Although only about 5-10% of those suffering from eating disorders are male, their struggle and issues still deserve attention. Don't assume that just because someone is male that he can't have an eating disorder.
Although only about 5-10% of those suffering from eating disorders are male, their struggle and issues still deserve attention. Don't assume that just because someone is male that he can't have an eating disorder.
There is not too much known about the male aspect of eating disorders, most probably because they are small in number compared to the females who suffer. More research is definitely needed in this area.
The following information has been obtained from the Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. website (http://www.anred.com/males.html).
-They were fat or overweight as children.
-They have been dieting. Dieting is one of the most powerful eating disorder triggers for both males and females.
-They participate in a sport that demands thinness. Runners and jockeys are at higher risk than football players and weight lifters. Wrestlers who try to shed pounds quickly before a match so they can compete in a lower weight category seem to be at special risk. Body builders are at risk if they deplete body fat and fluid reserves to achieve high definition.
-They have a job or profession that demands thinness. Male models, actors, and entertainers seem to be at higher risk than the general population.
-Some, but by no means all, males with eating disorders are members of the gay community where men are judged on their physical attractiveness in much the same way as women are judged in the heterosexual community.
-Males often begin an eating disorder at older ages than females do, and they more often have a history of obesity or overweight.
-Heterosexual males are not exposed to the same intense cultural pressures to be thin that women and girls endure. A casual review of popular magazines and TV shows reveals that women are encouraged to diet and be thin so they can feel good about themselves, be successful at school and at work, and attract friends and romantic partners. Men, on the other hand, are exhorted to be strong and powerful, to build their bodies and make them large so they can compete successfully, amass power and wealth, and defend and protect their skinny female companions.
-It's interesting to note that when women are asked what they would do with one magic wish, they almost always want to lose weight. Men asked the same question want money, power, sex, and the accessories of a rich and successful lifestyle. They usually think their bodies are fine the way they are. If they do have body concerns, they often want to bulk up and become larger and more muscular, not tiny like women do. Males usually equate thinness with weakness and frailty, things they desperately want to avoid.