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Males with Eating Disorders - Page 2

© Heather Mudgett.

The numbers seem to be increasing. Twenty years ago it was thought that for every 10-15 women with anorexia or bulimia, there was one man. Today researchers find that for every four females with anorexia, there is one male, and for every 8-11 females with bulimia, there is one male. (American Journal of Psychiatry 2001. 158-570) Binge eating disorder seems to occur almost equally in males and females, although males are not as likely to feel guilty or anxious after a binge as women are sure to do. Clinics and counselors see many more females than males, but that may be because males are reluctant to confess having what has become known as a 'teenage girls' problem.' Also, health professionals do not expect to see eating disorders in males and may therefore underdiagnose them.' There's quite a bit of info to be found at CaringOnline.com, including personal stories about and by men who are struggling with eating disorders. Here's how one story begins: "Looks sure are deceiving. At 38, Dennis Henning retains his ruggedly handsome features and athletic shape that landed him high-paying modeling jobs in New York City. But what don't see is Henning's 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.

ANRED.Com is the Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Site. They also have comprehensive information on the topic of males with eating disorders. "Just like girls and women, boys and men get anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Many males describe themselves as compulsive eaters, and they may have binge eating disorder. There is no evidence to suggest that eating disorders in males are atypical or somehow different from the eating disorders experienced by females. How many males have eating disorders? The numbers seem to be increasing. Twenty years ago it was thought that for every 10-15 women with anorexia or bulimia, there was one man. Today researchers find that for every four females with anorexia, there is one male, and for every 8-11 females with bulimia, there is one male. (American Journal of Psychiatry 2001. 158-570) Binge eating disorder seems to occur almost equally in males and females, although males are not as likely to feel guilty or anxious after a binge as women are sure to do. Clinics and counselors see many more females than males, but that may be because males are reluctant to confess having what has become known as a 'teenage girls' problem.' Also, health professionals do not expect to see eating disorders in males and may therefore underdiagnose them."

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