Food Hoarding in Teen Boys

Food hoarding is a compulsive behavior characterized by gathering and consuming more food than a person can eat. According to Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angeles and licensed clinical psychologist on the Dr. Oz website, hoarding has links to a series of mental disorders, including obsessive compulsive disorder and eating disorders requiring professional intervention. Although eating disorders are commonly associated with teen girls, the amount of teen boys affected is steadily rising. A teen boy is especially prone to food hoarding if he participates in sports with weight restrictions, such as swimming, bodybuilding and wrestling.

  1. Compulsive Overeating

    • Teen boys who hoard food may be compulsive eaters. Compulsive eaters tend to go through periods of uncontrollable eating and in most cases, impulsive eating. When a teen hoarder is not eating, he is usually hiding food for later. The Santa Clara University website explains that compulsive eaters continue to eat past the point of feeling full. When they are not compulsively eating, teen boys may fast or diet in an attempt to lose any weight gain. Compulsive eaters often have other symptoms of the disorder, including depression, anxiety and low self-esteem.

    Bulimia Nervosa

    • Food hoarding in teen boys may also be indicative of bulimia nervosa. A teen hoarder with bulimia nervosa often stockpiles food to eat on a binge at a later time. The University of Cincinnati website explains that those with bulimia nervosa have periods of secretive eating, followed by purging (vomiting) to avoid weight gain. Teen boys with bulimia nervosa may also use laxatives after eating large amounts of food in an attempt to lose weight. Laxatives may be used in place of, or in conjunction with, purging.

    Anorexia Nervosa

    • According to the University of Michigan Health System, one in four anorexic preteens is a boy. Characteristics of anorexia are self-starvation, extreme weight loss, extreme dieting, unusual eating practices and frequently missed meals. A teen boy with anorexia often denies that he has an eating disorder and shuns comments from other people concerning his low weight. These teens find it uncomfortable to eat around other people. Hoarding food to eat later gives the teen the opportunity to eat in private.

    Professional Help

    • If you notice signs of hoarding, such as your son hiding food under his bed or stuffing empty soda cans and candy wrappers in his dresser drawers, approach him with your findings. According to Psych Central, he may feel a sense of relief that his problem is out in the open. Once it is, seek professional help. Teen boys with eating disorders are often treatable on an outpatient basis. Outpatient services may include medical intervention and monitoring, individual and family counseling and nutritional therapy. This treatment usually involves a long-term plan and it is not unusual for some teens to relapse during the recovery period.

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