Men
Men suffer from eating disorders too. It is estimated that between 5 and 10% of sufferers of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder are male. One other type of eating disorder that commonly attracts media attention is what is loosely termed ‘reverse anorexia’ or ‘megarexia’. This is a type of body dysmorphia, where the individual thinks that he must gain more and more muscles, sixpacks and the like, in order to have an acceptable shape. The person is unable to register his true shape and sacrifices his health and well-being in order to get the ‘perfect’ look.
Risk factors are generally the same as for females, but there are some special features which may be relevant to your situation.
Obesity
Some studies indicate that males who are obese or have been in childhood my have negative feelings about the body and a heightened pressure to diet.
Dieting
Dieting pressures on men may be ‘lose weight and get thin’ but conversely, it may be ‘beef up’ or ‘get a six-pack’. Men exposed to the body building industry may slip into an eating disorder by following the body-building regime too strenuously.
Bullying
Taunts in childhood, adolescence or even later regarding ‘beer gut’, ‘man boobs’ or ‘handle bars’ can reinforce a man’s sense of insecurity about his body, and my lead him on to unhealthy and abusive body-changing practices.
Sexuality
Most people think of eating disorders as a ‘girl’s problem’. Men also develop eating disorders. But there is a belief that the only men who suffer eating disorders are gay, which is not true. However these beliefs may inhibit a man seeking help for his problem, as is the fact there are no treatment centres exclusively for men in NSW.
Sport
Male gymnasts, runners, cyclists and jockeys are among groups at high risk for developing an eating disorder, but other sports such as football, wrestling, rowing and body building can also lead to an obsessional preoccupation with body size and shape.