Male Eating Disorders: How Much Do We Really Understand? UK

Main Category: Eating Disorders
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 02 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Male eating disorders: how much do we really understand?

Last weekend's transmission of BBC2's Revealed...Manorexia highlighted the subject of male eating disorders. It's a subject that's not raised often enough, say some experts. After all it's not unusual to read about women who have eating problems, but we seldom hear about how disorders such as anorexia and bulimia affect men.

'Eating disorders are still rare among men,' explains Dr Peter Rowan, consultant psychiatrist at Cygnet Hospital Ealing's Eating Disorders Unit. 'The incidence in males over the age of puberty who suffer with anorexia, for instance, is around 10 percent or so.

'But the longer we study all eating disorders, the more we discover variations of disorder that don't quite fit the classical diagnoses For instance, among women there are not only bulimics but there are also those who suffer with binge eating disorder, and, of course EDNOS (eating disorders not otherwise specified).'

According to Dr Rowan, there are also many men who have an unhealthy relationship with food who don't fit the diagnostic criteria - which are, of course, designed for women. For instance some men are obsessed with fitness, but not necessarily because they are trying to change their body shape. Some may, for example, become addicted to exercise in an attempt to live longer and avoid coronary heart disease.

'As a result, these men avoid certain types of food - for instance, fats - and some may develop a very unhealthy relationship to food and eat restrictively. And by doing so, they maintain a low weight,' explains Dr Rowan.

'It's likely that there are more men than we recognise who have some form of abnormality of eating and attitude to food and weight - though most are probably not truly anorexic or bulimic.

'However, it's not clear whether or not these men should be described as ill, whether they have an eating disorder and indeed whether we should attempt to do anything about them unless they seek help. Many don't seek help and although perhaps they should, they often lead pretty normal lives and don't want to change.

'On the other hand, those who do seek help are likely to have more severe symptoms and are more likely to fulfil the diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.'

How to get help

For men or women who are worried about an eating problem - whatever type of problem that is - help is available at the Eating Disorders Unit at Cygnet Hospital Ealing. The unit offers outpatient and inpatient treatment for a full range of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia for all patients aged 16 and over with a diagnosis of eating disorders.

The Cygnet Ealing's EDU offers one of the largest and most experienced multi-disciplinary team of staff, including specialist consultant psychiatrists and medical team, experienced consistent nursing team, psychodynamic family, occupational, art and complementary therapists, dieticians and psychologists.

New patients are seen within 24 hours of the initial contact, some even at weekends. Treatment packages include full medical monitoring and therapeutic group sessions alongside individual work as well as family therapy. Patients also receive help with body image and achieving a normal approach to food, including planning, shopping, preparation and eating meals.

Cygnet Health Care