Male Eating Disorders Essay Example

psychological factors have been known to be contributing factors to eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders affecting various individuals. Anorexia nervosa is mainly characterized by abnormal thinness in an individual who is not cautious about how underweight they are. Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa are usually afraid of gaining weight but most of the times refuse to add on weight. Moreover they are susceptible to heart diseases especially heart attacks due to the long term wasting of heart muscles. Signs and symptoms of individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa include; fatigue, muscle weakness, unexplained loss of hair, food rituals, low blood pressure, electron imbalance in the body, low body temperature, difficulty in eating around others, depression, isolation and even low self-esteem. In some cases, people suffering from anorexia nervosa die from starvation because of restriction while others become suicidal.

Bulimia Nervosa is another common eating disorder that makes individuals eat excessively and is the compelled to purge due to the extreme guilt they have after overeating. People suffering from bulimia nervosa overeat to a point they vomit and can even self-induce vomiting. These individuals overuse laxatives and exercise hard to prevent any weight gain. They usually have a guilty conscious of eating too much hence do everything possible to lose weight. Furthermore, these individuals have chronic sore throats, high incidents of tooth decay and severe dehydration from various instances of purging. Other signs and symptoms of individuals suffering from bulimia nervosa include; several instances of binge eating, lack of control when overeating, food hoarding, weight fluctuations, depression due to guilt, preoccupation with food, fatigue and low self-esteem.

Binge eating disorder is also a

common eating disorder that goes hand in hand with bulimia nervosa but people suffering from binge eating complication do not vomit after eating too much. Individuals here consume a lot of food at a go and are not cautious of how big they become. Patients suffering from binge eating are more so overweight or obese in severe cases. Male individuals who are suffering from binge eating disorder are less bothered with the high calorie intake and hence are not compelled to purge. They do not see the necessity of watching their weight as like their female counterparts; hence do not address their eating habits as potential risk for eating disorders.

Although research has been carried from time to time there has however not been a breakthrough in finding a clear cause of these eating disorders. Scientists have come up with few theories explaining how eating disorders come about. Researchers have seen that eating disorders can be inherited. Evidence has been discovered to explain that genetics can be a cause of eating disorders. Moreover some individuals suffer from eating disorders due to psychological problems. Self-image is one aspect that is quite crucial to a person’s mental well-being. The media has also not made it easy for individuals to appreciate their body sizes with many advertisements featuring female models with a slim figure or male models who are too muscular. Social factors such as peer pressure, cultural pressure, parental influence, social isolation and child abuse also influence the development of eating disorders. Moreover individuals who have a history of gastrointestinal diseases are predisposed to eating disorders. Individuals with gastrointestinal conditions are cautious about their diet and hence may

develop eating disorders in the long run. Social isolation leads to individuals feeling depressed and stressed hence develop various eating disorders to cope with the isolation.

Parental influence can also contribute to eating disorders in children. Parents dictate most of the child’s development including eating behaviors. They influence the types of food the child takes and even the amount eaten at a particular time. Some parents compare their body shapes and eating patterns, making their children to conform to their ways which they find to be ideal. Most parents would like their children to take part in modeling and other aesthetic sports such as figure skating hence restricting the amount of food the children eat. With this kind of background children develop eating disorders later in the future. Cultural pressure is increasingly becoming a factor that is influencing the development of eating disorders. The society has emphasized on thin individuals as being attractive individuals. The fashion and entertainment industries have used thin and lean models to promote their different products and this connotes an idea that thin is perfect for every individual. These causes work together in an individual to wholly develop eating disorders.

Research has proven that eating disorders is not only affecting the female population but also the male population. However, the tests undertaken to determine the severity of eating disorders among the human population are gender bias hence leading to elusive results. Most of the assessment tests created by scientists to determine whether an individual has an eating disorder were created for women. This undermines the dependability of the results to show the number of men suffering from eating disorders. According to research, it

has been discovered that men suffering from bulimia nervosa are more than those suffering from anorexia. Although according to recent studies, it has been discovered that in the United States, 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder with their mortality rate from these eating disorders being much higher compared to women. Studies have also shown that 25% of male individuals suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa while 36% suffer from binge eating disorder.

