Though girls and women may suffer from eating disorders, men suffer as well. Having an eating disorder can be very much a male issue.
Possible Reasons for the Stigma
There appears to be less public acceptance for men to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. Admitting to having one of the various types of eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia or binge eating, etc.), has a perception of weakness to it. There is also the fallacy that if a man admits to having an eating disorder, he is gay.
Though numbers seem to suggest that the gay, male population may have higher incidents of eating disorders, heterosexual men suffer, too: "...men are thought to make up about 1 million of the 8 million Americans with eating disorders....society has a tendency to glamorize eating disorders while at the same time making fun of the people who have them." [1]
There is so much emphasis upon eating disorders as women's issues, men do not believe they can suffer from them as well. In fact, an eating disorder in men can be a more insidious and serious a condition than in women, because men have more muscle mass. Women can lose fat for a period of time without dangerous repercussions. To contrast, because of their muscle mass and lower amount of body fat, men lose muscle and tissue before women arrive to that point of severity.
Additionally, treatment facilities have so many girls and women as patients that men do not feel comfortable participating in treatment within the same treatment modalities as women. There are not enough facilities catering to men.
Treatment Needs of Men
A study conducted by D. Blake Woodside, M.D., from the University of Toronoto's Psychiatry department, concluded that the needs of men suffering from eating disorders were no different from the needs of women also suffering from eating disorders. Additionally, men were found to be burdened with the same mental health issues as women. [2]
Shame is one of the underlying reasons men refuse treatment, and it tends to be a dominant issue with them. Unloading shame in the presence of women is unthinkable to the male psyche.
Additionally, as women take on more roles traditionally associated with men, men appear to be seeking alternative means to connect with their masculinity. Masculinity becomes redefined by obtaining the perfect body.
Doctors may be less likely to recognize when men are suffering from eating disorders. Physicians are practiced spotting eating disorders in women but not in men.
Warning Signs for Men with Eating Disorders
Men may starve or overeat and then purge, however, they may also take pills to help themselves bulk up and engage in over-strenuous exercise routines. Though they may look thin, because of their muscle mass, they are perceived as appearing normal.
Low self-esteem, or feelings of being not good enough can be blocked out or hidden by starvation and strenuous exercise. Engaging in an eating disorder fractures the communal aspects of the entire person. [3]
Seeking Help
When in doubt, or wondering if an eating order exists, meeting with a trained professional is the first step towards stopping the suffering. Eating disorders, by their nature, without help from treatment professionals, will only worsen.
Sources
[1,2] Men and Eating Disorders
[3] Warning Signs
Note to the Reader: The information contained within this article is not designed to diagnose or treat any condition.
Jeannie Delahunt - Welcome! My Prelude I have many passions--problem, not enough time to indulge in all of them. Because I am mainly interested in ...
