Men's Eating Disorders

Experts Highlight Growing Rise of Hidden Eating Disorders Among Men

Experts are highlighting a growing but often overlooked rise in eating disorders among men, following the revelation of actor Sylvester Stallone's history with bulimia. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) estimates that about 30 million Americans experience an eating disorder during their lifetime, and roughly one-third are male. Brian Pollack, a licensed clinical social worker and certified eating disorders specialist at Hilltop Behavioral Health in Summit, New Jersey, said that men with these disorders tend to build muscle in fear of feeling weak. The increase in bulimias and other eating disorders may also be driven by a desire to emulate celebrities. Many men struggle with these issues in secret, as their binging and purging behaviors are usually done in secret.