Beyond the Drive for Thinness: Clinical Characteristics and Diagnostic Red Flags in Male Pediatric Eating Disorders: A Case Series
Abstract
Abstract Introduction : Eating disorders (EDs) are severe psychiatric illnesses associated with high morbidity and mortality. Traditionally, their strong association with the female gender has resulted in a scarcity of literature regarding male presentations. This disparity leads to limited clinical understanding, diagnostic delays, and a lack of gender-specific therapeutic guidance for the male population.. Description of the clinical cases : We present a series of five clinical cases of male children and adolescents (under 18 years old) diagnosed with EDs and treated at our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Unit between 2022 and 2023. The cases highlight diverse presentations, ranging from severe restrictive Anorexia Nervosa with life-threatening malnutrition to exercise-focused compensatory behaviors and body dissatisfaction centered on muscularity.. Discussion : While sharing core features with female presentations, EDs in males exhibit distinct patterns, such as a drive for muscularity ("inverted anorexia"), compulsive physical exercise as a primary compensatory mechanism, and the absence of traditional physiological markers like amenorrhea. These factors often mask the disorder, leading to misdiagnosis or late intervention.. Conclusions : Identifying male-specific "red flags"—including height/weight stagnation and obsessive exercise—is crucial for early detection. Further research is essential to develop gender-sensitive diagnostic tools and integrated…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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