More males seek treatment for eating disorders

OBJECTIVE: This study compares males and females with DSM-IV-defined eating disorders who were admitted to the inpatient eating disorders service at The New York Hospital, Cornell between 1984 and 1987. METHODS: During this period, 51 males and 693 females presented for their first admission. Demographic information, questionnaires, and SCID interviews were used to compare the male and female samples. RESULTS: Males were significantly more likely than females to have a later onset of their eating disorder (20.56 vs. 17.15 years), and to be involved in an occupation or sport in which weight control influences performance. There were no significant gender differences in other characteristics or comorbid diagnoses. Males constituted an increasing percentage of total admissions between 1984 and 1997 (r = .692, p = .009). DISCUSSION: The similarities of core eating disorder psychopathology and comorbid illness in male and female patients encourage the continued use of similar detection and treatment strategies with both groups.