What
do you think of when you think of an eating disorder? What image comes to your mind? For many people, the idea of a young, middle
class, white, female, purging after a meal in hopes of not gaining weight is
the first thing they think of. This is
certainly the stereotypical image, but the truth is that eating disorders
impact the lives of individuals of all ages, races, economic status, and
genders. So why do we hear so little
about men that struggle with eating disorders?
Men as well as women are affected by eating disorders, but there are
some different challenges that they face in regard to seeking and receiving
treatment.
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 is generally gender
specific to females. For instance, part
of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia is the fear of fatness and amenorrhea,
or the absence of menstruation. Other guidelines,
in which this condition is typically diagnosed, include the use of laxatives or
vomiting in order to keep weight down.
While this may certainly be true for the female population and a portion
of their male counterparts, men are typically more likely to use compulsive
exercise as a way to “purge” after eating.
A “Female” Disorder
Due
to the fact that the public views eating disorders as a female issue, there can
be a great deal of shame for a male who is 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. Male 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 males as well as females need support to
overcome them.
Men
and women, please come forward! We are
here to help!
