Signs to Look for As Eating Disorders Affect More Adolescent Boys
Ask students: How many times a day did the wrestler check his weight? Why did he check his weight so much? How can signs of an eating disorder be spotted?
For years, eating disorders were thought to predominantly affect women and girls. But it’s estimated that 1 in 3 people with the condition is male, and that 10 million American boys and men will struggle with it at some point in their lives. John Yang speaks with Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician specializing in eating disorders at the University of California, San Francisco, to learn more.
View the transcript of the story.
Key Term
- anorexia nervosa — an eating disorder marked by severe restriction of food consumption and anxiety about weight gain
Discussion Questions
- Who is Dr. Jason Nataga?
- What age was the wrestler Dr. Nataga was working with?
- How many times a day did the wrestler check his weight?
- Why did he check his weight so much?
- How can signs of an eating disorder be spotted?
Focus Questions
How can parents help their children who have signs of an eating disorder?
Media literacy: Do you know what resources are available for young people including boys who are experiencing eating disorders? Aside from free, nationally available resources such as hotlines, who do you think students can turn to for help?
Extension Activity
Watch this Student Reporting Labs video and answer the following question: How can students help those with disabilities and disorders?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories.
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