Eating disorder remains underdiagnosed in men

Men are almost five times more likely to remain underdiagnosed than females on eating disorders — which also delays their treatment options, finds a study. Eating disorders, which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder and overconsumption, are characterised by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape.

“Stereotypes about who develops eating disorders could contribute to disparities in diagnosis and treatment, with males of higher weight, people of colour, and the non-affluent most likely to be slipping through the cracks,” said Kendrin Sonneville, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan in the US.

The study, conducted on college students, found that females were almost 1.5 times more likely to get treated than males, and affluent students were nearly two times more likely to get treatment compared to nonaffluent.

White students were nearly two times more likely to get diagnosed than students of colour, and underweight students were more than six times more likely to get diagnosed than those with a health body weight. Students with overweight or obesity were about half as likely to get diagnosed.

“Many individuals with eating disorders do not recognise themselves in these stereotyped portrayals of eating disorders in the media and may not recognise the need for treatment,” Sonneville said.