Understanding Eating Disorders in Men

RICARDO THEODORESocial Psychology 206Professor A. KindrickMarch 4, 2011

Eating disorders destroy lives, and new research suggests that men are affected in greater numbers than was previously assumed

Background

Eating disorders are most common in the middle to upper class families. Eating disorders can began anywhere from the ages of ten to thirty, the peak for males is between fifteen and eighteen. The average dieter may spend time thinking of weight and food, but with eating disorders these thoughts are obsessive, which makes them totally out of control and they are controlled by the diet.

There are five types of eating disorders: Fasting-this type tries to only consume 500 calories a day, and the normal is

1200 calories per day, these dieters are even afraid to chew gum. Binging-this type just binge, constantly obese, they are too out of control.

Their health, social life and personality die. Binging-Purging-this type often begins as fasters then they realize it cuts

them off from social functions, so they start with vomiting which is the most common form or they will overuse laxatives to get where they want.

Fasting-Purging-this type will throw up food or take laxatives even while allowing 500 calories per day, this combination often kills the dieter.

Fasting-Binging-This type will go on a normal diet for as long as six months and staying at a reasonable weight they will binge which will last another six months.

Men Get Eating Disorders Too!

Men also suffer from Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia about one in ten men suffer from eating disorders. Many males describe themselves as compulsive eaters, and they have binge eating disorder. Anorexia Nervosa means a nervous loss of appetite. It consists of five categories.

•An intense fear of being obese

•Disturbance of body image

•Weight loss of at least twenty-five percent of original body weight

•Refusal of maintain body weight

•No known physical illness

Living In Fear

Men are also seeking treatment for bulimia. Men in wrestling are affected with this disease instead of anorexia because it is easier to hide. Binge eating disorder seems to occur equally in males and females, males are not as likely to feel guilty or anxious after a binge as women do. Researchers believe about 15% of all cases of this disorder occurs in men (Gadalla, 2009). Clinics and counselors see more women than male because males don’t want to confess to something that is known as a “teenage girl’s problem.”

Risk factors for males include: They were overweight as a child. They diet. Dieting is one of the most powerful eating disorder triggers for both sexes. Sports that demand thinness. Runners and jockeys are at higher risk than wrestlers and football players. Wrestlers who try to shed pounds quickly before a match seem to be at high risk. Body builders are at risk by depleting body fat fluid reserves to achieve definition. Male patients are usually more active and have more sexual anxiety have fewer bulimic episodes, with less vomiting or laxative abuse and have more preoccupation with food and weight.

Male Athletes and Eating Disorders

Due to the rising pressures of men to hold up to the high expectations of the media, it may not be uncommon that males worried about their appearances suffer from Eating Disorders.  Many men, especially those who participate in low weight athletics are extremely focused on their eating habits.  The problem with this, aside from the fact that eating disorders are extraordinarily detrimental to your health, is that since they are normally labeled as a woman’s disease, it is that much harder to admit when you are suffering from one.

Males often begin an eating disorder at older ages than females do; they often have a history of obesity or are overweight. Men are also made up to be strong and powerful, to build their bodies and make them large so they can compete successfully, and defend and protect. Men usually think their bodies are fine the way they are, if they do have a concern, they often want to bulk up and become larger and more muscular, not tiny like women are. Males usually think thin is a sign of weakness.

Because eating disorders have been described as female problems, males are often reluctant to admit their problem and need help (Jackson & Grilo, 2002). Research shows that males who complete treatment have better outcomes. Reasons men with eating disorders diet:

A desire to improve athletic performance. A history of being teased, criticized, or picked on for being

overweight. Attractive to a potential partner. Looking less like one’s father and to look more like models in

magazines.

Bulimic Male

Media Most Common Eating Disorders

• Anorexia Nervosa – People with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they can't maintain a normal body weight. Some people with anorexia restrict their food intake by dieting or fasting excessively.

• Bulimia Nervosa – When a person binge eats (eats a lot of food) and then tries to compensate in extreme ways, such as forced vomiting or excessive exercise, to prevent weight gain. Over time, these steps can be dangerous.

• Anorexia Athletica - When a person no longer enjoys exercise, but compulsively exercises and feels obligated to do so. A victim, most prominently a female between the ages of 12 and 19, may experience a sense of guilt and anxiety when missing a work out, and not even sickness or injury can stop him/her from fulfilling the need for exercise.

*While there are other forms of eating disorders, these are the three main eating disorders that deal with food control and the obsession with being thin.

Body Image Effects Both Men And Women

ANOREXIA MANOREXIA

Its Not Just A Women’s Disease!