Who It Affects

Anorexia and Eating Disorders in Men

Eating disorders are not a "women's illness." Men and boys make up a substantial and growing share of cases — but the stereotype that only women are affected means they are routinely underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood. Recognizing how eating disorders show up in men is often the first step to getting help.

An estimated 10 million U.S. boys and men will have an eating disorder in their lifetime

Written by the Eating Disorder Facts editorial team Awaiting clinical review by Cindy Hawthorn, MD Updated July 20, 2026

Key takeaways

Men make up a significant share of eating disorder cases — by many estimates 10–25% of anorexia and bulimia, and roughly a third of binge eating disorder.
Eating disorders in men are underdiagnosed, undertreated, and misunderstood — the "women's illness" stereotype is the single biggest barrier.
Male body-image concerns are often muscularity-oriented (a drive for size and leanness), which thinness-focused screening tools miss.
Because they are caught later, men often reach treatment when the disorder is more entrenched and medical risks are higher.
Certain groups — athletes and gay and bisexual men in particular — are at elevated risk. Eating disorders in men are treatable, and help works.

The reality

Do men get eating disorders?

Yes — far more than the stereotype suggests. Men and boys account for a substantial share of every eating disorder, and an estimated 10 million boys and men in the United States will experience one in their lifetime. Depending on the study, males make up somewhere between about 10% and 25% of anorexia and bulimia cases, and close to half of binge eating disorder cases. These are not rare exceptions; they are a large, under-recognized population.

Often different

How eating disorders present in men

Men can develop the full range of eating disorders — anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, ARFID, and others. But the way the illness shows up is often shaped by a different body ideal.

Where the cultural pressure on women has centered on thinness, the pressure on men frequently centers on muscularity — being big, lean, and defined. This can drive rigid "clean" eating, obsessive training, and the use of supplements or performance- and appearance-enhancing drugs, and it can escalate into muscle dysmorphia. Of course, many men also experience the classic drive for thinness. The point is that eating disorders in men are not always about being thin, and looking only for thinness-based signs will miss many of them.

The barriers

Why eating disorders in men are underdiagnosed

Several forces combine to keep men from being recognized and treated:

The stereotype. The widespread belief that eating disorders only affect young women leads men — and their clinicians — to not consider the possibility.
Double stigma. Men face the stigma of having a mental illness plus the stigma of having a condition perceived as "feminine," which discourages them from speaking up.
Tools built on female profiles. Many screening questionnaires and diagnostic criteria were developed around female, thinness-focused presentations, so muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction and compulsive exercise slip through.
Reluctance to seek help. Norms around masculinity can make men less likely to disclose distress or ask for support.

Why it matters

The cost of missing it

When eating disorders in men go unrecognized, they are often caught later — by which point the illness can be more entrenched and the medical consequences more severe. That delay is one reason men with anorexia face a particularly high mortality risk. Earlier recognition is not a minor improvement; for men it can be the difference between a manageable course and a dangerous one.

Who to watch for

Men at higher risk

Eating disorders can affect any man, but some groups carry elevated risk:

Athletes, especially in sports with weight classes (wrestling, rowing, combat sports) or an aesthetic or leanness emphasis. A substantial share of male athletes report disordered eating.
Gay and bisexual men, who report greater body dissatisfaction on average and face both thinness and muscularity pressures.
Men in appearance-focused settings, including bodybuilding and fitness culture.

What to look for

Recognizing the signs in men

Warning signs in men overlap with those in anyone else, but may skew toward muscularity and exercise: rigid or restrictive eating and food rules; preoccupation with weight, body fat, or muscle; compulsive or driven exercise that continues through injury or illness; use of supplements, steroids, or other performance- and appearance-enhancing drugs; withdrawal from meals and social situations; and physical signs of undernutrition or overexertion. As always, you cannot tell whether someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.

Explore the full warning signs of eating disorders for more.

Next steps

Getting help

If you are a man struggling with food, exercise, or your body — or you are worried about a man in your life — know that eating disorders are not a failure of masculinity or willpower, and they are not only a women's problem. They are serious, common, and treatable conditions, and you do not have to fit a stereotype to deserve care.

Learn how to find specialized help, and read about muscle dysmorphia if body-size and muscularity concerns are part of the picture.

There is hope

An eating disorder is not a failure of masculinity.

Eating disorders in men are common, serious, and treatable — and you do not have to fit a stereotype to deserve help.

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