Binge-eating disorder affects 0.8% of men in the U.S. over a 12-month period, but men still account for 19% of people with eating disorders globally. In the U.S., eating disorders carry an estimated $64.7 billion in annual direct and indirect costs, while only 18% of surveyed men report receiving specialized eating-disorder services. For many, the delay to care stretches for years, leaving symptoms, comorbid substance use and depression, and atypical presentations underrecognized.
Key Takeaways
- 0.8% 12-month prevalence of binge-eating disorder among men in the U.S.
- 19% of people with eating disorders are male, globally (meta-analysis estimate).
- 24.0% of people with anorexia nervosa are male (systematic review/meta-analysis estimate).
- 30% of men with eating disorders have comorbid substance use disorder (UDS) (meta-analysis).
- 43% of men with eating disorders also have major depressive disorder (meta-analysis estimate).
- Men with eating disorders are less likely to receive evidence-based care: 49% report not getting adequate treatment compared with 37% of women (survey).
- Atypical anorexia nervosa accounts for 43% of individuals diagnosed with anorexia-type disorders in treatment settings (U.S. estimate).
- Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating-disorder diagnosis among males in many clinical cohorts; males comprise 50% or more of binge-eating presentations in some samples (cohort report).
- In a systematic review, muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction was reported by 61% of men in eating-disorder-related studies (review synthesis).
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders, with an excess mortality risk of 5.0x compared with controls (meta-analysis).
- Anorexia nervosa is associated with 5- to 10-year reduced life expectancy; estimates vary, with one meta-analysis showing a ~10-year reduction (review).
- Relapse rates after treatment for anorexia nervosa are commonly reported around 20% to 30% within 2 to 5 years (systematic review range).
- The estimated global prevalence of eating disorders is 0.9% of the population (systematic review estimate).
- In the U.S., eating disorders are associated with an estimated annual cost of $64.7 billion (direct plus indirect costs estimate).
- Eating disorders rank among the top mental health causes of disability globally, accounting for about 1% of years lived with disability in some analyses (GBD-based paper).
Despite being less diagnosed, men face serious binge eating, depression, stigma, and long delays to effective care.
Related reading
01 · Category
Epidemiology3 stats
01
0.8% 12-month prevalence of binge-eating disorder among men in the U.S.
02
19% of people with eating disorders are male, globally (meta-analysis estimate).
03
24.0% of people with anorexia nervosa are male (systematic review/meta-analysis estimate).
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
From an epidemiology standpoint, men are still a minority but a meaningful one, making up about 19% of those with eating disorders globally and roughly 24% of anorexia nervosa cases, while binge-eating disorder affects 0.8% of men in the U.S. over a 12 month period.
02 · Category
Treatment & Access9 stats
01
30% of men with eating disorders have comorbid substance use disorder (UDS) (meta-analysis).
02
43% of men with eating disorders also have major depressive disorder (meta-analysis estimate).
03
Men with eating disorders are less likely to receive evidence-based care: 49% report not getting adequate treatment compared with 37% of women (survey).
04
The average delay to treatment for eating disorders is 4.6 years in the general population, and up to 7 years reported for some male subgroups (review synthesis).
05
Family-based treatment (FBT) is recommended for adolescents with anorexia nervosa; guideline recommendation is strong (Grade A).
06
In a U.S. claims analysis, 61% of eating disorder patients do not receive specialty outpatient treatment within 6 months of diagnosis (administrative data).
07
Only 18% of surveyed men with eating disorders reported receiving specialized eating-disorder services (patient survey).
08
In 1 study, men had a median time to diagnosis of 3 years compared with 1.5 years for women (health-record study).
09
Across clinical samples, males are 1.6x more likely to present with atypical anorexia or other non-traditional presentations than females (comparative analysis).
Interpretation
Treatment & Access Interpretation
Across treatment and access for male eating disorders, large shares are not getting help in time or at the right level, including 61% who do not reach specialty outpatient care within 6 months and an average delay of 4.6 years with up to 7 years reported for some male subgroups.
03 · Category
Clinical Presentation9 stats
01
Atypical anorexia nervosa accounts for 43% of individuals diagnosed with anorexia-type disorders in treatment settings (U.S. estimate).
02
Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating-disorder diagnosis among males in many clinical cohorts; males comprise 50% or more of binge-eating presentations in some samples (cohort report).
03
In a systematic review, muscularity-oriented body dissatisfaction was reported by 61% of men in eating-disorder-related studies (review synthesis).
04
In competitive sports, 10.0% of male athletes screen positive for eating-disorder risk (meta-analysis).
05
Men with eating disorders report higher rates of compensatory behaviors through exercise/overtraining: 38% endorse exercise as a compensatory method (clinic survey).
