Men With Anorexia
What Are Statistics On Male Anorexia?

Men with anorexia are up against statistics that are bad enough to be a concern for eating disorder treatment. Although it's still unusual to see a male anorexic in our society, it doesn't mean that there isn't a problem. Why is anorexia therapy harder for men?

Men With Anorexia - Know The Statistics

Women are still six to nine times more likely to develop and eating disorder than men.

However, with regards to teenage eating disorders, it's estimated that 19 percent to 30 percent of those patients are male.

Shocking, isn't it? Even I had no idea that the percentages were that great.

These statistics on male anorexia are enough to raise some serious concerns among health care workers - and with all of us for that matter.

The stats below represent a few key points that I believe outline the seriousness of men with anorexia.

I compiled these numbers through notes I took during treatment, plus a little research (okay, a lot of research) while putting together this web site:

• The lifetime prevalence of anorexia in men is 0.3 percent
  Hiripi, E., (2008). Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358.
• Four percent of male teens in grade ten demonstrate preoccupation with body image and have used anabolic steroids to alter their appearance
  Boyce, W. F. (2006). Ottawa, Ontario: Health Canada
• Male models are now being pressured to slim down in order to land top fashion jobs
  Trebay, G. (2008, February 7). New York Times Article
• The disease typically begins later in men than in women or girls.


• Many health practitioners believe that male anorexia is under-reported and under-diagnosed

You can also check out some statistics on anorexia in boys.

Overall, there aren't too many reliable statistics out there regarding male anorexia, but I assume there will be an increase in research in the near future.

To read more about the pressures of society on men and how they can be driven to anorexia, please read my page on anorexia in men.

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