ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how eating disorders in boys and men are shaped – and often hidden – by cultural ideas about gender and masculinity. Drawing on historical texts, medical case studies, and a range of personal narratives, it traces how eating disorders became framed as a ‘women’s illness’, leaving men underdiagnosed and underserved. It explores how dominant ideals of masculinity discourage men from recognising symptoms, seeking help, or being taken seriously. The chapter calls for a more inclusive understanding of eating disorders and shows how lived experience can challenge outdated assumptions and help reshape research, diagnosis, and care. It concludes with key points for health professionals and others.
