Eating disorders in men are seldom talked about, but there are many males with eating disorders. While it is true that eating disorders are most common in women, conservative estimates are that 10% of those with eating disorders are male. Experts say this statistic may be low, however, because males with eating disorders are far less likely to seek treatment than women.
In addition, it may be more difficult to recognize eating disorders in men because men may still have some muscle mass even though they are thin. However, eating disorders can be more dangerous in men than in women, because once men get down to a very low weight, it means they have lost a great deal of muscle and tissue. Women have more fat to lose, which is less dangerous.
Since men are generally so reluctant to seek treatment for eating disorders, they often don’t get help until the condition is very, very serious. Therefore they may be more likely than women to suffer severe medical complications from the disorder.
Causes of Eating Disorders in Men
Males with eating disorders have similar causes as women with eating disorders. There is believed to be a genetic predisposition to the condition. Some studies also suggest that homosexual men are more likely to suffer from eating disorders than heterosexual men, but some researchers suggest that this is not actually the case but that homosexual men are simply more likely to seek treatment for some reason.
Society may not place as much pressure on men to be thin as they do on women, but pressure is still there. It is noteworthy that men who participate in certain sports such as gymnastics, ice skating, dance, and wrestling are far more likely to develop eating disorders than men that do not participate in these activities.
As with women, childhood upbringing has a big effect on the development of eating disorders for men. Men that grow up in families where the parents frequently diet are more likely to diet themselves, and to begin dieting at a young age. And people who diet frequently are at a higher risk of developing eating disorders. Men that grow up in families where there are a lot of strict rules about food are also more likely to develop eating disorders.
Childhood abuse, particularly sexual abuse, has been linked to the development of eating disorders, either during childhood or later in life. There are several theories about why this is, although no one seems to know for sure.
Treating Eating Disorders in Men
Research shows that eating disorders in men can be treated much like eating disorders in women. Medical treatment is necessary in order to address any physical complications of the disorder and to re-establish nutrition to the point that malnutrition is no longer a danger. Then nutritional education and counseling is in order to help with developing healthful eating habits and menu planning. Finally, individual and group therapy helps to address the underlying causes of the disorder and to teach new coping skills.
Despite the fact that this treatment is pretty much identical to the treatment recommended for women with eating disorders, males with eating disorders may be more comfortable in all-male treatment programs. Men often feel ashamed of having an eating disorder because it is often viewed in our society as a “female” problem. Unfortunately, all-male treatment programs are few and far between.
The development of more treatment programs for men might help more males with eating disorders to come forward. In addition, there needs to be more education about eating disorders in males, and further research should be done on the matter.