Eating disorders are becoming more common in younger people. While there is no one cause of an eating disorder, experts have linked eating disorders to a combination of factors, including family relationships, psychological problems and genetics. Researchers have also linked certain eating disorders with an obsession with perfectionism-concern over mistakes, high personal standards and parental expectations and criticism.
Millions of girls suffer from eating disorders but most people are not even aware that boys also suffer from the same diseases. While it is estimated that at least 7 million females struggle with these diseases, approximately a million men do too.
Boy With a Secret is the story of Nick Martinez. The story follows Nick from high school, through college and into adulthood. It explores Nick’s relationships with his family members and his obsession with control. As a teenager, Nick who was an exceptional baseball player and a fine student, started vomiting as a way to maintain his weight. However, practicing “responsible bulimia”, as Nick called it, was actually more of a way to exert control in a chaotic world. Nick felt incredible pressure to please his parents, his teachers and his coaches both academically and athletically.
Boy With a Secret