Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample
Abstract Background The growing body of research on eating disorders among male adolescents reveals some sex differences in clinical presentation. The current study set out to replicate and extend recent research on the clinical and medical characteristics of male youth with eating disorders, and ex...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0226-y |
| _version_ | 1797935793805721600 |
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| author | Jennifer S. Coelho Tiffany Lee Priscilla Karnabi Alex Burns Sheila Marshall Josie Geller Pei-Yoong Lam |
| author_facet | Jennifer S. Coelho Tiffany Lee Priscilla Karnabi Alex Burns Sheila Marshall Josie Geller Pei-Yoong Lam |
| author_sort | Jennifer S. Coelho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The growing body of research on eating disorders among male adolescents reveals some sex differences in clinical presentation. The current study set out to replicate and extend recent research on the clinical and medical characteristics of male youth with eating disorders, and examine sex differences between biological males and females in a tertiary pediatric eating disorder treatment setting. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted with all biological males who were admitted to the Eating Disorders Programs at British Columbia Children’s Hospital (2003–2015) or the Looking Glass Residence (2011–2015). Clinical data, including demographics, percentage of median body mass index (% mBMI), and psychiatric diagnoses, were recorded along with medical data (i.e., vital signs, basic biochemistry investigations, and bone mineral density). A comparison group of females with eating disorders who received treatment at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in the inpatient or outpatient streams (2010–2015) were included, to examine sex differences with males who were admitted during the same period. Results A total of 71 male youth were included in the chart review. Males had significant medical complications, with 26.5% of the sample presenting with a heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute and 31.4% presenting with a bone mineral density z-score for the lumbar spine ≤ − 1. Sex differences between the subset of males who were treated between 2010 and 2015 (n = 41) and the females (n = 251) were examined. Females were more likely than were males to have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and to be underweight (< 95% mBMI) at admission. Males were younger than females, but no differences emerged in the duration of the eating disorder symptoms. No sex differences emerged relating to medical instability (e.g., bradycardia). Conclusions A large proportion of male children and youth with eating disorders are medically compromised at admission. Males were younger than females, and were less likely than females to have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Males who were underweight at admission had also lost a lower percentage of body weight in comparison to females. The current study replicates previous sex differences reported in pediatric samples. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:19:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-05e4024b932d4ad8ad63a2716a8755ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T18:19:44Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-05e4024b932d4ad8ad63a2716a8755ca2023-02-02T07:14:56ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742018-11-016111210.1186/s40337-018-0226-yEating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sampleJennifer S. Coelho0Tiffany Lee1Priscilla Karnabi2Alex Burns3Sheila Marshall4Josie Geller5Pei-Yoong Lam6Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children’s HospitalProvincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children’s HospitalProvincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children’s HospitalProvincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children’s HospitalSchool of Social Work, University of British ColumbiaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British ColumbiaProvincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program for Children & Adolescents, British Columbia Children’s HospitalAbstract Background The growing body of research on eating disorders among male adolescents reveals some sex differences in clinical presentation. The current study set out to replicate and extend recent research on the clinical and medical characteristics of male youth with eating disorders, and examine sex differences between biological males and females in a tertiary pediatric eating disorder treatment setting. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted with all biological males who were admitted to the Eating Disorders Programs at British Columbia Children’s Hospital (2003–2015) or the Looking Glass Residence (2011–2015). Clinical data, including demographics, percentage of median body mass index (% mBMI), and psychiatric diagnoses, were recorded along with medical data (i.e., vital signs, basic biochemistry investigations, and bone mineral density). A comparison group of females with eating disorders who received treatment at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in the inpatient or outpatient streams (2010–2015) were included, to examine sex differences with males who were admitted during the same period. Results A total of 71 male youth were included in the chart review. Males had significant medical complications, with 26.5% of the sample presenting with a heart rate of less than 50 beats per minute and 31.4% presenting with a bone mineral density z-score for the lumbar spine ≤ − 1. Sex differences between the subset of males who were treated between 2010 and 2015 (n = 41) and the females (n = 251) were examined. Females were more likely than were males to have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, and to be underweight (< 95% mBMI) at admission. Males were younger than females, but no differences emerged in the duration of the eating disorder symptoms. No sex differences emerged relating to medical instability (e.g., bradycardia). Conclusions A large proportion of male children and youth with eating disorders are medically compromised at admission. Males were younger than females, and were less likely than females to have a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Males who were underweight at admission had also lost a lower percentage of body weight in comparison to females. The current study replicates previous sex differences reported in pediatric samples.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0226-yMalesPediatricEating disordersAnorexia nervosaSex differences |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer S. Coelho Tiffany Lee Priscilla Karnabi Alex Burns Sheila Marshall Josie Geller Pei-Yoong Lam Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample Journal of Eating Disorders Males Pediatric Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa Sex differences |
| title | Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| title_full | Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| title_fullStr | Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| title_short | Eating disorders in biological males: clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| title_sort | eating disorders in biological males clinical presentation and consideration of sex differences in a pediatric sample |
| topic | Males Pediatric Eating disorders Anorexia nervosa Sex differences |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-018-0226-y |
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