Team Discussion of The Month: Men and Eating Disorders: Toxic Masculinity
Photo by Olu Famule
Male celebrities that have publicly spoken out about their eating disorders are often met with disregard towards their vulnerability. In recent years, Ed Sheeran faced the public eye with his comments surrounding personal struggles with food and binge eating. Sheeran revealed that he would binge until he was sick, and how both he and Elton John shared a similar unhealthy relationship with food. John was explicit about his bulimia – and he wasn’t the first to share his story. There have been countless men who have struggled with eating disorders and behind closed doors, due to the lingering stigma of male eating disorders. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and other eating disorders are oftentimes associated with females; and viewed solely as a female problem. But this cannot be further from the truth.
Society places pressure on both men and women to reach a certain aesthetic ideal, which is harmful to all genders. What isn’t being discussed enough, is how such pressures and, more specifically, toxic masculinity is burdening males to remain silent about their struggles and mask their distress.
Men continue to suffer with eating disorders, while society turns a blind eye.
In this blog, we share how toxic masculinity affects males with eating disorders, the statistics around males and eating disorders, and why this is a rising concern. Keep reading to learn more!
Men’s Symptoms Are Less Likely To Be Diagnosed
Samantha Young, LPCC and Kindful Body’s Clinical Director shares, “In my experience working with male clients is that their symptoms are less likely to be diagnosed as an eating disorder; and they are less likely to receive an assessment and screening for eating disorders. I have frequently worked with male athletes, first responders, and military personnel who feel pressured to have a certain body type, or physique. In turn, they engage in behaviors like binge eating, restriction, compulsive exercise, and orthorexia to control their food intake to impact their body shape and size. There is [either] a sense of shame involved in seeking treatment, or the individual does not know that the behaviors they are presenting with are, in actuality, disordered.”
Photo by Levi Jones
What Are The Male Statistics?
According to the International Association of Eating Disorders (IAEDP), approximately 25-40% of cisgender males have an eating disorder. While 40% of people with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) are male and 67% of those with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) are male.
Gay men have relatively higher rates of eating disorders than heterosexual men; however, most men with eating disorders are heterosexual.
Overall, males are less likely to seek treatment and when they do, it is often later in an illness. Furthermore, males with eating disorders tend to be older, have greater rates of other psychiatric disorders, and tend to engage in more suicidal behaviors.
As if these stats weren’t alarming enough, males are more likely to engage in both compulsive exercise practices (weight training) and disordered eating (high protein, steroids, supplements); something that is often viewed as a net-positive in society, rather than a negative. While some transmasculine people and transgender men desire to achieve the ideal muscular physique as a way to affirm their gender and/or pass as cisgender in day-to-day life.
Photo by Laurenz Kleinheider
Societal Change
It’s time for males to feel that it is acceptable to openly express their vulnerabilities, instead of hiding them. Men who are suffering are at-risk of developing severe mental health issues, and shorter life spans. If you know of someone who is struggling, support them and advise them to get the help they need. There is no reason why males should have their feelings suppressed or dismissed, simply because society praises masculinity.
Let’s support all men, women, and genders to feel both seen and heard.
Contact an Eating Disorder Therapist in Orange County, CA to Start Male Therapy Services
If you are a male who is struggling with an eating disorder, you are not alone. We hope that you find comfort in knowing the truth about male eating disorders, which are often swept under the rug.
At Kindful Body, we offer therapy and nutrition counseling for all genders to help you build a better relationship with food and your body. You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps:
Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Connect with a caring therapist or dietitian.
Start receiving support for a happier and healthier life!
Other Therapy Services Offered with Kindful Body
Our team knows that people can experience more than one mental health concern than eating disorders. This is why we are honored to offer a variety of therapy services including emotional eating recovery, nutrition counseling support for low self-esteem issues, anxiety treatment, and body image. We also offer trauma therapy and grief counseling. Kindful Body is are here to help you with your eating disorder recovery. We offer eating disorder treatment in Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland/Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Orange County, CA, or anywhere online in California. Learn more about us by checking out our blog and FAQs page!