From Media to Science: What Do We Get Wrong and Right about Men and Eating Disorders?

From Media to Science: What Do We Get Wrong and Right about Men and Eating Disorders?
​By Leigh C. Brosof
 
For a long time, there was a belief in mainstream society that “boys don’t get eating disorders” and that eating disorders were a “girls’” issue. Fortunately, this view is changing with both research and the media becoming more inclusive in conversations around eating disorders. Researchers have shown that eating disorders and disordered eating are still highly prevalent among men. In fact, men suffer from some eating disorder symptoms (such as binge eating) just as much as women. While we are making great strides towards lessening the stigma around men and eating disorders, some misperceptions still abound, such as: 1) that you must be underweight to have an eating disorder, and 2) that there must be something “wrong” with men who get eating disorders. These misperceptions reflect general myths around eating disorders.
 
Misperception 1: You must be underweight in order to have an eating disorder.  
Whereas this is untrue for every gender (eating disorders can affect individuals of any size!), it may make it particularly difficult for men to seek help, especially because symptoms such as binge eating, may not fit one’s “typical” view of an eating disorder. In addition, when men do start losing weight or become underweight, individuals may not think about an eating disorder as the problem. This misperception makes it more difficult for men to accept they have symptoms of an eating disorder or for medical professionals to spot these symptoms in men.

Misperception 2: There is something “wrong” with men who get eating disorders.      
Despite societal stereotypes surrounding eating disorders, men are more similar than different in comparison to women when it comes to eating disorders. This means that there is a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that lead to the development of a disorder. Therefore, men’s eating disorder are not a “choice,” and it’s not anyone’s “fault” if they develop eating disorders. Rather, it is a serious mental health disorder. Men may also experience some types of eating disorder symptoms, such as muscle dysphoria, at higher rates than women. Muscle dysmorphia is when an individual has a drive to become more muscular and has insecurities around not being muscular enough. For men, this desire for muscularity may be coupled with a desire to be thinner or leaner. Men may also have concerns about different areas of their bodies than women. These similarities mean that, in general, treatments that have been developed for women should also work for men; however, it also means that certain aspects of these treatments should be tailored specifically for men.

It’s also essential to remember that eating disorders affect people of ALL genders. In fact, some research suggests that individuals who are transgender or non-binary have eating disorders at higher rates than individuals who identify as cis-gender. Although the exact reason for this higher prevalence is not well-understood, it may have something to do with the stressors (and discrimination) that society puts on these individuals for not adhering to the gender binary. Research and treatments are slowly starting to include not only males, but also individuals of all genders; however, more effort still needs to be devoted in order to best serve individuals across the gender spectrum. For instance, right now, a comprehensive assessment of gender identity does not exist – something that our lab is trying to change. The most important thing that society and research can do is to acknowledge that eating disorders do not discriminate – we need to include individuals of all genders in the conversation to decrease stigma and increase the likelihood that men and individuals of other genders will seek treatment.
 
If you are a man who is suffering from an eating disorder, to learn more about men and eating disorders or for resources for treatment: http://namedinc.org/