The media have created several images of eating disorders, and one of the most widespread stereotypes is that these conditions only affect women. However, statistics reveal that about one in three people who are battling eating disorders is a male. In fact, cases of subclinical eating disorder behaviors such as purging, binge eating, fasting for immediate weight loss, and laxative abuse occur nearly as common among men as with women. In the U.S. alone, around 10 million males will experience eating disorders at a certain point in their lives. However, due to cultural biases and social stigma against men suffering from eating disorders, they are a lot less likely to look for treatment options for anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, and other eating disorders. But once they've finally decided to seek help, their responses to these available treatments are remarkably similar to those of their female counterparts. There are several reasons men and boys choose to remain silent ...
Not Just a Girl’s Issue: Men and Eating Disorders
