Multiple Sclerosis
Deborah DeCairos Grandmaitre, M.Ed., CCC
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Men, Boys And Eating Disorders
Editors: Vicki Boman and Deborah DeCairos
Contrary to some popular myths about eating disorder patients, this illness does not discriminate. Eating disorders are found in both men and women, across socio-economic classes, in many races and all ages.
FACT: Men themselves believe this to be a "female" illness
In addition to concerns similar to women, the following identifies unique concerns of men and boys with eating disorders:
Troubling Facts:
- Men who are binge eaters often go undiagnosed because of society's acceptance of overweight men.
- Given that this is not typically considered a male illness , very few men seek help.
- Men are frequently refused treatment even when they do seek it.
Underlying causes:
- Pre-morbid obesity
- Extremely low testosterone levels as a youth
- Gender identity problems
FACT: Many male anorexics have poor father-son relationships.
Fears:
- Desire to attain/maintain a masculine appearance/shape
- A need to be grounded in gender-identity
- Shame of being a male suffering from an eating disorder, an illness typically thought of as a female problem
- Heterosexual male afraid that people will think he is gay
FACT: Media attention on the ideal male physique is causing a greater dissatisfaction with self-image amongst men.
Practices:
- Use of anabolic steroids
- Excessive bodybuilding, weight lifting and muscle toning exercise (The Adonis Complex)
Risks:
- Metabolic and endocrine abnormalities
- Psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, manic, depression, reduced sexual functioning: all due to intake of steroids
TESTIMONIALS
Jason: Jason was a chubby kid. By age 10, he weighed 255 pounds and was constantly teased by his classmates and scolded by his parents. He often felt like an outsider, and by age 12 he turned to drugs to relieve his frustrations. But in 1995, when he was 18, everything changed. He got clean, landed a job as a construction worker, changed his eating habits and began exercising heavily. He lost 60 pounds in just three months and gained the praise of everyone around him. So he kept losing and losing and losing. "I was able to hide it pretty well," Jason said. "My problem, all my life, had been drugs, so nobody questioned me as long as I stayed sober." Today, at age 24, he 5 feet 7 inches tall, barely 90 pounds, and receiving treatment for an eating disorder.
Dennis: Looks sure are deceiving. At 38, Dennis retains his ruggedly handsome features and athletic shape that landed him high-paying modeling jobs in New York City. But what we don see is Dennis tortured soul or the inner turmoil that led to a harrowing $300-a-day food habit and a 21-year bout with deadly binge-and-purge bulimia.
Richard: Misconceptions of male eating disorders keep men from getting the help they need. Walking up and down the aisle of the local supermarket, Richard selected his groceries carefully, but he didn shop for items to stock in his pantry or refrigerator. Instead, his list consisted of a few bags of cookies, a pumpkin pie, a gallon of chocolate ice cream, a jar of peanut butter, chocolate syrup, and a bag of potato chips. When Richard returned home, he sat down in front of the television, made sure no one else was around and began eating. He didn stop until the cookies, the ice cream, the potato chips and the pie were gone. He then walked to the bathroom, knelt in front of the toilet and purged.
DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN WITH EATING DISORDERS
- Men appear less likely than women to recognize their symptoms
- Bulimic men are less likely than women to abuse laxatives
- Both men and women experience the physical consequences of long-term anorexia or bulimia.
- Both men and women exhibit all the physiological signs such as: starvation, cardiac irregularities, severe dehydration, thinning hair, bruising skin, osteoporosis, sensitivity to cold, hormonal decreases, electrolyte imbalances, intestinal problems, enlarged salivary glands and erosion of teeth enamel, and sometimes death.
STATISTICS
"In a recent study conducted by the University of Toronto, involving 10,000 residents of Ontario, researchers found that 1 out of every 6 people who qualified for a full or partial diagnosis of anorexia nervosa was male"
"Binge Eating Disorder seems to occur almost as equally in males than in females. 40% of reported cases are males."(DSM IV)
"In a recent study, 36% of third-grade boys had tried to lose weight and 15% of high school boys use anabolic steroids"
"A study done by Cornell University found that 40% of male football players engage in disordered eating behaviours." (Newsweek)
"80% of men with eating disorders are heterosexual."
