Researchers at Wesleyan University in Connecticut have found that the prevalence of eating disorders among boys in the United States increased significantly between 1995 and 2005. The study, which examined weight control behaviors among high school students, utilized national data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The study identified sizable increases in all forms of weight control by males, including dieting and diet product use, purging, exercise, and vigorous exercise.

Researchers found that Caucasian males were the least likely to try and control their weight, and Latino males were the most likely. The research team hypothesizes that increased weight control practices by young American males may be the result of growing social pressures related to body shape. In the study, the researchers commented on the findings:

"Considering that males have negative attitudes toward treatment-seeking and are less likely than females to seek treatment, efforts should be made to increase awareness of eating disorder symptomatology in male adolescents, and future prevention efforts should target male as well as female adolescents."

(Source: health.usnews.com)

Posted By: jgarcia