DISORDER

HOW TO SPOT SIGNS OF ANOREXIA IN TEEN BOYS

Anorexia is commonly perceived as a disease that affects girls and young women. But, while the disease is much more likely to occur in females, it’s hardly unheard of in men and boys.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as many as 10 million men will have an eating disorder at some time in their lives, accounting for approximately 10 percent of all patients being seen by medical professionals for eating disorders. However, males are less likely to be diagnosed early, because doctors, parents and coaches generally associate eating disorders with girls and women.

Males with anorexia exhibit similar symptoms and behaviors as women, but boys are more likely to suffer from an extreme concern with developing a muscular physique known as muscle dysmorphia, according to the National Institute of Health.

Therefore, in males, compulsive exercise is a more common behavioral characteristic of an eating disorder. Like Douglassville teen Zachary Haines, they may workout fanatically and become preoccupied with body building.

“Zachary became obsessed with losing weight and exercising. The more success he would have, the more obsessed he became,” said his mother Tara-Leigh Tarantola. “In boys, it usually has that obsessive exercise component.”

So what should parent’s look for if they suspect their son might have an eating disorder? The National Eating Disorders Association lists typical symptoms and characteristics on their website at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org. We’ve included some below:

• Being intensely afraid of gaining weight

• Excessive dieting or adhering to a highly restricted diet

• Becoming preoccupied with body building or muscle tone

• Exhibiting preoccupation with food

• Having a distorted body image so that he believes he’s fat even though others tell him he’s too thin.

• Depression or social isolation

• He may be a perfectionist, bent on becoming the strongest and the fittest.

• He may grow irritable when people suggest he is eating too little.

• A body weight that is 15 percent below what is considered normal for age and height

• Fatigue

• Low body temperature, heart rate, testosterone levels and blood pressure

• A tingling sensation in the hands and feet, and feeling cold even when the temperature is normal.

• Thinning hair

• Muscle weakness and poor balance

Photos provided by the family Zach eating a meal at CHOP.