Rob Suglia Ph.d.

Impact on American Higher Education: Prevalence of the "Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" Category Among Male College Athletes Rob Suglia Ph.d.

The Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) category is the APA's third and final eating disorder. Since becoming a clinical category in 1994, EDNOS is the most frequently diagnosed eating disorder - occurring in far greater numbers than anorexia and bulimia combined. Since males rarely meet the criteria for anorexia or bulimia, EDNOS is often the only category into which males fall. The higher degree of difficulty in identifying males with eating disorders compared to females is further complicated when males are involved in athletics. The training norms practiced become an ideal means to conceal eating disorder behaviors. As the preferred behavior of eating disordered males, the display of excessive and obligatory exercise can be the best indicator of an eating disorder. Colleges must begin to notice the "warning signs" of their male student-athletes. Dr. Suglia's study considered a wide range of sports with male athletes finding more than half had EDNOS.