Men & Eating Disorders in Los Angeles: Similar, Yet Different
Let’s jump right into it today- what’s the deal with eating disorders and men? Over the course of the last couple of decades there has been a tremendous shift in cultural messaging around who can have an eating disorder. Historically speaking, most people believed this to be a “women’s issue” (*insert incredulous laughter*) but we as a society have mostly debunked this, yet it remains a topic worth sharing from time to time. By the end of this blog, you should have a better understanding of how eating disorders in men are both similar and different to women as well as specific resources for support.
*For the purposes of this blog, I will be utilizing “men” as a catch-all for those who hold the gender identity of being male in today’s culture, while recognizing there will be nuances to be addressed in future blog posts specific to trans men and non-binary people, that I will eventually link here. Thank you for your understanding!
Men and Eating Disorders- What’s the Lay of the Land?
Eating disorders are non-discriminatory, showing up regardless of sex, gender, socioeconomic status, and so forth. As of right now, the prevalence of eating disorders in the male population is estimated to be anywhere from 6-10 million men experiencing one at some point in their lives. With such a stark range, you might be wondering why you don’t hear about this issue as much as you do with women or women identifying people. Well, the main culprits having a huge part to play in this would be: gender bias, misogyny, and shame narratives. Due to aforementioned themes, it can create huge barriers in men seeking treatment or even just accessing general support from their loved ones.
What Does an Eating Disorder Look Like in Men?
As with women, eating disorders in men take on a variety of forms: from restriction, bingeing, purging, etc. Eating disorders have been inappropriately gendered for some time. Our diagnostic system has its flaws, but very troubling was the fact that prior to 2013, cis-men couldn’t even be diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa due to their inability to experience amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation; leaving many feeling unseen in their pain.
When looking at variation between men and women, one of the more notable areas of difference would be in regards to body image. This is greatly informed by misogyny and the pressure for men to have a “bulky” or lean look depending on communities they belong in. There is even a subset of body dysmorphia called muscle dysmorphia impacting men which is: “having a core belief and fear around insufficient muscularity and a pathological pursuit of muscularity.”
Another area of difference shows up specifically with men struggling with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Roughly 57% of said men will also have a comorbidity with substance abuse, as opposed to 28% of women with BED*. This substance abuse typically derives from stimulant use for the goal of weight loss or management in men. Regularly, the substance use will be addressed without getting support for the body image, resulting in their needs going unsupported.
Resources for Men with Eating Disorders
As mentioned, there are some differences that shift the presentation of how an eating disorder can look between men and women, but at the end of the day they are similar enough. We have people who are struggling with the relationship they have with food and their bodies, causing distress and disruption to their lives. And with that comes the need for support for men and men-identifying people when it comes to their relationships with food, body image, and self. Below are a few resources that I like to reference for male clients that I hope can support yourself or someone you care about:
Men Unscripted by Aaron Flores: Aaron is a registered dietitian who focuses each podcast episode to anonymous men sharing their own experience with negative body image, disordered eating, and more. A great resource for men or men-identifying folk who do not always feel their stories are told in the general body image community.
Men’s ED Support Group by The Eating Disorder Foundation. A place for men to find community in processing eating disorder recovery and body image. At the writing of this post, they meet virtually every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:00pm pst.
Reaching out to a trusted therapist for treatment program recommendations that offer options for men or non-binary people. If you fill out my contact form, I’d be happy to send some your way.
Where Do I find an Eating Disorder Therapist for Men in California?
Well you have come to the right place, as I love providing care for men, women, and non-binary folk. Whether you’re looking for support with your eating disorder recovery, healing through EMDR therapy, or general struggles with anxiety or depression, feel free to call or text me at (805) 292-0836 for a free 15 min consultation or click here to message me and let’s find out if we’re a good fit. I look forward to connecting with you.
