He felt like he finally had the appearance he needed to belong. His body began to deteriorate, however, and knife-like jabs in the body and hair loss became a reality. This low point seemed to have no end. Wels began to contemplate suicide. However, after decades of finding therapy and ending the fractured relationship with his father, he began to explore his vulnerabilities with the empathy he sought. The doctor medically mandated a process to heal his relationship with food. He later found a therapist to help him through his struggles, found healthy facets for his anxiety and depression, and later met the love of his life. More recently, he has developed the organization You, Me, and Empathy, a space to share stories of battling mental health struggles and eating disorders. He also has a podcast with various guests sharing their experiences and perspectives. Even as a person not big on podcasts, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and hope you check it out!
Where’s the Research?
Around 10 million boys and men in the United States will experience some kind of eating disorder in their lifetime. Accompanied by societal pressure, that number is projected to increase. While checking the weight scale and checking the mirror are common attributes across gender, body image issues are not as simple as they seem. The public sees the unrealistic slim figure as the definitive goal of individuals with anorexia and bulimia. Not only is this misconception a blanket statement to girls and women, but it is not necessarily applicable to boys and men. The idea that “eating disorders are a girl thing” perpetuates not only in popular culture but also in scientific academia, which are considered authorities on health and wellness. The truth is that most research conducted on eating disorders uses girls and women.
According to Dr. Jason Nagata from the University of California San Francisco, “A lot of guys are trying to get muscular and bulk up, so a lot of those weight loss behaviors don’t actually apply to them.” Common behaviors such as over-exercising, obsessing over low-calorie intake, and bulk eating are just a few. Men are often expected to uphold an athletic ideal, which means unsustainable and dangerous food rituals are often confused with maintaining a good masculine image. They are more likely to take steroids and supplements in order to tackle masculine body issues such as muscle dysmorphia, which causes excessive preoccupation with physical image to the point of functional impairment. In addition, mental illness is widely ignored in boys and men, meaning the cross-section between mental struggles and eating disorders is also ignored.
Men account for 10% of patients with bulimia and anorexia, yet are much less likely than women to seek professional help due to stigma, misconceptions regarding the severity of the disorder, and other fears. All in all, the research on the effects of eating disorders on boys and men is scant at best due to sexist stereotypes and a general lack of public awareness.
Boys' and men’s eating disorders are ignored in today’s society. It’s our job to fight for mental health and awareness to benefit each other. The first step is our collective support for the recovery of every boy and man. After all, one step forward for some is a step forward for us all. Organizations like the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, the National Eating Disorders Association, the National Association for Males with Eating Disorders, and the All Bodies Coalition are on a mission to support boys and men struggling with mental health issues and eating disorders. Our efforts towards spreading empathy in the world will benefit the billions of boys who face eating disorders and are suppressed by stereotypes claiming that the issue only prevails in girls.
References
(he/him), Non Wels. “A Boy and His Anorexia.” Medium, Medium, 24 Mar. 2021, nonwels.medium.com/a-boy-and-his-anorexia-b9f8b68c950.
Bunnell, Douglas. “Eating Disorder Statistics.” National Eating Disorders Association, NEDA, 1 Feb. 2024, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics/.
Frank, Christina. “Boys and Eating Disorders.” Child Mind Institute, Child Mind Institute , 30 Oct. 2023, childmind.org/article/boys-and-eating-disorders/.
Kumar, Naveen. “Eating Disorders in Men: Underdiagnosed and Undertreated.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 23 Nov. 2021, www.healthline.com/health/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-in-men#What-do-eating-disorders-in-men-look-like.
Nagata, Jason M, et al. “Eating Disorders in Adolescent Boys and Young Men: An Update.” Current Opinion in Pediatrics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Aug. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7867380/.
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