The numbers of male individuals suffering from eating disorder complications are much higher in individuals at 20 years compared to their counterparts at 17- 19 years. The age of onset of these eating disorders in men is much later than that of women. Studies show that numbers of males suffering from eating disorders have increased over the years but the reason for this increase is not quite yet very clear. Speculation on these numbers explains that it could be due to increase awareness of males suffering from eating complications or maybe there has been an increase in males being diagnosed with eating disorders.

There has been under diagnosis and under treatment of male individuals suffering from eating disorders because of the lack of specified attention given to male eating disorders, hence the need to examine gender specific issues in men. Body image is very important to male individuals especially those interested in physical fitness and sporting activities. Men who participate in sports often invest in building muscles and achieving minimal weight. They aim at having more lean mass so as to fit into the sports, they then take part in excessive exercising which becomes addictive. Most males suffer from a

condition known as muscle dysmorphia where the individual is obsessed with building more muscles than gaining healthy body weight. Due to the pressure of being more masculine these male individuals are faced with the problem of developing eating disorders mainly by starvation. These males hence sought out chemical help to gain muscles; this is by using steroids and growth hormones. Steroids increase the availability of testosterone in the individual’s body. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for muscle formation and growth. By increasing the testosterone levels in the body, the individual is able to build more muscle.

Weight history is also an important issue facing male individuals. Most men at some point in their life might have been overweight or even obese this leads them to be more cautious about their weight. With a history of obesity these male individuals suffer from childhood teasing and as they grow they develop eating disorders preventing weight gain. Male individuals are more motivated to losing weight compared to their female counterparts who may or may not have a history with normal weight.

The issue of body weight comes mainly from the influence of athletic achievement. There is need to maintain low body weight to prevent injuries during exercise and also to be able to participate in various sports. Aesthetic sports require an individual to maintain low body weight. Sports such as sumo wrestling require an individual to maintain very high body weight which could be very unhealthy. Endurance sports such as running and cycling also require little weight. Technical sports such high jump requires little weight so as the athlete is able to manipulate his body to achieve the score. Wrestling

is a sport that requires one to have certain weight to take part in competitions. The need of this different weight ranges leads these male individuals into developing eating disorders so as to acquire the required weight for the specific sport they are interested in.

Gender orientation is another factor that is directly connected to eating disorders in men. However, this does not necessary conclude that all male individuals suffering from eating disorders are gay. The homosexual male emphasis on body shape and appearance more than their heterosexual counterparts. The desire to achieve this ideal appearance drives these male individuals to losing weight no matter what method is used. This is the major reason why men suffering from eating disorders do not seek clinical assistance with the fear of being labeled as gay.
Personality of an individual also influences the development of eating disorders. These individuals are usually perfectionists and have problems in their day to day relationship with others surrounding them. Their personality makes them become perfectionists even to their own weight. They usually want to have the more or less ‘perfect’ weight.

Alcohol abuse cannot be ignored when looking into eating disorders. Individuals suffering from bulimia nervosa seek alcohol to hide the shame of their current condition. However, others become alcohol addicts to curb the urge to binge eating. Eating disorders can arise in individuals who have a history of physical abuse and sexual abuse. Abuse of any kind affects the male individual mostly making them have an urge of becoming more masculine to protect them against the abuse. There have been many cases of unreported physical and sexual abuses to men hence there is no

follow up in these individuals lives. Physical abuse and sexual abuse is both traumatic and unbearable to any male individual. The victims of abuse usually have a distorted self-body image. These men seek to become more masculine over the years hence developing a variety of eating disorders.

Dieting can also lead an individual into developing an eating disorder. Once a person starts a diet they begin becoming more aware of their body image and body weight. After a set diet the individual feels fat and is compelled to act on this extra weight by either restricting food or over exercising. Other individuals acquire cravings during their diet period that are not satisfied with healthy foods but with fatty foods and sugar. Due to this craving the individual ends up being obese because of the diet he had put in place in the first place.

