For years, the conversation around eating disorders has centered on women. But binge eating in men is more common than most people realize—and often goes unnoticed or untreated. The silence surrounding men’s experiences with binge eating disorder (BED) has deep roots in stigma, misunderstanding, and cultural expectations of masculinity. At the Center for Healthy Eating and Activity Research (CHEAR) at UC San Diego, we’re working to change that by helping individuals and families understand the science behind disordered eating and the paths to recovery. The Hidden Struggle: When Strength Becomes Silence While it’s easy to associate eating disorders with adolescent girls, research from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) reveals that binge eating disorder affects both men and women in nearly equal numbers. In fact, males account for about one-third of all diagnosed cases. Yet men are far less likely to seek help from a mental health professional or discuss mental health issues related to eating. Why? Because cultural messages often teach men that emotional control equals strength—and that…