Eating Disorders And Men
What do you think of when you think of an eating disorder? What comes to your mind? For many people, it’s the image of a young, middle-class, white female, purging after a meal in hopes of not gaining weight. While this is undoubtedly the stereotypical image, the truth is that eating disorders impact the lives of individuals of all ages, races, economic statuses, and genders. So why do we hear so little about men who struggle with eating disorders? Men, as well as women, are affected by eating disorders, but there are collectively some different challenges that they face regarding seeking and receiving treatment. One example is the higher prevalence of muscle dysmorphic disorder among men.
The Difference Between Males And Females
Part of the problem with the diagnosis of an eating disorder in the male population is that the criteria for recognizing these conditions have been generally sex-specific. For instance, leading up to May of 2013, amenorrhea, or the absence of menstruation, was also used to identify anorexia nervosa. Criteria for bulimia nervosa include the use of laxatives or vomiting to keep weight down. While this may indeed be true for the female population and a portion of their male counterparts, men are likely to use compulsive exercise as a way to compensate for their overeating. Excessive exercise in the male population is often encouraged, which makes it difficult for men to realize their problem.
A “Female” Disorder
Due to the fact that the public historically views eating disorders as a female-dominated issue, there can be a great deal of shame for men struggling with one of these conditions. For a male suffering from bulimia, this shame can lead to a delay in them seeking treatment, or keep them from ever seeking help at all. In the case of binge eating disorder, it is much more likely to go unnoticed in the male population versus the same condition with a female.
Difficulties In Treatment
One of the obstacles in treating men with eating disorders is that it is far less common for a medical doctor to diagnose a male with one of these conditions. Men with eating disorders do not receive the attention that females do, and that has lead to fewer facilities that treat or specialize with the male population. The difficulty in diagnosing and treating this population has lead to an imbalance between men and women with eating disorders, and has continued to perpetuate the problem.
Bringing It To The Forefront
We know that the male population suffers from disordered eating in the same way that women do. It is important that we start to lift the stigma, remove the stereotype, and educate the public on this reality. Living with an untreated eating disorder is painful, and it is important that individuals feel comfortable with coming forward to ask for help. These conditions are life threatening and people all of gender identities, including non-binary and trans need gender-informed support to overcome them.
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