How Big a Problem is Eating Disorders in Men?

People’s relationship with food is personal and complicated. Eating habits form due to a variety of factors that include your genes, behavior, childhood tastes in food, and even gender. While people’s relationship with food can be very positive, it can also be very negative. People an easily develop eating disorders which can actually result in some serious harm or health problems.

Many people tend to associate eating disorders with women. This is understandable because a lot of effort has gone into raising awareness of how eating disorders affect women, especially when connected with body image and body positivity issues. But the truth is that men are just as prone as women to developing eating disorders. They have their own slough of body image issues and eating disorders

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders, like bulimia, anorexia, or over eating are what occurs when you develop unhealthy eating habits, mostly centered around your weight. Some eating disorders are purposeful and conscientiously carried out, but many are the result of a person’s mindset and their relationship with food. Some people do not even realize that they have an eating disorder.

Eating disorders in men

Men tend to have the same type of eating disorders as women, at the very least they are clinically similar to female eating disorders. The biggest difference between eating disorders in men and women are what causes them. A lot of men end up unintentionally developing an eating disorder due to their active lifestyle. Weight regulation is a major part of a lot of sports; both losing weight and putting it on. Many athletes, both male and female, form eating habits while they are active athletes, but fail to adjust those habits when they stop competing.

Treating an eating disorder

The only way to treat an eating disorder is to admit that you have one, then adjust your eating habits and your mentality towards food. You should work with a health professional to improve your eating habits.