Male Eating Disorders on the Rise

[Diakonos]

If you don't associate eating disorders such as binge eating, bulimia or anorexia with men, this article will be an eye opener for you.

Just as women feel pressured to look like stick-thin magazine models, men can be swayed by images of pumped-up hunks with broad shoulders, six-pack abs and narrow waists. Pictures of perfect bodies can reinforce the belief that "normal" bodies are not OK, researchers say.

The book "The Adonis Complex" tracks the evolution of boys' action figures from the average GI Joe in the '60s to the absurdly pumped-up toys of today. Scaled to human size, the authors say one Wolverine action figure would have 32-inch biceps. "Basically they're marketing to men in the same way they marketed to women," said Roberto Olivardia, co-author of the book. "And I think men and young boys have responded to that."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040511/ap_on_he_me/fit_male_eating_disorders

 

[LazyByNature]

I'm sure that a lot of men have eating disorders, but their arguement doesn't make a lot of sence to me. Of course those people with eating disorders aren't thinking correctly in the first place.

They say that women want to be stick-thin like the supermodels and men want to be pumped-up like the action heros. Well, to be stick-thin you stop eating and waste away. But to be pumped up, you have to eat to gain the muscle.

Sometimes you have to let toys be toys and not put too much thought into them. Children are NOT little adults and they don't think about all of the sutle implications that adults do. Remember that these scientists make their living by coming up with new and coimplex problems then spend the next 10 years researching them with the money from a federal grant.

Let me state again that people with eating disorders aren't thinking logically. I read in Burn the fat feed the muscle (plug, its a good read) that weight loss is simple in theory but hard in practise and most people can't even grasp the simple theory.

 

[Little Wing]

My son has tons of Max Steele dolls, my daughter used em for boyfriends for her barbies cause Ken is a skinny dork. She'd have all these different barbies sitting around n everyone had an identical hot guy the guys just had different "jobs." (max has a ton of different adventure outfits.)

 

[Diakonos]

Originally posted by LazyByNature
They say that women want to be stick-thin like the supermodels and men want to be pumped-up like the action heros. Well, to be stick-thin you stop eating and waste away. But to be pumped up, you have to eat to gain the muscle.

Good point. However, this article also said that exercising obsessively was symptom of eating disorders. Because people who suffer from eating disorders are not as you say ???thinking logically???, the man who exercises obsessively may not even be aware that he has an eating disorder. He may classify what he does as regular guy behavior. That is one of the main points of this article. Eating disorders are harder to spot in men, 1. because most don???t recognize that they have one and 2. because the ones who to do know they have a problem refuse to get help.

I agree that there are the same influences on men and boys as girls. And since men tend to BE visual, some might assume that most women/potential mates are as well, and be all stressed about it. Our society seems to place a lot of value on size and appearance. Geez, it's one more diversion from romancing our partners... like flexing our biceps is better than buying flowers or showing love in others ways women absorb it?

 

[Little Wing]

An eating disorder sure if they're exercising compulsively to lose weight but can you have an eating disorder if you're trying to bulk up? Seems like you'd be taking very good care of your body to fuel it for that trip...Is it considered an eating disorder when a seemingly fit person eats all kinds of crap that destroys their body on the inside, kills the liver, clogs arteries or are these disorders only about outer appearances?

 

[Fit Freak]

YES....excessive thoughts about food and exercising is a main determinant of "bulemic" behavior. It doesn't have to be about getting skinny.

 

[Diakonos]

Originally posted by rockgazer69
An eating disorder sure if they're exercising compulsively to lose weight but can you have an eating disorder if you're trying to bulk up? Seems like you'd be taking very good care of your body to fuel it for that trip...Is it considered an eating disorder when a seemingly fit person eats all kinds of crap that destroys their body on the inside, kills the liver, clogs arteries or are these disorders only about outer appearances?

In some cases, I would say yes, they are based solely on outer appearance. For example, what about the guy who isn???t lifting for size or bulk, but is lifting for cut or definition (uses a lot of reps). If you were to go to the diet and nutrition section of this forum, you would find 101 threads on the latest fad diets and/or cutting plans. Some of them plans are good, and others are not good. How many of those plans are used by men?

Then there are those athletes whose weight is critical to their performance. I vividly remember how guys in high school would be starving themselves during lunch, because they were trying to ???make weight??? for the wrestling team.

 

[Little Wing]

I saw a pic of an anorexic girl online n she's beaming at the camera like she had no idea how bad she looked . The mental stuff goin on in that photo was scarier than the physical.

 

[Little Wing]

I watched a show a while back about men with eating disorders but they never mentioned sports or bodybuilding. It was sad to hear the mental anguish.... Time for more info to be out there

 

[Akateros]

Being obsessive about food, never ever "cheating", counting every gram of nutrient -- that's just as "disordered" as a starving anorexic or a bulimic with his or her head down the toilet.

Nor do you have to be noticeably underweight to be disordered -- big misconception. It's more about the mental aspect of it.

Bulimia is pretty rampant among men AND women involved in sports where you have to make weight. I know a few semi-pro boxers who've seen that going on.

 

[Fit Freak]

Exactly...they key thing to understand with such disorders is not the physical appearance of those that suffer from it BUT instead...it's the mestal side of things...what's going on inside of the head.

Eg - always thinking about food, planning your day around eating, avoiding social situations due to eating issues, always thinking about your weight (gaining or losing), constantly talking about food, overexercising, exercising with the purpose to lose calories you just ate, overeating followed by sever restriction, etc

These are just some of the issues considered when making a diagnosis. In fct with bulemia...90% of people diagnosed with the condition are within 5-10 of their normal weight.

 

[KillerAbz]

That was a real good read, more people should see it, thank you...

 

[rule62]

32 inch biceps is a reasonable goal. I only have 12 inches to go. That is hilarious, throwing out the Ken dolls and going with Max Steele instead.

 

[rule62]

It's actually not a joking matter, I have seen a number of people get really screwed up with an eating disorder, it is really scary that someone could not see what they are doing to themselves.

 

[nikegurl]

there's a lot they still don't know about eating disorders. i went to school w/a boy who developed anorexia in 5th grade. it took them forever to diagnose him b/c he was a boy AND much younger than typical. (this was years ago. i know it's a lot more common for a 5th grader to have an eating disorder now than it was then)

he was in and out of various hospitals for years. they saved his life but to be honest...i don't think he ever "recovered". he just gained enough weight to survive but he definitely wasn't well even years later.