Eating Disorders in Men
By: Reckless AlterTotal Views: 165, Word Count: 511,
We seldom think of a man working out compulsively when we think of eating disorders, starving himself to look lean or wanting to imitate celebrities or pictures on magazine covers. It’s estimated that eight million people in the United States are suffering from an eating disorder and of that 10% are men. For long, eating disorders have been seen as a woman’s disease.
Recent research, however, shows a diverse bigger picture as eating disorders in men are more than previously assumed. Out of 3000 people with bulimia and anorexia, 25% were men (and 40 % had splurge eating disorder) according to a study.
Eating Disorders in Men as Compared to Women
· Symptoms: The diagnostic criteria for anorexia, for example, focus on women who are obvious in its hallmark symptoms of amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation) and fear of fatness. Though there are some men who show a fear of fat, others characteristically want to be muscular (especially their arms and chest), obsess over attaining a low body percentage of fat and focus their efforts on excelling at a sport (which prompts some to abuse steroids and exercise exceptionally).
Instead of engaging in conventional compensatory behaviors like abusing laxatives and vomiting, men are more likely to exercise impulsively.
· Images and Ideals: For years, women have been busy with unrealistic, thin images in magazines, ads, movies, and other media outlets. Now, men are also feeling the pressure for physical perfection, surrounded by unachievable images of muscular physiques, bulging biceps, six-pack abs, and lean bodies.
However, in contrast to women, where the images are one size, fit men have a variety of images to imitate as per psychiatrist Arnold Andersen, M.D.
· Dieting: Men could diet for various reasons than women, including:
1. To prevent weight gain (several eating disordered men were overweight as kids)
2. To do extremely well in sports
3. To avoid health complications
4. To improve appearance after childhood teasing, etc.
Not astoundingly, these differences make it harder for professionals to diagnose eating disorders in men and often men are unaware that they’re suffering from an eating disorder.
Homosexual Men
Eating disorders are more common in gay and bisexual men than in heterosexual men, though one of the experts attributes the higher occurrence to a greater likelihood to seek treatment. Either way, some have pointed to the increased importance on physical attractiveness in gay communities as a contributing factor, while others sight participation in these communities as protection against eating disorders.
The most vital thing to remember is that majority of the fundamental psychological factors which lead to an eating disorder is the same for both women and men. The factors include: low self esteem, depression, a need to be accepted, nervousness or other existing psychological illness and incapability to cope with emotions and personal issues.
All of the complications and physical dangers related with being the sufferer of an eating disorder are the same. Most of all, people with eating disorders deserve to find revival and happiness and self love too.
About the Author
Dr. Reckless Alter is graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as a physician in 1969 and went on to earn his medical degree in 1973. For over 25 years he has been a pioneer in the field of surgery, with a special focus on wellness medicine and hormones for men. Dr. Reckless is currently a board-certified Family Practitioner and a precautionary Medicine specialist. He has helped heal many problems of men through his treatment.
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