Anorexia In Boys
What Are The Statistics On Boys With Anorexia?

Anorexia in boys is not something that the average person thinks about when hearing the words, eating disorder. The reality is, people with anorexia can be of any age or gender. In fact, statistics are quite high for males with eating disorders, and child eating disorders in general are common. These are no longer just a "girl's disease".

Eating disorders statistics reveal that young boys are feeling the same societal pressures that the anorexic girl has been feeling for decades.

These pressures come from the feeling of having to be "perfect" and having to "measure up" - particularly with regards to an ideal body shape.

Boys with anorexia think they are expected to develop a masculine physique and appear lean and muscular - just like some of their idols - many of whom are athletes.

Young boys may look up to their idols and want to be like them.

They may associate their idol's success with being thin and strive to achieve the same "perfect body".

The hope is that being thin will bring them the same kind of success as their role model.

Some Known Statistics For Anorexia In Boys

• From the ages of 5-12, the ratio of girls to boys being diagnosed with anorexia is 5:1
  StatsCan -Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program, 2003 Results
• Anorexia has been diagnosed in boys as young as the age of eight
• 5.9% of high school boys reported having visited pro ana websites at least once
  2009 -Catholic University of Leuven
• The country with the highest rate of boys with anorexia is Australia
  2007 - Melanson, New York Times
• 40% of boys between the ages of 10 and 15 have reduced bone mineral density
  2002 - Castro, Hospital Clinic Universities

I think boys may have an extra issue to deal with, and that's the fact that anorexia is not as socially acceptable for them as it for girls.

This may contribute to behaviors such as isolation and secrecy as the boy tries to shelter himself from the embarrassment of having a "girl's disease".

Similar difficulties may be encountered by men with anorexia.

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