Understanding • Research • Advocacy
Eating disorders
in men are
hiding in plain
sight.
Project ANA is a research-driven initiative building the evidence base, clinical resources, and public case for recognizing eating disorders in men — a population the field has long overlooked.
As featured in ANADRECOGNITION GAP
n = 30
Roughly 1 in 3 people living with an eating disorder is a boy or man. Most are never counted in the clinical picture.
The Reality
A population the field keeps missing
The data tells a clear story about a population that has been systematically overlooked.
FIG. 01
1 in 3
people with eating disorders
are boys or men — yet most aren't getting the care they need
FIG. 02
Up to 25%
of all eating disorder cases
affect men — a widely underreported figure
FIG. 03
5×
less likely to be diagnosed
Women are up to five times more likely to be diagnosed, and 1.5× more likely to receive treatment
FIG. 04
Unrecognized
symptoms in men
Men tend not to recognize their symptoms as problematic, partly due to eating disorders being stereotyped as a "woman's problem"
FIG. 05
More severe
at point of presentation
By the time men present in healthcare settings, cases tend to be more severe — due to symptom denial, anticipated prejudice, and even denial of treatment based on gender
FIG. 06
Minimized
by healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals tend to minimize the symptoms of men with eating disorders