How to Help My Husband With His Eating Disorder

Anyone can develop an eating disorder, regardless of their background. [1] Eating disorders have typically been associated with girls and women, but men also struggle.

Do Men Get Eating Disorders?

Men also can struggle with an eating disorder. About 1 in 3 people with an eating disorder are male. Some people don’t meet the full diagnostic criteria for an eating disorder, but they may still struggle with disordered eating. This is referred to as “subclinical eating disordered behaviors.” [2]

Subclinical disordered behaviors can still negatively impact people and still warrants professional treatment. Men struggle with subclinical disordered eating behaviors as often as girls and women do. [2]

What are the Signs of an Eating Disorder in Men?

There are different types of eating disorders. Each eating disorder has different signs and symptoms.

Anorexia

About 20% of people with anorexia nervosa are men. [1] Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight.

This phobia then leads to severe and intense food restriction or other disordered behaviors as a way to avoid gaining weight. Signs of anorexia in men include: [3]

  • Significant weight loss
  • Ongoing preoccupation with weight, food, calories, dieting, or being fat
  • Inability to maintain a healthy body weight
  • Intense emotional distress, such as panic, with food or weight gain
  • Excessive or rigid exercise routine

Bulimia

Bulimia is characterized by cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors. Compensatory behaviors are attempts to avoid the “consequences” of a binge, primarily weight gain.

Common compensatory behaviors are self-induced vomiting, fasting, compulsive exercise, or laxative abuse. 30% of people with bulimia are male. [1] Some symptoms of bulimia are: [3]

  • Signs of binge eating, such as missing food or lots of food wrappers in the trash
  • Evidence of purging, like the smell of vomit or going to the bathroom quickly after a meal
  • Using an excessive amount of mouthwash, gum, or mints
  • Calluses on the back of hands or knuckles
  • Dental problems

Binge Eating

Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder where individuals struggle with repeated episodes of binge eating. 43% of individuals with BED are male. [1] Some warning signs of BED are: [3]

  • Ongoing binge episodes. A binge is more than overeating. For something to be considered a binge, someone must eat an amount of food that is significantly larger than what most people would eat in the same amount of time.
  • Feeling disgust, sad, or guilt after a binge
  • Stealing or hoarding food
  • Evidence of binges, such as missing food or finding empty food containers

Do Men Struggle with Body Image?

One unique consideration when it comes to men and eating disorders is the role of body image. Body image standards are different for men than they are for women.

Body dysmorphia isn’t technically an eating disorder, but is actually considered a type of anxiety disorder. [1] Body dysmorphia is when someone becomes obsessed with a perceived physical flaw.

This can result in significant emotional distress and harmful behaviors, such as frequently checking the mirror or comparing their appearance to others. [1] Muscle dysphoria is a type of body dysmorphic disorder.

Muscle dysphoria is believing that your body is too small or not muscular enough. Muscle dysphoria happens pretty much only in men. [1] This points back to societal body image standards for men. Men are expected to be muscular.

This can result in negative body-image for men. While someone may deal with muscle dysphoria and not have an eating disorder, body image issues and eating disorders commonly co-occur. [1]

Related Reading

What are Long-Term Health Risks of Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are dangerous mental illnesses. There are long-term health risks associated with disordered eating. These are: [4]

  • Heart issues, such as loss of heart muscle or low blood pressure
  • Constipation
  • Slowed digestion
  • Stomach rupture, due to binge eating
  • Damage to the esophagus as a result of ongoing purging
  • Pancreatitis
  • Intestinal obstruction, perforation, or infections
  • Hormone irregularities
  • Bone loss
  • Kidney failure
  • Anemia

It’s important to get eating disorder treatment to help prevent or reverse these health symptoms.

How Can I Find Help for My Husband’s Eating Disorder?

There are different eating disorder treatment options. Treatment depends on how severe your husband’s eating disorder is and the type of eating disorder he is dealing with. Treatment options include:

  • Inpatient or residential: Inpatient and residential treatment provide 24/7 treatment. Clients live at the facility or in the hospital during this phase of treatment. Medical supervision is provided along with intensive therapeutic services.
  • Partial Hospitalization Programs:  is typically required when a person is medically stable but still requires the structure to continue treatment. PHP can last anywhere from 3-12 hours per day, up to 7 days a week, depending on the person’s needs.
  • Intensive outpatient programs: Intensive outpatient programs are less structured and intense than inpatient or residential treatment. These programs allow your husband to live at home and continue to work. Intensive outpatient programs provide treatment several hours per day, several days per week.
  • Outpatient: Outpatient treatment takes place at regularly scheduled intervals, such as once a week, biweekly, or monthly. Examples of outpatient treatment include seeing a therapist once a week or going to regular psychiatrist appointments.

It might feel intimidating or overwhelming to try and figure out what treatment option is right for your husband. You and your partner can take the first step by asking for referrals from a doctor, therapist, or your insurance provider.

It’s also possible to search for “eating disorder treatment near me” and find treatment centers. A treatment center typically will provide a free assessment to determine if their program is the right fit for your husband.

If you need help locating a treatment center, use this tool to find eating disorder treatment near you.

 

Citations

[1] National Eating Disorders Collaboration. (n.d) Eating Disorders in Males

[2] National Eating Disorders Association. Eating Disorders in Men & Boys

[3] National Eating Disorders Association. Warning Signs and Symptoms

[4] National Eating Disorders Association. Health Consequences

Author: Samantha Bothwell, LMFT
Page Last Reviewed and Updated 11.2.22 by Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC