Male Eating Disorders

Eating disorders do not discriminate based on gender. Men can and do develop eating disorders.

Strategies for Prevention and Early Intervention of Male Eating Disorders

1. Learn about eating disorders and know the warning signs. Become aware of your community resources (treatment centers, self-help groups, etc.). Consider implementing an eating concerns support group in a school, hospital, or community setting to provide interested young men with an opportunity to learn more about eating disorders and to receive support. Encourage young men to seek professional help if necessary.
2. Understand that athletic activities or professions that necessitate weight restriction (e.g., gymnastics, track, swimming, wrestling, rowing) put males at risk for developing eating disorders. Male wrestlers, for example, present with a higher rate of eating disorders than the general male population (Andersen, 1995). Coaches need to be aware of and disallow any excessive weight control or body building measures employed by young male athletes.
3. Talk with young men about the ways in which cultural attitudes regarding ideal male body shape, masculinity, and sexuality are shaped by the media. Assist young men in expanding their idea of masculinity to include such characteristics as caring, nurturing, and cooperation. Encourage male involvement in traditional non-masculine activities such as shopping, laundry, and cooking.
4. Demonstrate respect for gay men and men who display personality traits or who are involved in professions that stretch the limits of traditional masculinity (e.g., men who dress colorfully, dancers, skaters, etc.).
5. Never emphasize body size or shape as an indication of a young man's worth or identity as a man. Value the person on the inside and help him to establish a sense of control in his life through self-knowledge and expression rather than trying to obtain control through dieting or other eating disordered behaviors.
6. Confront others who tease men who do not meet traditional cultural expectations for masculinity. Confront anyone who tries to motivate or "toughen up" young men by verbally attacking their masculinity (e.g., calling names such as sissy or wimp).
7. Listen carefully to a young man's thoughts and feelings. Take his pain seriously. Allow him to become who he is.
8. Validate a young man's strivings for independence and encourage him to develop all aspects of his personality, not only those that family and/or culture find acceptable. Respect a person's need for space, privacy, and boundaries. Be careful about being overprotective. Allow him to exercise control and make his own decisions whenever possible, including control over what and how much he eats, how he looks, and how much he weighs.

©2002, National Eating Disorders Association. Permission is granted to copy and reprint materials for educational purposes only.