Eating Disorders in Men

In the US alone, around one million boys and men suffer from an eating disorder. When compared to the percentages of eating disorders in women, the number of men’s female counterparts multiplies significantly; nevertheless, eating disorders in men continue to be a silent and many times misdiagnosed or overlooked condition. Because society and medicine have strongly joined forces against female eating disorders, considerations about possible male patients have somewhat taken a secondary role. Due to increased awareness in this respect, more and more health specialists are beginning to question their methods and have started rephrasing the questions asked in order to discover those patients suffering from eating disorders.

For ages considered a condition only girls and women suffered from, men might have been suffering the consequences of untreated eating disorders. With a forced but growing openness about sexual preferences, the gay community is a great example of making people aware of this silent killer. Knowing gay men are known for worrying significantly about their appearance, the multi-colored flag has also raised a red flag doctors ought to be watching out for. The incidence of eating disorders inside the male gay community is high and signs might be flashing shinier and louder than those issued by heterosexual males.

Since society looks down more often on women that are overweight and overeat than men, red flags and whistles tell more easily whether a woman displays an eating disorder alert. As society is more permissible about male eating habits, men who emphasize wanting to be fit or have a lean body are often looked over and not paid enough attention in regards to a possible eating disorder being present.

The dangers of eating disorders in men cover not only malnutrition, but other diseases and conditions as well. From erectile dysfunction and taking generic Viagra, to poor skin health, and internal organ failure. An eating disorder can degrade your oral health and deteriorate your inner and outer health conditions in no time. Instead of gain, all eating disorder patients are in it to loose – and in a bad way.

Studies suggest in the US alone, 5 to 10 percent of those suffering from anorexia or bulimia are males. And age is no obstacle for this disease to spread. Girls as young as 10 years old are already worried about weight gain. This concern might as well be leaking into the male crowd as well. With advertisement bombarding younger crowds with “it” models, women are not the only ones to suffer from this attack. Male “role models” and ideal physiques are also something little boys, teens and young adults are bombarded with.

With a greater access to information and media, it becomes at least advisable to explain the social phenomenon around body image and unrealistic or deformed concepts of beauty and good looks. Even more so, parents’ true tool to help their children out of twisted physical image distortion is encouraging children and teens to find happiness as to how they look, constantly emphasizing the right ways of changing something they don’t like.

Promoting more exercise, out door activities, social encounters that promote health and overall well-being can take not only children but teens and young adults to control society’s compulsive pressure making, and live a healthy, happy life.

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