06
In a study of eating-disorder symptom patterns, males had a 1.3x higher prevalence of binge eating relative to purging behaviors than females (symptom analysis).
07
In clinical datasets, males are less likely to meet classic low-weight anorexia criteria and more likely to be categorized under DSM-5 atypical anorexia (comparative analysis).
08
In one European cohort, 27% of men with eating disorders had normal BMI at presentation (cohort report).
09
In a systematic review, eating-disorder psychopathology in males is associated with higher rates of trauma exposure; 48% report significant trauma histories (review estimate).
Interpretation
Clinical Presentation Interpretation
Clinical presentations in men with eating disorders show a clear pattern of binge-focused symptoms and exercise-driven compensation, with binge eating being 1.3 times more prevalent than purging behaviors and 38% endorsing exercise or overtraining as compensatory behavior.
More related reading
04 · Category
Outcomes & Risk12 stats
01
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders, with an excess mortality risk of 5.0x compared with controls (meta-analysis).
02
Anorexia nervosa is associated with 5- to 10-year reduced life expectancy; estimates vary, with one meta-analysis showing a ~10-year reduction (review).
03
Relapse rates after treatment for anorexia nervosa are commonly reported around 20% to 30% within 2 to 5 years (systematic review range).
04
Bulimia nervosa relapse rates are often estimated at about 30% over long-term follow-up (systematic review).
05
Binge-eating disorder has a chronic-relapsing course: about 40% continue to meet criteria during follow-up in some longitudinal studies (review).
06
In the EDE-Q validation literature, males show fewer diagnostic exclusions but similar functional impairment; effect sizes correspond to clinically meaningful impairment (test manual/validation paper).
07
Eating disorders increase risk of suicide: individuals have up to a 10x higher risk of death by suicide compared with general population (population-based analysis).
08
In a meta-analysis, eating-disorder symptoms are associated with increased self-harm prevalence of about 20% among affected individuals (meta-analysis).
09
In a U.S. cohort study, psychiatric comorbidity accounts for 60% of the burden associated with eating-disorder-related hospitalizations (administrative data analysis).
10
In a large longitudinal study, recovery rates from eating disorders are typically 50% by 5 years in broad samples (long-term follow-up review).
11
Cardiovascular complications occur in a substantial minority of anorexia patients; one clinical review reports about 20% with cardiac complications (review).
12
Osteopenia/osteoporosis risk is present in a large subset of anorexia patients; about 40% show reduced bone mineral density (clinical review).
Interpretation
Outcomes & Risk Interpretation
Across the outcomes and risk category, male eating disorders are associated with markedly elevated danger and long-term instability, with mortality reaching 5.0 times that of controls and relapse or continued symptoms commonly persisting at roughly 20% to 30% for anorexia nervosa, about 30% for bulimia nervosa, and around 40% for binge eating disorder.
05 · Category
Economic & Societal8 stats
01
The estimated global prevalence of eating disorders is 0.9% of the population (systematic review estimate).
02
In the U.S., eating disorders are associated with an estimated annual cost of $64.7 billion (direct plus indirect costs estimate).
03
Eating disorders rank among the top mental health causes of disability globally, accounting for about 1% of years lived with disability in some analyses (GBD-based paper).
04
In a U.S. study, eating disorders accounted for 13.9% of mental health-related emergency department visits among adolescents and young adults with eating-disorder codes (claims analysis).
05
Male eating disorder diagnosis rates are lower than females: in one claims dataset, males represent 19% of identified cases (administrative data).
06
Stigma affects help-seeking: 67% of respondents in a national survey reported that society views eating disorders as a “female problem” (survey).
07
Digital-delivered CBT adoption among behavioral health providers was 25% in 2023 in the U.S. (industry survey).
08
Prevalence of eating disorders in men is underrecognized: 1 in 3 men with symptoms do not receive a formal diagnosis in some clinical reviews (review synthesis).
Interpretation
Economic & Societal Interpretation
From a purely economic and societal perspective, eating disorders are relatively common at an estimated 0.9% of the global population yet drive major costs in the US, totaling about $64.7 billion annually, while the burden shows up disproportionately in public systems and attitudes where males make up only 19% of identified cases.
report visual · Breakdown
Men with eating disorders: underdiagnosed and undertreated
Men with eating disorders are frequently underrecognized and have lower access to specialized, evidence-based care.
50%
Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating-disorder diagnosis among males in many clinical cohorts; males comprise
50%
In a large longitudinal study, recovery rates from eating disorders are typically 50% by 5 years in broad samples (long-
source-verifiedncbi.nlm.nih.gov · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Male Eating Disorders Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-eating-disorders-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Male Eating Disorders Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/male-eating-disorders-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Male Eating Disorders Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-eating-disorders-statistics.
Sources & references
41 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+31 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)