by Sarah Michelson

Created on: May 15, 2009

Eating disorders are commonly thought of as "the white girl's disease." However, as of late, its become more and more clear to the world that this is a misconception. Eating disorders, ranging from anorexia and bulimia to binge eating and pica, can affect men and women of every race.

Out of the 8 million people in the U.S. thought to be suffering from an eating disorder, approximately 10% are male. However, the idea that men do not get eating disorders leads many of these victims not to seek treatment. This misconception adds to the shame associated with eating disorders, because men with eating disorders fear being thought gay or effimate.

Research shows that while women are generally near healthy weight at the onset of an eating disorder, men are generally overweight, though both men and women feel fat proir to the onset of the disorder. Binge eating disorders commonly are undiagnosed in men, because for a man to overeat or be overweight is not as offensive to our society as it is for a woman.

As implied above, it is slightly more common for gay men to suffer eating disorders than it is for straight men. This is likely because of the emphasis on image in homosexual society. However, this idea is vastly overblown, and can discourage men from seeking treatment, as mentioned above.

Additionally, some athletes develop eating disorders, especially in weight based sports. Wrestlers go to extreme measures to make weight, whether its extreme exercise, starving themselves, or purging all of their water and food weight. Other weight based sports include running, and, to an extent, football. In many youth football leagues, the players are divided up by weight and age. While this makes sense, it also can lead to problems. Boys as young as six or seven are told that they need to eat light so that they don't move up a weight class, or told to gain weight so they can play with their peers. This fixation on weight in athletics can foster the beginnings of an eating disorder.

Generally, eating disorder treatment and prevention is aimed towards women. This can hurt men with eating disorders, for a program designed for women may not necessarily help them, and support groups are primarily female, an idea that can be intimidating for some men.

Despite this, the factors that lead to an eating disorder, including depression and low self esteem, are the same for both men and women. However, men need to be recognized as also having a risk for eating disorders, as do all other groups. An eating disorder can strike anyone, and its not just a 'white girl's disease'.

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