In sort of a twist, men and eating disorders has become a bit of a parallel to the concerns of women and heart disease.  For too long women were ignored when it came to cardiovascular disease.  Signs of disease were different from that of men, and heart and vascular conditions were ignored in widespread fashion in women.  Recently that trend has shifted, and now we are doing better (but still with a way to go) in getting women in quicker for evaluation and treatment of problems like heart attacks and strokes.

It has been a common line of thinking that only 10 percent of eating disorders exist in men.  Indeed, one major eating disorder conference promotes the “feminist perspective” when it comes to eating disorders.  However, at that very conference it was recently reported that in fact men account for now 25 percent of all eating disorder cases.  The problem: they hide in silence.  Or, they are simply unaware of the issue at hand. 

There are several types of eating disorders in men.   And, there is no typical profile of a man who has an eating disorder.  Indeed, while there is a greater incidence of homosexuality among men with eating disorders than in the general population, the MAJORITY of men with eating disorders are in fact heterosexual.  As well, men suffer from the same spectrum of disorders, as do women: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and others.  As well, the body dysmorphia—the false image one has of one’s own body—is present in men also.  For example, one variant of eating disorders and body dysmorphia among men can be seen in those who “live at the gym.”  Those who are body builders, who continue to want to bulk up, to aspire to those who are in body building magazines, who use supplements and or hormones to accentuate the male physique, may in fact have an eating disorder.  This is in strong contrast to the female anorexic who wants to get as thin as possible, to lose as much weight as possible.  These men want to get bigger.  The common thread: they both don’t see their bodies as they are, and don’t accept a “healthy” weight and body as one that is “good enough.”

Many men with eating disorders suffer from a co-addiction, such as alcoholism.  There are many with other psychological issues, such as depression or anxiety.  The bottom line however, is the greatest hurdle for men with eating disorders is the failure to seek help.  The ball and chain that is the eating disorder can be removed.  Happiness and good health can be achieved if one seeks help from experienced eating disorder professionals.

Dr. Rosen has extensive experience treating men with a variety of eating disorders. He provides the medical follow up, the nutritional follow up, and prescribes psychotropic medications if needed.   Along with the highly skilled therapists with whom he works, his treatment team can help those men suffering from eating disorders achieve a new beginning.