It's not just women who have eating disorders. Men can also suffer from anorexia, binge eating and other issues. Yet widespread perception may prevent men from getting the help they need. A new study reveals that men with these disorders receive far less support than women.
About 1 in 250 women and 1 in 2,000 men in the UK suffer from anorexia nervosa, which is one of the four recognized types of eating disorders. Other disorders include bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
In order to find out how men are treated for eating disorders and whether they receive the support they need, the scientists interviewed 39 individuals between the ages of 16 and 25, 10 of whom were men, about their experience with eating disorders. In the end, the scientists found that the men were less likely to have signs recognized early and receive help.
"Men with eating disorders are underdiagnosed, undertreated and under researched," wrote the authors of the new study in a news release. "Our findings suggest that men may experience particular problems in recognizing that they may have an eating disorder as a result of the continuing cultural construction of eating disorders as uniquely or predominantly a female problem."
The findings reveal the importance of highlighting eating disorders not only in women, but also in men. It's crucial in order to give men the support they need in order to combat eating disorders. Not only that, but slowly changing public perception will be especially important in this task. Men often didn't seek help because they thought they wouldn't be taken seriously.
The findings are published in the journal BMJ Open.
