Adolescent males and men make up roughly one-third of people diagnosed with eating disorders, yet unhealthy eating patterns are rarely discussed when it comes to males. Teenage boys also struggle with body image, whether through pressure to lose weight or to achieve a more “muscular or fit” look. These pressures can be especially difficult to recognize because behaviors that may be unhealthy are sometimes praised as signs of discipline, athleticism, or dedication to fitness. At Berkeley High School, expanding education about male eating disorders is crucial to raising awareness and making sure students of all genders can recognize when their relationship with food, exercise, or their bodies becomes unhealthy.
Social media trends such as “looksmaxxing” can appeal to audiences who want to improve their own appearance or compare themselves to people who fit conventional beauty standards. Looksmaxxing is an effort to maximize someone's looks through a variety of physical and lifestyle changes. There are aspects that can be beneficial to a lifestyle, such as creating a healthy skin care regimen, but some impacts can also be detrimental when trends encourage restrictive eating, excessive exercise, or an unhealthy fixation on appearance.
“In the midst of this spectacle, the well-being of the young men participating in this trend has been largely overlooked,” said Jordyn Tovey, a clinical social worker at the University of Michigan.
Beginning around 2019 and continuing in the following years, “bulking and cutting” also became increasingly popular across the fitness-focused side of social media platforms.
Bulking is when someone purposefully eats more calories than their body can burn in a given amount of time, often with the goal of rapidly building muscle through weightlifting.
Cutting is when there is a cut to calories in your diet, often with the goal of reducing body fat while maintaining muscle. Boys who use social media and are exposed to these trends can internalize the expectation that they should work toward a specific physique, even when that expectation may be unrealistic or unhealthy.
BHS sophomore Simon Hara created a short film about eating disorders among teenage males, drawing from his own experience with disordered eating. “I made it because I went through a really hard time in my life where I chose not to eat because I thought it would make me look better,” Hara said. He wanted his film to help other teenagers feel less isolated. “I knew that when I went through it, I felt really alone,” he said.
Because male eating disorders are often overlooked, boys may face additional barriers to recognizing their struggles and seeking help. The American Psychological Association identified stigma as a major challenge, particularly because eating disorders are often viewed as primarily affecting girls. A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that conformity to masculine gender norms contributes to this stigma, while behaviors such as intense exercise, extreme dieting, or an obsession with gaining muscle may be normalized or even encouraged.
At BHS, it's important to have open discussions about eating disorders across genders rather than treating them as an issue that belongs to one group.
Creating a curriculum that gets introduced into ninth grade Ethnic Studies classes or having Wellness Center presentations that explain what eating disorders can look like in boys would have a positive impact.
The goal would not be to teach students how to diagnose themselves or others, but to help them recognize warning signs and understand where they can turn for support.
Creating an action plan for adults around school who students feel comfortable confiding in can be a big step towards helping students seek support before their struggles become more serious.