The latest figures on eating disorders have revealed that one in four people who suffer with anorexia, bulimia or compulsive eating are men.

An estimated 2.7 million adults in England have an eating disorder of which around 700,000 are men. Previous research had found the figure around 1.1 million with ten percent being men so these new statistics have shocked eating disorder charities.

Many men may not be aware they have the problem and it can be easily dismissed as a problem for girls and women. However, men are more likely to use the gym excessively or be obsessed over getting fit as a way to lose weight.

Young women aged 16-24 were found to be at the highest risk of developing an eating disorder. This new survey also discovered that four out of five adults were receiving any help from the NHS for their condition

The survey involved questioning thousands of adults about their food behaviour. By answering in the positive to at least two of the questions a participant was defined as having an eating disorder.

Of those surveyed, over 4% of men and over 10% of women felt they had lost control over the amount of food they ate. Around 2% of men and 4% of women said they made themselves sick when they felt they’d eaten too much.

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