‘Huge increase in men with eating disorders’

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of men diagnosed with eating disorders in the past decade, research suggests.

The number of men who are diagnosed by the GPs with eating problems increased by 27 per cent between 2000 and 2009, the study found.

Across the UK, the number of newly diagnosed cases rose by 15 per cent in the same time frame, researchers said.

The authors, who looked at data from 400 GP practices, identified 9,000 new cases of eating disorders.

Many of the new cases were “eating disorders not otherwise specified” (Ednos) – which meet most, but not, all of the criteria associated with anorexia or bulimia.

The research found a 60 per cent increase in women with this type of disorder and a 24 per cent increase among men.

Lead author of the report, Dr Nadia Micali, of the University College London’s Institute for Child Health, said: “There is a clear increase in men and women being diagnosed with eating disorders.

“Mostly we see new diagnoses of the Ednos category, reflecting people who have an illness as severe as anorexia or bulimia, but who don’t have symptoms as frequently as the official threshold.

“For example they may use strategies for weight loss-such as fasting or self-induced vomiting less than twice a week.

“It should be stressed these people, who are understudied, are extremely ill. What we are currently calling Ednos will now be diagnosed as full cases of anorexia or bulimia.”