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As a parent, it’s important to recognize that boys can struggle with eating disorders just as much as girls can. My son, who was nearly twelve when he entered puberty, was tall and slender but often expressed dissatisfaction with his size. Initially, he began weightlifting with his father, which I thought was a nice phase that would pass. However, to my surprise, this routine has persisted over the past seven years, and going to the gym a few times a week has provided him with stability.
That said, between then and now, I noticed my son developing some disordered eating habits, which resonated with my own teenage struggles. When I mentioned my concerns to his father, he dismissed them, saying, “He’s just trying to be strong and healthy. Plus, isn’t this something that only affects girls?”
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. My son discovered that to gain weight, he needed to consume a specific number of calories daily. His fixation on achieving that calorie target soon became alarming. He tracked his food intake obsessively, often revisiting it multiple times a day to ensure he was meeting his goals.
Food began to dominate his life. He would stress about meals during family outings and frequently canceled plans with friends if the food options didn’t align with his strict preferences. Instead of indulging in pizza or takeout, he prepared meals high in protein and carbs, such as eggs, tuna, and chicken, while eliminating sugar entirely.
Although this diet may seem healthy, it crossed the line into obsession. The sheer volume of food he forced himself to eat often made him nauseous. I repeatedly warned him that his body was rejecting the excess, but he wouldn’t listen. He became frustrated, insisting on consuming large quantities of specific foods, which became an emotional burden for him.
Disordered eating manifests in various ways, beyond just starvation or binge-purge cycles. The Mayo Clinic states that “eating disorders are serious conditions linked to persistent eating behaviors that negatively affect health, emotions, and daily functioning.” Dr. Lisa Thompson, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, emphasizes that one common misconception is that this issue only affects young white women. In reality, men represent 25% of disordered eating cases.
Eating disorders aren’t solely a female issue; boys and men face these challenges, with over 10 million males struggling in the U.S. The media perpetuates unrealistic body standards that can affect anyone, regardless of gender.
For my son, the goal was to gain muscle mass and become more muscular, while others may strive for thinness. The danger lies in the fact that many boys and men striving for fitness are often overlooked when their behaviors become unhealthy. According to Healthline, societal acceptance of boys wanting to gain muscle can lead parents and healthcare providers to miss the signs of a problem.
It’s crucial to look for warning signs, such as your child isolating themselves from friends due to food choices or obsessing over certain diets. Engaging in workouts even when injured or sick are additional red flags.
Another influencing factor is the pressure from sports, where boys may feel compelled to lose weight to enhance performance, which can spiral into unhealthy habits. If you suspect your son is developing an eating disorder, Capital Area Pediatrics recommends talking to him, doing your homework on eating disorders, avoiding negative body talk in front of him, and seeking professional help. Early intervention can prevent the situation from worsening.
While healthy eating and exercise can be beneficial, as parents, we must discern when these behaviors shift from healthy habits to unhealthy obsessions that affect our children’s lives. Regardless of gender, societal and media influences can shape how children view their bodies, and it’s crucial to understand that eating disorders can affect anyone.
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Summary:
Boys can and do suffer from eating disorders, a fact often overlooked due to societal misconceptions. As parents, it’s vital to recognize the signs of disordered eating, which can manifest in boys just as they do in girls. Early intervention and understanding are key to addressing these issues effectively.