Breaking the Stigmas that Surround Males and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are continually being understood, and with greater comprehension about these diseases come more effective treatment advances. There are many stereotypes and stigmas that are conceptualized about males and eating disorders. This is often the result of lack of education, misinformation, or false speculations that are often carried through the media.

One of the most unfortunate stigmas that is created about eating disorders is that men somehow are not vulnerable to developing these mental illnesses or that men do not face the same risk of developing these disorders as their female counterparts.

Men Are Vulnerable, Too

This could not be farther from the truth however. Breaking this stigma is absolutely crucial to advancing treatment and support for boys and men who may be suffering with an eating disorder, whether anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.

This stigma often goes hand-in-hand with the belief that eating disorders are somehow “diseases of vanity”, or that women mostly develop this mental illness as a means of achieving a certain outward appearance.

Understanding the Factors That Cause the Development of an Eating Disorder

Understanding the factors that contribute to eating disorders is an important place to start when it comes to learning about these mental illnesses and breaking the stigmas that surround these disorders. Eating disorders are actually brain-based illnesses with a strong psychosocial component.

This basically means that eating disorders are driven as a result of biological factors that a person was born with and has no control over, such as genetics. Someone who is genetically predisposed to developing anorexia may be more susceptible to certain environmental triggers that can influence the development and progression of these mental illnesses.

Avoiding the Simplification of a Complex Disease

Eating disorders do not develop simply because a person desires to fit into a certain jean size or look a certain way. These are deadly mental illnesses with severe consequences if left untreated. Eating disorders can develop in both females and males.

A male can be impacted by eating disorders when factors combine under certain conditions, whether young boy, adolescent teen, or man. Boys and men who are genetically predisposed to developing an eating disorder will just as vulnerable to having an eating disorder as women who is also subject to her biology.

Grasping the reality of eating disorders helps expose these illnesses for what they are, breaking painful stigmas that can prevent treatment and restoration.

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Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC

Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing,

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH and nutrition private practice.

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The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Published on June 5, 2015
Reviewed And Updated By:  Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on May 22, 2019.
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com