Wednesday 14/05/2025
FOTO: Katarina Wolnik Vera
Texto: Lucia Giral
When we talk about eating disorders (EDs), the image that often comes to mind is that of a woman, thin, possibly insecure and struggling with her reflection in the mirror. That’s how movies, television, and social media have portrayed it for years. But that image is incomplete, as it renders invisible a group that also suffers silently: men.
Eating disorders are not just a “girl thing.” Men also face this struggle, although with less visibility, understanding, and support.
The Data Speaks… Even if in a Whisper
Recent studies suggest that approximately one in five young men may suffer from an eating disorder, with bulimia nervosa being one of the most prevalent. However, many cases go undiagnosed due to stigma and a lack of awareness about these disorders in the male population (Ganson et al., 2025).
Moreover, research has shown that eating disorders in men are increasing at a faster rate than in women, and the clinical severity of symptoms is similar across genders (Murray et al., 2019).
Among the most common disorders in men are anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. But there are also less visible manifestations, which could fall under unspecified or atypical eating disorders, such as muscle dysmorphia (commonly referred to as “bigorexia”), an obsession with gaining muscle mass and having a “perfect” body, or orthorexia, an extreme obsession with eating “clean” or “healthy.”
Due to concerns around muscular appearance, many men intentionally alter their diets, exercise routines, or supplement use in order to increase muscle mass. Studies conducted in the U.S. show that up to 60% of men have admitted to consciously manipulating their diet or habits to build muscle (Murray et al., 2017).
This shows that disordered eating patterns are not always linked to a desire to be thinner, but also to the societal ideal of a strong, muscular, and defined body.
The Ideal Body
A man with an eating disorder might spend hours at the gym, obsess over daily protein intake, isolate himself socially, feel at war with his body… and still not believe he has an eating problem. This is because, socially, these behaviors in men are often seen as signs of discipline, self-control, and willpower—“he takes care of himself,” “he’s dedicated,” “he’s strong.”
But studies show that men with muscle dysmorphia (an obsessive concern with muscular appearance) display many classic symptoms of eating disorders: food restriction, extreme concern with weight and body shape, and compulsive exercise, significantly more than those without these issues (Murray et al., 2017).
What Is Not Named, Is Not Seen. Let’s Change That.
Many men don’t seek help because they don’t identify with the traditional narrative of eating disorders. It’s hard for them to associate their behaviors with a disorder because they perceive it as something “for women.”
Shame, fear of judgment, lack of representation, and the absence of male role models who have experienced an eating disorder make it harder for many men to name their distress, deepening the silence and delaying detection.
That’s why it’s essential to raise awareness: men also suffer from eating disorders. Their pain is real, and treatment is necessary. Talking about EDs in men is not about “taking space” away from women, it’s about broadening the conversation and no longer ignoring those who also need to be seen. To start healing together, not in silence, but with words, empathy, and care.
This article simplifies and generalizes many complex topics, such as gender nuance. For a fuller conversation, we must also include non-binary and gender-diverse individuals, since eating disorders do not follow labels. Still, the goal here is clear: to give visibility to a part of the population that also needs to be seen, heard, and supported.
Because eating disorders don’t belong to a single gender or a single body.
References:
- Ganson, K. T., Murray, S. B., Nagata, J. M., & Austin, S. B. (2025). One in five boys may have an eating disorder, face ‘unique barriers to seeking help’. People. https://people.com/1-in-5-boys-may-have-an-eating-disorder-11719864
- Murray, S. B., Griffiths, S., & Mond, J. M. (2019). Eating disorders in males. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 42(1), 1–15. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6785984/
- Murray, S. B., Griffiths, S., & Mond, J. M. (2017). Men, muscles, and eating disorders: An overview of traditional and muscularity-oriented disordered eating. Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-017-0146-y