Many people buy into the stereotype that eating disorders primarily impact women. The truth is eating disorders can affect anyone. However, this notion that it does impact only feminine women can cause it to go unnoticed in men, trans people and other groups quietly living with this condition. The way to help all people who suffer from this condition is to break the stereotype and myths surrounding eating disorders and gender. Here is what you need to know.

No matter what gender you are, it is popularly perceived the more feminine you are the higher the chances you are of developing an eating disorder. People assume this because if you are a very feminine individual you are likely to be more focused on your looks. However, trying to become thin to look good is not a big reason for developing this condition. The experts say eating disorder affects people no matter what their gender. There are many contributing factors other than just wanting to look beautiful.

If being too feminine is linked to being a predictive factor for an eating disorder, then being too masculine means you don't have body image issues. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, many men who suffer from an eating disorder are heterosexual."There has been a striking change in attitudes toward male body image in the last 30 years,”Dr Harrison Pope, a Harvard psychiatrist who studies bodybuilding culture, told a news portal. Dr Harrison Pope revealed more lean and muscular men images "is dramatically more prevalent in society than it was a generation ago."

Recent studies have found that trans youth have a very high risk of developing eating disorders. A 2015 study found trans people "may use disordered eating behaviours to suppress or accentuate particularly gendered features." They are also more like to engage in behaviours, like self-induced vomiting and using diet pills, that have a link to bulimia nervosa. Experts say the rates of eating disorder in the trans population is very high and needs to be addressed urgently.

Some people believe that queer women are not impacted by unrealistic beauty standards. Researchers want to stress this type of disorder can impact anyone. Researchers found the following were some of the contributing factors that cause queer women to develop an eating disorder - trying to find one's identity, trying to be in control and looking for feminine beauty. They are also at risk of developing bulimia and binge eating disorders.