The Impact Of Eating Disorders In Men

How Disordered Eating Affects Men

The typical stereotype of someone with an eating disorder is a white, middle to upper-class woman. However, modern research tells a different story; men now experience eating disorders at a much higher rate than was believed in the past.

As of a decade ago, clinicians believed that only 5% of anorexics were male.

Men suffering from this type of disorder are less likely to talk about it or be taken seriously, which leads to eating disorders being largely under-diagnosed and under-treated within this demographic.

Despite men being diagnosed with eating disorders more prevalently now than in the past, the treatment options available to provide adequate help for them are severely lacking. This has created a public health issue that deserves addressing.

Challenges That Men Face

One of the biggest challenges for men with an eating disorder is finding quality treatment options — oftentimes, this starts with the struggle to realize or admit that there’s a problem.

Many people may find it difficult to recognize that potentially dangerous patterns of disordered eating are occurring if an individual isn’t starving themselves or purging.

A few challenges men face that make it hard to identify and treat an eating disorder are:

• Males are told by society that they should be tall, lean, and have a muscular build. A man may feel inadequate if his body type differs from this standard and develop an eating disorder in an attempt to reach this ideal.
• Men may feel pressured to lift weights or body build to fit in. This can lead to unhealthy exercise and eating habits when paired with a poor self image or underlying mental health issues, as well an addiction to diet pills or steroids.
• Males with body issues face shame or discomfort in discussing this with others. Many men fear coming across as feminine or weak if they were to admit they are struggling with an eating disorder.

The Perception Of Eating Disorders Among Males

The negative stigma attached to having an eating disorder as a man is a factor that can lead to avoiding getting treatment or refusing help that is offered to them.

There’s a lack of understanding and education around male eating disorders and the reasons behind that are guilt and shame… The notion of having an eating disorder as a male means that you believe you’re perceived as weaker and not able to take care of yourself. It’s hard to reach out and get help when it means that somebody is questioning their masculinity.

The fear of being perceived as less than masculine is particularly daunting for an individual already struggling with body image issues. This can result in shame or denying there is a problem, which can have very serious consequences.

The Most Common Eating Disorders Among Men

For men who are struggling with body image or have an unhealthy relationship with food, there are various categories that their disorder can fall into.

Anorexia

Severely cutting calories and eating very little with the goal of rapid weight loss or maintaining a dangerously low weight.

Symptoms of anorexia in men are:

• Having a body weight that is unhealthy for their body type, height, or activity level
• Preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning
• Fear of “getting fat” or being viewed as overweight
• Being intensely focused on caloric intake, body shape, and weight
• Despite being underweight, still seeing themselves as fat

Some emotional characteristics of anorexia in men include depression, social isolation, a decreased interest in sex, and having a “perfectionist” attitude. Men with anorexia are likely to have lower testosterone levels, and they typically maintain a strong need to be in control.

Bulimia

Eating large amounts, often in secret, and then purging either by vomiting or laxatives.

Symptoms of bulimia in men are:

• Eating well beyond the point of being full and purging afterwards
• Constantly trying new diets
• Fasting after periods of binging
• Obsessing over their weight and how they look

Men with bulimia may experience emotional characteristics such as feelings of worthlessness, depression, and difficulty expressing feelings. Physical characteristics of bulimia in men include loss of dental enamel due to vomiting, esophageal tears, and fluctuating weight.

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Binge Eating

Eating well beyond the point of being full.

Symptoms of binge eating in men are:

• Being overweight or obese
• Attempting to diet frequently
• Fasting after binging
• Struggling with depression, anxiety, or feelings of isolation
• Feeling out of control during a binge

Emotional and physical characteristics of binge eating in males include feeling disgusted with one’s weight or appearance, increased moodiness, and eating in secret before hiding food wrappers.

Orthorexia

A fixation or desire to eat only “healthy” foods.

Symptoms of orthorexia are:

• Feeling anxious when eating or thinking of eating something “unhealthy”
• Obsession with healthy foods
• Feeling superior to others because of diet
• Limiting entire food groups, such as carbohydrates

Men with this condition may also suffer from another form of controlled eating in combination with excessive exercise.

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Diet Pill And Stimulant Abuse

Taking supplements to reduce the sensation of hunger and cause temporary weight loss.

Some common symptoms of stimulant addiction are:

• Chest pain and irregular heartbeat
• Mood swings
• Vomiting or nausea
• Memory loss and severe headaches
• Fixation on getting or taking stimulants

Additional emotional and physical characterizations of stimulant abuse in men are fluctuating weight, increased paranoia and anxiety, difficulty maintaining relationships, and avoiding friends and family.

Restrictive Diets

Defined as low calorie dieting that restricts consuming various types of foods in order to temporarily lose weight or “eat clean” (gluten-free, vegan, paleo, etc.)

Symptoms of restrictive diets in men:

• Constantly trying new diets or “quick fix” fad diets
• Cutting out certain food groups entirely, such as carbs or protein, unrelated to a health condition that restricts this type of food
• Obsessing over how they look

Emotional and physical characteristics of an unhealthy, restrictive diet depend on which diet they are on at the time. General characteristics of this eating disorder in men are an obsession with physical appearance, constantly looking for new diets to try, and being secretive about meals or eating habits.

Getting Help For An Eating Disorder

A critical part of the recovery process is determining what caused an eating disorder to develop. The things that can spark disordered eating in men differ from that of women; it is important to seek out treatment from someone trained in male-specific eating disorders.

If you or someone you love is dealing with an eating disorder and needs help finding a treatment center, visit our rehab directory or contact a treatment provider today.