One in ten people who seek help for eating disorders are men or boys.
That is one of the findings in the annual report for Bodywhys, the national eating disorder charity.
Despite the fact that men are believed to make up around a quarter of those suffering from these conditions, the overwhelming majority of those reaching out to them, around 90%, are women and girls.
The report also noted a sharp 19.5% increase in people accessing Bodywhys’ services over the past year.
Experts believe that stigma plays a key role in why fewer men come forward for help.
Dr. Kielty Oberlin, a recovery coach specializing in eating disorders, says that many men may avoid seeking assistance due to societal pressures and misconceptions that eating disorders are a “female issue.”
She stresses the need for greater awareness and targeted support for men and boys, who often suffer in silence.
