Objective Previous research suggests that men with eating disorders are less likely to seek treatment than are women. Given stereotypes linked to eating disorders, men may be less likely to recognize when they have an eating disorder, which could act as a barrier to treatment‐seeking. Method The current study examined differences in self‐recognition and treatment‐seeking behavior by gender, controlling for other covariates, in participants with probable DSM‐5 eating disorders drawn from a larger community‐based sample. Results Being female and self‐recognition were both associated with increased likelihood of treatment‐seeking while accounting for other potential covariates, including race/ethnicity, age, BMI, and comorbid disorders. Discussion Results indicate that self‐recognition is a barrier to seeking treatment for both genders and does not account for help‐seeking differences between women and men. Findings have implications for interventions to address barriers to treatment‐seeking for eating disorders.

Eating disorders (EDs) are more common among younger women compared to older women and in women compared to men. As such, most ED research focuses on late adolescent and young adult females resulting in limited prospective research on gender differences in eating disorder psychopathology across the life span. The present study addresses this gap by examining gender differences in ED diagnoses, eating pathology, and the impact of putative risk factors on eating pathology in women (n ϭ 624) and men (n ϭ 276) over a 30-year period from late adolescence (M (SD) ϭ 20[2] years) to later midlife (M (SD) ϭ 50[2] years). Four assessment waves were conducted, beginning with baseline participation during college and subsequent 10-, 20-, and 30-year follow-up. Retention at 30-year follow-up was 72% (n ϭ 440) for women and 67% (n ϭ 181) for men. Prevalence of DSM-5 ED diagnoses decreased over the 30-year span for women and remained stable for men, with no significant gender difference in point prevalence by age 50. Drive for thinness decreased for women through age 50 and increased for men, while bulimic symptoms decreased as both genders aged. Multilevel models demonstrated that the impact of dieting as a risk factor on drive for thinness decreased prospectively as men aged and remained stable as women aged. Results imply that current risk models require refinement to account for developmental trajectories in which dramatic gender differences observed in late adolescence diminish over time.

Objective: The extent to which different types of breakfasts affect appetite and food intake is unclear. To assess the satiety effects of a high-fiber cereal, we compared oatmeal, isocaloric corn flakes, and water. Subjects/Methods: Thirty-six subjects (18 lean, 18 overweight) were assigned to three conditions in a randomized sequence on different days. Ratings of hunger and fullness were obtained concurrently with blood samples for measuring concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, leptin, and acetaminophen (gastric emptying tracer). Appetite was assessed by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) for fullness and hunger, and by measuring food intake of an ad libitum lunch meal at 180 min. Results: Lunch meal intake was lowest after consuming oatmeal (p < 0.00001), which was lower for overweight subjects than lean subjects (p = 0.007). Fullness AUC was greatest (p = 0.00001), and hunger AUC lowest (p < 0.001) after consuming oatmeal. At 180 min, blood glucose was lowest after the corn flakes (p = 0.0001). Insulin AUC was greater for both cereals than water (p < 0.00001). Leptin AUC and glucagon AUC values did not differ between conditions. Acetaminophen concentrations peaked latest after consuming oatmeal (p = 0.046), reflecting slower gastric emptying. Conclusions: Satiety was greater and ad libitum test meal intake lower after consuming oatmeal than after corn flakes, especially in the overweight subjects.

Afternoon/evening may be a high-risk period for overeating, particularly when paired with stress exposure, and for those with binge eating.