Anorexia in Males

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Anorexia in Males
By Katelyn Colburn
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What you will Learn...
What is anorexia? How common is anorexia in
males? What makes someone anorexic? What are
the symptoms, concurrent problems, and medical
consequences? How does the media influence
anorexia? Who is affected most by
anorexia? What are some statistics from national
surveys comparing anorexia in males and women?
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The most common element surrounding ALL eating
disorders is a low self esteem. About 8 million
people in the United States are suffering from an
eating disorder.
Ten Years ago, men accounted for only 10 of
eating disorder cases, but recent studies show
that the number of male cases have gone up to
16.
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Anorexia-literally means "a loss of appetite for
nervous reasons."
Characterized by refusal to maintain a minimally
normal body weight, self starvation, a disturbed
perception of body weight and shape, and an
intense fear of becoming fat or overweight.
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Symptoms
Weighing at least 15 below expected normal
weight Sensitivity to cold temperatures Diffi
culty eating in public Lying about food
intake Withdrawing socially
Intense fear of weight gain Feeling fat or
seeing areas of the body (abdomen and thighs,
for example) as fat Possible purging through
laxatives, enemas, diet pills, diuretics,
self-induced vomiting or emetics, or excessive
exercise
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Body fat and your body type - Subjects A, B and
C are identical in height  - A and B are the
same weight - C is the heaviest - B and C have
a good body fat percentage
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Body Weight of Men
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Gymnasts, runners, body builders, wrestlers,
jockeys, dancers, and swimmers are especially
vulnerable to eating disorders because their
sports require weight restrictions.
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Males are receiving increasing media messages
regarding dieting, and ideal of muscularity, and
plastic surgery options(such as pectoral and
calf implants).
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A national survey indicated that 41 of men are
dissatisfied with their weight, while 55 of
women are. Males were more likely than females to
claim that they were fit and exercised regularly,
and felt good about their bodies, where as women
were more concerned with aspects of their
appearance (for example, weight).
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Medical Consequences
and
ArthritisHigh cholesterolKidney disease or
failureGallbladder diseaseStrokeUpper
respiratoryproblemsObesityDiabetes
Concurrent Problems
AnxietyDepressionMood disordersSubstance
abuseSuicidal thoughts
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Summary
The presence of a low self esteem is the most
common element surrounding all eating disorders.
The number of anorexia cases found in men have
risen from 10 to 16. Anorexia is generally
characterized by refusal to maintain a normal
body weight, self starvation, a disturbed
perception of body weight and shape, and a fear
of becoming overweight. Men who are involved in
low-weight oriented sports are at an increased
risk because of the pressure to succeed, to be
the best, and to win at all costs. In general,
males are more likely than women to admit that
they exercise regularly, where as women are more
concerned with certain aspects of their
appearance.
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Sources
ANRED-Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating
Disorders, Inc in Males with Eating
Disorders. ltfile//.A/Anred20Males20With20Eati
ng20Disorders.htmgt (accessed December
2002) Blinder, Barton. Eating Disorders
Specialist in Anorexia in Males http//www.itspee
d.com/bjblinder/anmales.htm (accessed January
2003) Shiltz, Tom. Eating Disorders Awareness
and Prevention, Inc. in Males and Eating
Disorders Research http//www.korrnet.org/katfed/
male1.html (accessed January 2003)
Something Fishy website on Eating Disorders in
Issues for Men. http//www.something-fishy.org/cul
tural/issuesformen.php (accessed December
2002) Miller, John. AtHealth in
Anorexia. lthttp//www.athealth.com/consumer/disord
ers/anorexia.htmlgt (accessed December 2002)