Boy Anorexia

The site www.boyanorexia.com proposes "triggers" for Boy Anorexia :

1. An overweight child being teased or bullied at school. Comments might be made in a friendly manner, but then taken to heart.
2. A highly academic child might be bullied by less able children and see food as a way to control his life.
3. A less academic child might see weight loss as the only thing he can achieve positive results with.
4. A child whose parents are always dieting might follow suit.
5. A child who has seen an overweight parent or relative suffer a heart attack or any other problems might seek to prevent this happening to him by cutting back on food.
6. A death in the family can create a feeling of helplessness and loss of control. A child might find comfort in having control over food.
7. An overprotective or over dominant mother has often been blamed in the past for her child’s eating disorder.
8. A passive or absent father has also been often cited as a reason for a child developing eating problems.
9. Social pressures might cause a child to start dieting and exercising. Within our culture young men who have a slim and athletic build are portrayed as being popular, attractive, healthy and successful in life. A young boy with puppy fat might feel he has to take drastic measures to achieve this image as soon as possible.