If you have an eating disorder, or know someone that does, it's easy to see how devastating and dangerous they are. No matter what the disordered diagnosis-the impact is massive.
Seeking treatment for an eating disorder is hard enough, with the constant guilt of not feeling 'sick enough' or valid, but for males with eating disorders, there can be horrific extra challenges to face in seeking treatment and support from professionals and the people around them.
In the United States alone, eating disorders will affect 10 million men in their lifetime. Eating disorders of any kind, even just impacting one person deserves support and awareness, simply due to the life threatening and mentally draining consequences, but there are millions of people suffering in silence with barely any awareness, mostly all due to stigma.
There has always been, and still is, a popular stigma that eating disorders fit a certain personality, and image. Rich white girls, obsessive perfectionists, victims of bullying. There are many, and it is dangerous. The truth is, eating disorders don't discriminate. They can affect young children, minorities, people who grew up in a perfect household. Tragically, eating disorders can and will ruin anyone, especially those people predisposed to them.
I got to learn more for myself about males with eating disorders, and realised just how important it is that the victims of such an awful illness voices are heard. Sam*, a male diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, shared his story and struggle with me.
Sam* was at the worst point in his eating disorder when he was a minor, and thanks his parents for forcing him into getting the help he needs. He really feels that the treatment program saved his life, but noticed that out of the whole program, there were only two other males also getting the treatment that brought him back from the brink of death. "It almost made me sad to see how few males there are in treatment for eating disorders. I know we don't fit into the stigma of eating disorders, but we still need help, just like anyone else."
"The stigma is everywhere, absolutely everywhere. I can see why males don't speak out when there is such a strong stigma against them, but I wish more people would. Not only would it help stop the assumptions of eating disorders, but it would show everyone that nobody is safe from the chance of developing an eating disorder."
After hearing from Sam*, and becoming aware of the issue, it's evident that the stigma really is everywhere. Surprisingly, even in eating disorder treatment adverts. The statistics may even be inaccurate for males with ED's, as so many men suffer in silence over fear of embarrassment or not being taken seriously.
There are more dangers to this issue too, many males may be struggling with an eating disorder and not even realise it, when so many people assume eating disorders just don't affect men, how do we know how to spot the signs, and offer them treatment and support before the get to a dangerously low weight?
"I wish people knew we existed. I wish people knew how vicious and complex these disorders are, and how badly every single one of the suffers need help, whether they fit the stereotype or not"
*Name has been changed
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