Are Men As Susceptible To Eating Disorders As Women?

Men are also susceptible to eating disorders, just like women.  The numbers are comparatively lower than women. The first study on males with eating disorders, conducted by Wolf in 1991, suggested that roughly 10 percent of the male population in America suffered from some form of eating disorder. However, this number could never be taken as an absolute, as this was the first such study being conducted, and men were still wary of saying they suffered from such a condition.

While this number was not significantly large, the fact that it was out was a huge event in itself. This study paved the way for men to start feeling free about admitting their eating problems. A study conducted by Woodside, Garfinkel, and Lin in 2001 said the number of American males suffering from eating disorders stood at 1 million, out of a total of 8 million patients. This put the number of male patients at one male for every eight females.

These numbers are still not considered absolute as there is the possibility of more men remaining underground as far as admitting to suffering from eating disorders is concerned.