The media has also been a major factor in influencing the development of eating disorders. The media tends to portray the ideal man as on who is lean and masculine. This perception of a slim physique amongst men has led to the need of individuals to lose weight not necessarily for health benefits but to achieve an attractive look according to the society’s norm.

Prevention aims at eliminating all possible harm to the individual’s body image. Prevention of eating disorders mainly aims at curbing or identifying risk factors associated with eating disorders prior to them taking toll on the individual. Prevention can be done at all ages but is most beneficial for children especially those at the age of 6-8 years.

Children within this age bracket have already developed spatial and body awareness hence can

comprehend what they are told about their body image. It is therefore important to take advantage of this period to educate male children on the importance of ideal physical fitness and safe methods of dieting. It is essential to make them aware of what masculinity entails and what extent one should take to achieve the ideal weight for certain sports. Moreover the children should be educated on the various changes that occur during adolescence and the effect of these changes on body weight. Encourage the children to handle emotions properly and not to seek food when they are depressed or feeling under the weather. These children are also encouraged to speak out when they have encountered abuse so as to prevent the latter development of eating disorders as a form of coping with the situation. These preventive measures will help control any predisposing risks of children to develop eating disorders.

Treatment requires basically for one to accept that they are suffering from eating disorders. This will make it easy for the psychiatrist to help in the recovery. Treatment should be individualized. Treatment for one who is dealing with anorexia nervosa will not necessary assist on who is suffering from bulimia nervosa. The treatment should be gender specific so as to put into consideration male specific issues. Therefore treatment is dependent on the type and severity of the eating disorder being dealt with. Eating disorders have been seen to be mental conditions hence there are no specific treatment. Experts tend to approach eating disorders treatment through therapy. Psychiatrists help male individuals suffering from eating disorders to cope with the situation through various therapies which include; behavioral therapy,

family therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy and music therapy. These are just but a few of the therapies implemented by psychiatrists to help these individuals open up about their emotion hence dealing with the eating disorders. Behavioral therapy helps the individual adapt to healthier behaviors other than those that risk his health. Family therapy is beneficial as it allows the family to support the given individual in their path to recover from eating disorders.

Nutrition counseling can also be implemented to help these individuals. A nutrition expert explains the importance of healthy hence creating awareness to these individuals who work to improve their eating habits. Self-help groups and support groups such as Overeaters Anonymous are also a good cause to be undertaken in treating male individuals who are suffering from eating disorders. However, treatment can be very expensive for some and hence it becomes difficult to fight this nightmare of eating disorders. Associations such as The National Association for Males with Eating Disorders have been created to support males who have suffered from eating disorders. Such organizations also make clinical intervention for individuals affected by eating disorders to be easily accessible. These organizations also bring together experts in eating disorders to assist men who are disgraced and shameful about their condition and do not see the need to seek further help. Implementation of these different treatment methods makes it easier for individuals suffering from eating disorders to make quick recoveries.

Eating disorders have over the years been thought of as a ‘female’s disease’, however their male counterparts are increasingly being diagnosed with these eating disorder conditions. It is therefore a critical issue to curb eating disorders in men as

the number of male individuals being diagnosed with these conditions is increasing rampantly. The increasing need of physical fitness among male individuals and attaining a certain physique has led to these increased numbers of men suffering from eating disorders. Assessment tests previously designed for assessing females with eating disorders should be improved to help in identifying men who are susceptible to or are already suffering from eating disorders. Today’s society has helped in increasing awareness of eating disorders in men hence making it possible for these individuals to receive treatment.

Prevention should help in making sure that children should not grow up with notions that are not useful in their eating behaviors. Parents should ensure they set good standards for their male children and encourage them to express themselves freely. Treatment has also been improved so as to accommodate the male population. Treatment should begin as early as possible to cope with the danger before it is too late. Men should be made aware of support groups that can help them cope with these eating disorders. Male individuals suffering from eating disorders need to know that they are cared for and not stigmatized anymore. With the right care and support male individuals suffering from eating disorders can recover fully and lead normal lives. It is up to the society to stop stigmatization of male individuals who suffer from eating disorders and take it to be a serious issue that requires immediate attention.