Males

Are you a professional involved in the treatment of eating disorders and interested in attending one of our meetings?

Click Here

Current Members :

Click Here

for the e-mail discussion group

       Research indicates that one in six eating disorders occurs in men and adolescent boys.  Some predict that this number may be as high as 25-30%, with binge eating disorder occurring almost equally in males and females.  Despite the increase in reported male eating disorder cases, many men and boys continue to suffer in silence because they believe that eating disorders are a "female problem."
      

        Studies show that body image issues are one of the strongest factors in predicting eating disorders in both males and females.  Men are now under the same pressures as women to achieve the "perfect body."  However, males and females have different body image concerns.  Females are more focused on body weight; males are more focused on body shape, with the "lean, toned, thin" shape being the ideal for eating disordered males. 
      

        Eating disordered behaviors often begin with extreme dieting.  In males, the eating disorder may also get its start through fasting and excessive exercise.  And, although eating disorders look similar in both genders, males have different reasons for developing an eating disorder.  Females who develop an eating disorder feel overweight.  However, many males who develop an eating disorder were actually overweight as children and were teased about it.  Thus, the eating disorder helps shield the male from additional pain.
      

        Another gender-specific difference involves athletic performance.  Males are more likely than females to develop an eating disorder to improve their performance at a particular sport or to avoid weight gain after a sports-related injury.  Also, athletes who participate in sports which encourage weight restriction (e.g., gymnastics, wrestling, swimming, running, rowing) are at a greater risk for developing an eating disorder.  And, unlike women, men are much more likely to develop an eating disorder in an attempt to avoid the medical problems their parents faced (i.e., heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure).
      

        It is not uncommon for other problems to coexist with an eating disorder.  The more common problems found in eating disordered males are alcohol/substance abuse, intimacy and sexuality issues, and shame.
      

        Eating disorders do not discriminate when it comes to the medical and psychological harm they can inflict on a person.  Males who struggle with an eating disorder need to receive treatment from a professional who is knowledgeable about these disorders and aware of the stigma and shame these men and boys experience.  Eating disorders are less about food and weight and more about self-esteem, a lack of control over one's life, a search for identity, and a way to cope with strong negative feelings:  issues that both males and females may find themselves facing.  More resources.

Bibliography

1. Anderson, Arnold E.  Males with Eating Disorders.  1990, New York:  Brunner/Mazel, Inc.

2. Anderson, Arnold E., Leigh Cohn, and Thomas Holbrook.  Making Weight:  Men's Conflicts with Food, Weight, Shape and Appearance  2000, Carlsbad, CA:  Gurze Books.

3. Cash, Thomas F. and Thomas Pruzinsky.  Body Image:  A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice.  2002, New York:  The Guilford Press.

4. Krasnow, Michael.  My Life as a Male Anorexic.  1996, New York; London:  Harrington Park Press An Imprint of the Haworth Press, Inc.

5. Pope, Harrison G., Katharine Philips and Roberto Olivardia.  The Adonis Complex:  The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession in Men and Boys.  2000, NewYork:  Simon & Schuster.

Just follow the title link to order these books from Amazon.com
 

Questions and comments about male eating disorders may be directed to Brad Kennington, M.A., LPC via telephone at:  512.517.8148; via e-mail at:  BradSKennington@hotmail.com; or via mail at:  4131 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite H-2, Austin, TX 78759.

Other Web Resources:

Psychiatric Times Article

Caring Online

Diagnosis Article, by Kevin Beck

Therapeutic Resources .com

Men Stuff, a non-profit