Reflections in Verse and Prose: TheThe Neglected Percent: Male ...

In the past, Eating Disorders were considered to be only a problem for young women. We now understand that eating disorders effect males and females of all ages.??It is estimated that 8 million people in the United States are suffering from an Eating Disorder, and of that number 10% are men.?Men are seeking treatment for eating disorders in increasing numbers. Current estimates are that several million men in the U.S. struggle with some form of serious eating disorder. Due to misconceptions, many physicians are unaware of the signs of eating disorders in men and miss the diagnosis. Although anorexia nervosa is less prevalent in men, males suffer with the same symptoms including self-starvation, an excessive fear of becoming fat and compulsive living patterns. Boys with anorexia nervosa are particularly vulnerable to bone loss and growth retardation during their teenage years.

Bulimia Nervosa and body image disturbances occur much more frequently in men than previously understood. Binge eating disorder, muscle dysmorphia and exercise addiction occur about as frequently in men as in women. Eating disorders in males, as in females are associated with underlying stress, transitions, perfectionism, depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Because of the?old fashioned idea?that this illness strikes only women, few men come forward to find the help they deserve. Although the core symptoms of eating disorders are similar in men and women, the specific symptoms may present differently.Body dissatisfaction is driven by cultural ideals, which are different for men and women. The culturally defined ideal body type for men is to have a defined muscular body shape with broad shoulders. Young men are becoming focused on muscular definition, even when not associated with fitness. Thus, men with eating disorders who want to have bigger muscles may engage in excessive weight training, nutritional supplementation and steroid abuse. Increasingly, our culture emphasizes weight control by exercise, especially for males. Males with eating disorders may have a strong desire to achieve a very lean body weight, but weight loss can also be driven by health concerns or an attempt to enhance athletic performance or physical appearance.

Treatment for Males with Eating Disorders

Many intensive treatments for those struggling with eating disorders have been designed with women in mind. Boys and men in groups with only women may feel a mismatch with their experience and that of other group members. In extreme circumstances, men may not be able to obtain suitable treatment because of these differences.


Special Risk Factors in Males With Eating Disorders

There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders in men. These can include a societal focus on the ?ideal? body shape, size, and physical appearance. Or, a number of common athletic activities and occupations can put men at increased risk by leading to an imbalance in energy and exercise or an increased focus on body weight. These activities include:

Body Building
Wrestling
Dancing
Ice Skating
Swimming
Running
Rowing
Gymnastics
Jockeying

Other contributing factors that can lead to eating disorders or unhealthy weight control problems in men include negative family patterns such as parents stressing extreme or unhealthy levels of fitness and athleticism and when coupled with media influences, the pressure to be trim and fit increases. Traumatic events such as abuse can also lead to the development of male eating disorders.

According to Arnold Andersen and the research he did for his book?Males with Eating Disorders, while women who develop Eating Disorders?feel?fat before the onset of their disordered eating behaviors, typically they are near average weight. Men are more typically overweight medically before the development of the disorder. In addition, men who are binge eaters or compulsive overeaters may go undiagnosed more than women because of society's willingness to accept an overeating and/or overweight man more-so than an overeating or overweight woman.

Though it is more common for homosexual men to suffer from Eating Disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia (because of the tendency in the male gay community to place a high level of importance on success and appearance), there are still many heterosexual men out there who suffer. This contributes back into the shameful feelings a heterosexual male sufferer has -- he may be afraid that people will think he is gay -- or that a homosexual and heterosexual male can feel -- that the illness is considered to be a "female's problem".

In addition, there may often be shrouds of secrecy because of the lack of therapy groups and?treatment centers?offering groups specifically designed for men. They may feel very alone at the thought of having to sit in a group of women, to be part of a program designed for women, and even at the prospect that atreatment facility?will turn them down because of their sex.

More research needs to be done in this area. For all those who suffer, men and women, there are many possible?co-existing psychological illnesses?that can be present, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-injury behavior and substance abuse, obsessive compulsive disorder, and borderline personality disorder and multiple personality syndrome.

The most important thing, overall, to remember is that?most?of the underlying psychological factors that lead to an Eating Disorder are the same for both men and women. Low self-esteem, a need to be accepted, depression, anxiety or other existing psychological illness, and an inability to cope with emotions and personal issues. All females and males with eating disorders deserve to find recovery and the happiness and self-love on the other side.

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