FAQ
Q. Do men think their fat?
A. Men don't necessarily think in terms of "fat" or "thin" as women do. They relate in terms of "strong" and "weak", where fat is associated with being weak, unmanly and disgusting. So, for many men, structured forms of exercise are carried to obsessive levels.
Q. What is an eating disorder a reaction to?
A. The eating disorder is often a reaction to external and internal conflicts (i.e. anxiety, stress, and unhappiness).
Q. Did G.I. Joe have an influence on boys, as Barbie had an influence on girls?
A. Studies show that boys increasingly suffer from eating disorders, and if that fact is surprising, the influence is not. Take a good look at G.I. Joe. G.I. Joe has evolved from a normally proportioned grunt into a buff, ripped, mega muscular warrior who, if he were a real man, would have 27-inch biceps and other proportions achievable only through years of bench presses, protein diets and the liberal use of steroids. Other superheroes, such as Superman and Spiderman, were also an influence.
Q. Are all men with eating disorders gay?
A. No! Homosexuals are over-represented in many samples of eating disordered men. However, homosexual men may be at an increased risk for developing an eating disorder because of pressures within the homosexual community to be thin. Several studies found that homosexual men weighed significantly less than heterosexual men.
Q. What are our cultural expectations for masculinity?
A. A study by Kearney-Cooke and Steichen-Asch concluded: that "in our culture, muscular build, overt aggression, competence at athletics, competitiveness, and independence is desirable for males".
PROPERLY ENHANCING MALE BODY IMAGE
- Focus on the qualities in you that you like that are not related to appearance.
- Look critically at advertisements that push the bodybuilding message.
- Remember that your body size, shape, or weight does not determine your worth and your identity as a man.
- Qualities include sensitivity, cooperation, caring and patience.
- Find friends who are not concerned with weight or appearance.
- Be assertive with others who comment on your body. Let them know that comments about physical appearance, either positive or negative, are not appreciated.
- Be aware of the negative messages you tell yourself about your appearance or body (negative self-talk).
- Focus on the ways in which your body serves you and enables you to participate in life.
- Aim for lifestyle mastery that has to do with developing your unique gifts and potential, expressing yourself in meaningful relationships, learning how to solve problems and establishing life goals.
RESOURCES SECTION:
Anderson, A. (1990) Males with Eating Disorders. Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
Barry, D., Grilo, C., & Masheb, R. (2002) Gender differences in patients with binge eating disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders. Vol. 31(1) Jan 2002, 63-70.
Boroughs, M., & Thompson, J.K. (2002) Exercise status and sexual orientation as moderators of body image disturbance and eating disorders in males. International Journal of Eating Disorders. Vol. 31(3) Apr 2002, 307-311.
Harvey, J.A., & Robinson, J.D. (2003) Eating disorders in men: current considerations. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. Vol. 10 (4) Dec 2003, 297-306.
Pope JR., M.D., H.G., Phillips, M.D., K.A., & Olivardia, Ph.D., R.The Adonis Complex: the secret crisis of male body obsession.
SOURCES FOR THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE:
Heidi Mack for BODYSENSE,http://www.sfwed.org,
http://www.eatingdisorder.org/men.html,
http://www.caringonline.com/eatdis/topics/males.htm,
http://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/men_eating_disorders.htm,
http://www.menwithed.healthyplace2.com/page40.html,
http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/eatingdisorders.html,
http://www.anred.com/males.html
http://www.mensfitness.com/sex/15
http://www.afterthediet.com/Weltzin--Residential%20Males.htm
Anderson, A., Cohn, L., & Holbrook, M.D., T. Making Weight: men's conflicts with food, weight, shape & appearance.
Anderson, A. (1990) Males with Eating Disorders. Brunner/Mazel Publishers.
NEDA,
NEDIC
