Laurence Nugent died in the early hours of September 30, 2009, aged 24.
The mental healthcare assistant, from Belfast, had hidden his eating disorder from his family and friends since the age of 16, The Irish Sun reported. At his worst, he vomited up to 25 times a day. Years of disordered eating strained his heart, leading to his sudden death.
“We didn’t realise at the time, this illness is a killer,” said Pamela Nugent, 70, who founded The Laurence Trust in her son’s name to support men with eating disorders.
Some 3.5 million people in Britain have an eating disorder, and one in four of them are men, according to Kerri Fleming, head of services at the eating disorder charity Beat.
“Sadly, there’s still a stereotype that eating disorders only affect young women,” Fleming warned.
A Hidden Battle on the Football Pitch
Laurence was a keen footballer who trained daily and played in a local team with his older brother Christopher, who is now 43. By the time Laurence reached 16, he was frequently purging after meals.
His parents, Pamela and Francis, 69, did not suspect anything was wrong until he started losing a lot of weight at age 21 despite eating copiously. He was always cold and tired, and he frequently visited the bathroom during and after meals.
His personality changed as he grew paranoid, worrying about money, jobs, and his friends’ opinions.
Once athletic and well-built, Laurence dropped to 8st 7lb and grew weaker.
He collapsed while playing football in 2008.
“Football was his passion, but he couldn’t keep that up, which had a big impact,” Pamela said.
He became severely depressed and tried to take his own life.
At his mother’s insistence, Laurence finally spoke to a GP, who diagnosed him with an eating disorder and offered him 12 weeks of gym access.
“The GP was not educated on eating disorders, and all he could think of was stress and depression,” Pamela said. Laurence left the surgery humiliated and refused to return.
The Final Night in Belfast
On the night he died, Laurence came downstairs complaining of chest pain. His father Francis suspected muscle strain or acid reflux.
“Clearly that would have been the beginning of the heart failure,” Pamela said.
When she asked if he wanted to go to A&E, Laurence replied, “No, no, Mum, it’s probably wind.”
Later that night, Francis heard a rattling sound from Laurence’s room, rushed in, and performed CPR while Pamela called an ambulance.
It was too late.
“You are in shock and denial – and even 17 years later, at times we still feel like that,” Pamela said.
At the funeral, one of his best friends asked why Laurence never spoke to him.
Pamela believes pride, shame, and stigma prevented him from opening up.
“Being a man, that door was closed,” she said. “He didn’t share anything, because he wanted us to think the best of him.”
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders in Men
Eating disorders affect people regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, background, or social class, according to Beat.
Dr Charlotte Ord, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, outlined key indicators of disordered eating in men.
“Restrictive eating, skipping meals, binge eating, secrecy around food, rapid weight changes or compensatory behaviours are all strong indicators of disordered eating,” Dr Ord said. “We need to make it easier for boys and men to recognise that seeking help isn’t a failure of masculinity.”
Warning signs include:
– Obsessive tracking of calories and nutritional content
– Skipping meals or restricting specific foods
– An obsession with bulking up and an intense focus on fat, muscle, or weight
– Excessive exercise accompanied by guilt or anxiety if missed
– Preoccupation with and secretive behaviour around food
Hospital admissions for male eating disorders increased by 128 per cent between 2015 and 2018 in the UK.
Experts point to online body-image pressures, extreme muscular physiques promoted on social media, and weight-loss trends as escalating risks for vulnerable individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Male Eating Disorders
How many men suffer from eating disorders in the UK?
Approximately 3.5 million people in Britain have an eating disorder, and one in four of them are male, according to the eating disorder charity Beat.
What were the physical warning signs in Laurence Nugent’s case?
Laurence experienced rapid weight loss down to 8st 7lb despite eating large amounts of food, constant fatigue, feeling cold, and frequently visiting the bathroom during and after meals.
Where can men in the UK find support for eating disorders?
Individuals can contact the eating disorder charity Beat on their helpline at 0808 801 0677 or visit The Laurence Trust for male-specific support.
“The sadness of all of this is, we’ve lost our son and we can’t ever get him back,” Pamela said.
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