It is becoming more and more common to talk about females and their body and food issues. I think this is great! The best way to raise awareness, and end stigma around something, is to talk about it. So today I want to talk males (This applies to all ages, but much of this post focuses on pre-teens and teenagers) and eating disorders. Men are actually more likely to die from eating disorders than women. They lose body fat faster and are less likely to receive treatment. As boys enter puberty, around 9-13 years old, they are likely to gain about 50-60 pounds. Some of this is height and some of this is body fat. The average pre-teen male, gains body fat then height. So they may appear more "soft" for awhile. As the weight gain slows down and they continue to grow in height, they often transition into a thinner body. Of course, not always, everybody is different and that is so cool! According to the National Eating Disorder Association, about 1 in 3 people with an eating disorder is male and subclinical eating disorder behaviors (binging, purging, fasting for weight loss) is equally as common in males as it is in females. The main differences between male and female eating disorders is in their desires. While a lot of female eating disorders are driven by the desire to be thin, males want to me muscular. They want to "bulk up" but also be lean and "cut." Some clinicians refer to this as "Bigorexia." Because eating disorders in males often manifest different than females, it can be harder for parents to recognize. Here are some signs that your son may be struggling with his body image, relationship with food, or an eating disorder: - Extensive time spent working out - Obsession with building muscle, getting lean, bulking up - Rigid food rules (must eat at certain times, won't eat certain food groups, looks for certain things on the food label) - Force feeding large amounts of food - Going to the bathroom during a meal or right after - Exercising to "work off" a meal - Using diet supplements or meal replacements - Constantly weighing himself or body checking in the mirror - Avoiding social gatherings involving food If you notice these behaviors, and your son openly talks with you, explore his "why". Try and find out where his mindset is at. If their behaviors are stemming from body dissatisfaction, or a fear of a certain body type, it could be extremely beneficial for their over-all well-being, and your family dynamic, to take them to see a counselor or dietitian who specializes in eating disorders. Even if their, for lack of better word, "issues" seem minor it is best to nip it in the butt before it becomes too large. If you're son does not openly talk with you, and he is exhibiting these behaviors, taking them to talk with a trained professional is a great idea. Better safe than sorry! What can you do at home to prevent your son from developing an eating disorder? - Do not talk about your own dieting or body image issues. Invest in improving your own relationship with food and your body. - Do not encourage your son to diet or manipulate his body for a sport - Educate your son about body diversity, and the media's role in promoting certain body shapes - Maintain a neutral view of all foods in your home. Do not force certain foods and demonize others - Allow your son to decide when they are full at meal times - Foster your son's self-esteem (Compliment their inner qualities, listen when they talk, remind them that your love and respect is unconditional) -Do not praise body changes to your son or in front of them (weight loss, muscle growth, big biceps, etc.) Ideally, just don't do this ever! - Take your son, especially if they are an athlete, to see a registered dietitian who can assess what they are eating and encourage healthy behaviors. - Check in on the mindsets of the coaches they are working with If you have read this far, I know your son is lucky to have you as a parent. You care about them physical, mental, and emotional health. And just by you reading this blog post, we are one step closer to ending the stigma around males and eating disorders. Thank you! Sources I used for this blog: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Physical-Development-of-School-Age-Children.aspx https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/general-information/research-on-males https://childmind.org/article/boys-and-eating-disorders/ https://more-love.org/2016/12/15/what-to-know-if-you-think-your-son-might-have-an-eating-disorder-by-brian-pollack-lcsw-ceds/ https://more-love.org/2017/11/06/body-image-muscle-dysmorphia-and-eating-disorders-in-boys-and-men/
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