Men and Eating Disorders
Monday November 13, 2006
"That guy looks too thin." When was the last time you walked through your local mall and said those words? It's true that eating disorders are more rare in men. And men can get away with much more variation in their bodies than women: No one assumes a man has nothing to contribute to society just because he's overweight. Culture is far more accepting of different body sizes in men, whether thin or stout.
Yet the number of men who suffer from various eating disorders is constantly increasing, and many think that current estimates are far too low. It is extremely difficult for men to make the choice to ask for help. And there are extra obstacles to good treatment.
Photo © iStockphoto.com/Christopher O. Driscoll
Comments
how does a men feel when they see anther men that is bigger than them? Do men feel the same as when do when they have a eating disorder?
Sometimes, yes. Eating disorders in women often involve a sense of competition to conform to standards that aren’t very realistic. When men want to get big in the gym, it can feel the same way.