Teenage Boys Are Prone To Eating Disorders at the Same Rate as Girls
Written by Logan Mazzettia, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens
For the longest time no one in their right mind would have believed that teenage boys would be just as prone to eating disorders as girls. Eating disorders have so long been a feminine struggle that if you hear about one you automatically assume it's in reference to a girl. This erroneous notion is slowly breaking down allowing boys with these struggles to receive legitimate attention.
The role models for young men are buff, sporting perfect pecs and abs like Taylor Lautner, or the bulging muscles of 'The Rock'. If they aren't thin and toned they believe they simply don't measure up. Boys are pressured to have as little fat as possible, maintain incredible abs, but at the same time, it's uncool to admit to watching what you eat. Throw sports into the mix and you find even more pressure. Wrestling weight classes for example encourage boys to lose enough in order to face lighter opponents. Some wrestlers go up and down in weight classes frequently which can place a terrible strain on their health.
The rates of girls being hospitalized for eating disorders remains statistically higher. It is suggested however, that boys come forward less due to the perceived fear they will be ridiculed. When they finally do receive treatment the boy's cases tend to be rather severe.
Watch for the Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Teenage Males
It is often very confusing trying to detect the presence of an eating disorder. Teen's in particular, have a generally higher metabolism allowing them to eat more food and gain less weight. You may be left wondering why your boy is eating and eating but doesn't put on a single pound. Parents with teennage boys in sport activities need to be even more vigilant as boys will attempt to rapidly put on or lose weight. Depression can also cause variations in weight but is also frequently a result of an eating disorder. Unfortunately there is no sure fire way to diagnose an eating disorder without professional assistance, but by being active in your son's health you can help to reduce the risk.
