When it comes to body image and the media, the focus has long been on girls. Yet a recent study found that hospitalizations for boys with eating disorders has risen by 400% in the last two decades. Our guest today, Dr. Jason Nagata of University of California San Francisco, dives into the hidden impacts of eating disorders across all genders, cultures, and identities. Most importantly, he shares ways to support teens who are struggling.

Erin talks to Dr. Jason Nagata about:

• Ways to distinguish between “health promoting” activities and signs of struggle.
• Why we shouldn’t ignore the body image and mental health struggles of boys, trans, and non-binary youth.
• The surprising red flags in social media content that go unnoticed when we focus only on girls and thinness.
• Practical steps to take if you’re worried about a young person in your life.

Featured Expert:

Dr. Jason Nagata - https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jason.nagata

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Resources discussed in this episode can be found here: sparkandstitchinstitute.com/podcast

Connected & Courageous is a podcast of Spark & Stitch Institute with production support from Beth K. Gibbs at Lift Podcasting.