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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Disordered eating behaviors: what about boys?
Françoise Dominé1, André Berchtold1, Christina Akré1
1Research Group on Adolescent Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Summary
Disordered eating behaviors (DEB) affect adolescent males more than previously thought, often linked to violence and other risk factors. Screening and prevention programs are crucial for addressing these issues in boys.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Adolescent Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Disordered eating behaviors (DEB) are increasingly recognized in adolescent males.
- Understanding the specific characteristics and contexts of DEB in boys is essential for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify characteristics unique to boys with DEB.
- To explore the broader context in which these behaviors occur among adolescent males.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the SMASH02 database, a Swiss survey of students aged 16-20 years (N=3890 males).
- Classification of males into four groups based on weight/food concerns and eating behaviors.
- Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses comparing groups on personal, family, school, violence, and health-compromising behaviors.
Main Results:
- Approximately 50% of boys reported concerns or unhealthy eating behaviors.
- Boys with DEB were more likely than controls to be students with a history of sexual abuse, delinquency, depression, and body dissatisfaction.
- Those with active DEB also reported dieting, early puberty, peer teasing, violence, inebriation, and being overweight.
Conclusions:
- DEB are prevalent in adolescent males and associated with a dysfunctional context, particularly violence.
- Screening for DEB in adolescent males is recommended.
- Prevention efforts should address social/media pressures on male body image and raise public awareness.
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