Men’s Issues

It is a common misconception that eating disorders are exclusive to women. However, it has been estimated that 5-10% of eating disorder sufferers are male. Even thought there has been a slight increase in awareness over the past number of years there are still a considerable number of men suffering from eating disorders who have remained unknown. This is partly due to the reluctance of people in such conditions to seek help and strong denial. This may be due to stigma still surrounding eating disorders. Boys even as young as eleven and twelve come to experience the problem thought to be experienced solely by women.

The only difference between women suffering for an eating disorder and men suffering is that men seem to be more achievement oriented and express more sexual anxiety. They also appear to be excessively athletic and over value physical fitness, body appearance and muscle strength. Not every male sufferer shows these characteristic but they do show weight loss and the eating difficulties seen in anorexia.