Prevention of Eating Disorders in Boys and Men

While research on eating disorder (ED) prevention has traditionally focused on female populations, growing recognition that eating and appearance-based disorders do occur in boys and men has led to an increase in body image interventions and eating disorder prevention programs for boys and men. Research to date has tested prevention programs delivered as early as elementary school through young adulthood, using in-person and Internet-based delivery modalities. In this chapter, we review programs that have included boys and men in (1) school-based prevention programs, (2) in-person prevention programs, (3) Internet-based prevention programs, and (4) dual prevention programs targeting weight and EDs. Although many programs have helped reduce risk factors for EDs, such as body dissatisfaction, only a few programs have demonstrated the ability or potential to prevent ED symptoms and, particularly, ED onset. Across studies, the lack of measurement of male-specific constructs (e.g., muscularity) and the tendency for mixed-gender programs to lack content relevant to boys and men highlight the need to design male-specific programs with appropriate assessment measures. We end the chapter with future directions for the field of eating disorder prevention in populations of boys and men.