Male Eating Patterns: Anorexia, Bulimia and Binge Eating in Boys

If you are the parent to a male child, there is no doubt you are familiar with the wide range of eating habits in your child. From boys who are obsessed with food to boys who self restrict their food intake, it is important to know the warning signs of eating disorders in your son.

While commonly thought of as a "girls only" disorder, eating disorders are quite common in boys. In fact, eating disorders experienced in boys are similar to girls: bulimia, anorexia and even binge eating. Understanding the warning signs of each eating disorder is vital to early intervention in your son.

Anorexia in boys is very similar to that of girls in that the condition stems from a mental health complication in which a child may feel they have no control over their life and, as a result, will use food as way to elicit some form of control in their actions. Just as in girls, when your son feels he is unable to control the events around him, making the conscious choice to limit his food intake provides him with a sense of control of his life. Unfortunately, in boys, the weight loss is often more sudden due to the higher metabolic rate. As a parent, if you notice your son losing a significant amount of weight, in a short period of time, it may be an indication of an eating disorder, such as anorexia.

Another frightening eating disorder in young boys is the development of bulimia. This eating disorder is quite common in boys who are part of an athletic program. Especially when initially beginning the sport, if your son is not in as good of physical shape as other boys, it is not uncommon for your son to experience a complication of bodily self-image. Picking up on the technique of purging, many boys begin to purge when they face issues of body image and competition; commonly when beginning a sports program. As a parent, when your son begins sports or athletic program, it is important to also monitor for the signs of purging also known as bulimia.