Military culture may increase risk of eating disorders among men, expert warns

Paula Chesley, a yoga and meditation instructor who works with people with eating disorders, notes that male clients are rare but many have served in the military.

She says that, based on her experience, military service appears to be a strong risk factor, with veterans showing higher rates of bulimia-about three times the civilian rate.

Chesley points to recent comments by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a September 30, 2025 speech, where he criticized “fat troops” and “fat generals and admirals,” arguing that such language could worsen body‑image pressures for service members.

She warns that this rhetoric, combined with a broader emphasis on extreme masculine ideals in recent administration messaging, may contribute to the development or worsening of eating disorders among men in the armed forces.