Male Eating Disorder Statistics: 2025 Report

Last updated: August 17th, 2025

From January 2023 through May 2025, our research team analyzed over 200 clinical studies, population surveys, and treatment outcome reports to compile comprehensive data on eating disorders in males. Using standardized diagnostic criteria and validated assessment tools, we've identified key prevalence rates, demographic patterns, and treatment outcomes specific to male populations.

Our methodology incorporates data from the National Comorbidity Survey, clinical treatment centers, and longitudinal cohort studies to provide healthcare professionals with evidence-based statistics for male eating disorder assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning.

Overall Male Eating Disorder Prevalence

Lifetime Prevalence by Gender — 2025

Disorder Type	Males	Females	Gender Ratio (F:M)
Any Eating Disorder	4.07%	8.60%	2.1:1
Anorexia Nervosa	0.3%	4.0%	13:1
Bulimia Nervosa	0.6%	3.0%	5:1
Binge Eating Disorder	2.0%	3.5%	1.8:1
OSFED	0.27%	1.18%	4.4:1

Key Insights:

• Males represent approximately 1 in 3 individuals with eating disorders, with 6.6 million males affected in the United States alone.
• Binge eating disorder shows the smallest gender gap, affecting 2% of males compared to 3.5% of females.
• Eating disorder rates in males are increasing at a faster pace than in females, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive screening.

Male Eating Disorders by Age Group

Age-Specific Prevalence and Characteristics — 2025

Age Group	Prevalence	Most Common Disorder	Key Risk Factors
Adolescents (13-18)	1.5%	Anorexia Nervosa	Athletic participation, muscle dysmorphia
Young Adults (19-29)	2.8%	Binge Eating Disorder	College stress, body image pressure
Adults (30-49)	3.2%	Binge Eating Disorder	Work stress, weight concerns
Older Adults (50+)	2.1%	OSFED	Life transitions, health concerns

Key Insights:

• Peak prevalence occurs in the 30-49 age group, contrasting with female patterns that peak earlier.
• Male adolescents show higher rates of anorexia nervosa compared to other age groups.
• College-age males (3.6% prevalence) represent a high-risk population requiring targeted intervention.

Athletic and High-Risk Populations

Eating Disorder Rates in Specialized Male Populations — 2025

Population	Prevalence Rate	Primary Concerns
Male Athletes (All Sports)	0-19%	Weight-class sports, aesthetic sports
College Athletes	10%	Performance pressure, body composition
LGBTQ+ Males	15-20%	Body image, minority stress
Men with Muscle Dysmorphia	22%	Muscularity-oriented disordered eating

Key Insights:

• Wrestling, gymnastics, and bodybuilding show the highest eating disorder rates among male athletes.
• LGBTQ+ males face 3-4 times higher risk compared to heterosexual males.
• Muscle dysmorphia affects an estimated 100,000-1 million men in the United States.

Diagnosis and Treatment Patterns

Male Treatment Seeking and Outcomes — 2025

Treatment Metric	Males	Females	Notes
Seek Treatment for ED	25%	43%	Males significantly less likely to seek help
Receive Diagnosis	1 in 4	1 in 2	Males often underdiagnosed
Age at First Treatment	21.3 years	18.9 years	Males seek treatment later
Treatment Response	Similar to females	Baseline	Once in treatment, outcomes comparable

Key Insights:

• Cultural and gender bias leads to significant underdiagnosis and delayed treatment for males.
• Assessment tools designed for females may miss male-specific presentations.
• Males with anorexia nervosa seek treatment more often than males with other eating disorders.
• Gender-specialized programming enhances treatment outcomes for males.

Mortality and Health Risks

Male Eating Disorder Mortality Statistics — 2025

Risk Factor	Male Statistics	Comparison
Overall Mortality Risk	6-8x higher than males without ED	Higher relative risk than females
Anorexia Mortality (SMR)	7.24	Higher than female SMR (4.59)
Annual Deaths (US)	~390 males	25% of all ED deaths
Peak Mortality Age	25-34 years	Later than female peak

Key Insights:

• Males with eating disorders face higher mortality rates than females, partly due to delayed diagnosis.
• Among adolescent males aged 15-19, approximately 60 deaths annually are attributed to anorexia nervosa.
• Males with anorexia have specific medical risks including low testosterone, vitamin D deficiency, and osteoporosis.
• Early intervention is critical, as males show similar treatment responses to females when diagnosed promptly.

Projected Growth and Future Trends

Estimated Male Eating Disorder Cases — US Projections 2025-2030

Disorder	2025-26 (thousands)	2030 (projected)	Growth Rate
Anorexia Nervosa	143.3	148.2	+3.4%
Bulimia Nervosa	90.7	93.8	+3.4%
Binge Eating Disorder	445.7	468.2	+5.1%
OSFED	452.9	476.8	+5.3%

Key Insights:

• Male eating disorder rates are projected to grow faster than female rates through 2030.
• Binge eating disorder and OSFED show the highest projected growth rates among males.
• Increased awareness and screening may contribute to higher reported prevalence rates.
• Digital health interventions are expanding access to male-specific eating disorder treatment.

Sources

1. Deloitte Access Economics. "The Social and Economic Cost of Eating Disorders in the United States of America." June 2020. Harvard School of Public Health.
2. Hudson, J. I., et al. (2007). "The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication." Biological Psychiatry, 61(3), 348-358.
3. National Institute of Mental Health. "Eating Disorders Statistics." 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders
4. Quadflieg, N., et al. (2019). "Mortality in males treated for an eating disorder—a large prospective study." International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(12), 1365-1369.
5. Fichter, M. M., et al. (2020). "Mortality in males as compared to females treated for an eating disorder." Eating and Weight Disorders, 26(5), 1627-1637.
6. National Eating Disorders Association. "Eating Disorders in Men and Boys." March 2025. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-in-men-and-boys/