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August 17, 2000

Male eating disorders can be dealt with, once recognized

Kevin Beck

(ANS) -- Steve is happily married, an accountant by profession and an accomplished athlete. He once qualified for the Olympic trials in the marathon and, in his mid-30s, still ranks among the top runners in his region. Though fiercely competitive in his sport, he's described as friendly, unassuming and selfless.

But Steve also wages an inner battle. His first steps every day lead not outdoors, but to the scale -- a trial that will dictate his mood that day.

"I don't know when I realized something wasn't right," said Steve, 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 120 pounds. "I had a rough time in college, a lot of depression -- trying to take control included taking control of food."

Steve admits to throwing away food so he won't eat it, filling up on water when he's hungry and limiting himself to a single meal of dry greens on days he can't run. "I guess I'm only setting myself up to lose," said Steve. But he's never sought help for his demons and doesn't plan to: "I've come to realize that's me," he said. "I can live with that."

Men with eating disorders aren't as rare as some would imagine: More than 10 percent of the 8 million Americans suffering from eating disorders -- chiefly anorexia and bulimia -- are male. Many, but not all, are athletes -- runners and wrestlers are commonly afflicted -- and while intense shame is characteristic of anyone with an eating disorder, these feelings are amplified in men who, recognizing their "minority" status, may feel utterly alone.

"Men are hesitant to seek medical attention for a disorder they fear will be seen as a girl's disorder," said Dr. Arnold Andersen, director of the eating disorders unit at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and author of "Males With Eating Disorders." Cultural factors also work the other way: Few would suspect a male friend might have an eating disorder. As a result, behaviors such as self-starvation and self-induced vomiting can persist secretly and unchecked, potentially leading to serious health problems and even death.

According to Jean Bradley Rubel, an eating-disorder specialist and founder of the nonprofit organization Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc., risk factors for developing an eating disorder in men include childhood obesity, recent dieting, participation in a sport or profession demanding thinness and upbringing in a dysfunctional family where physical or sexual abuse or alcoholism played a role.

Also, some experts believe that increasing cultural pressures on men to meet an unrealistic physical ideal -- long considered a driving force for females to develop eating problems -- are affecting larger and larger numbers of males.

Regardless of the underlying cause, intervention -- as uncomfortable as it may be for friends and family -- is often necessary to forestall life-threatening medical complications, regardless of the gender of the sufferer. It's important to remember is that treatment, though difficult, is very often successful. The Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Association offers these hints:

· -- Gather information about eating disorders.

· -- Realize that recovery takes months or even years.

· -- Be sensitive to the gender issue.

· -- Avoid the subject of weight or appearance.

· -- Don't steer conversations in the direction of food.

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Kevin Beck is a free-lance writer based in New Hampshire whose articles have appeared in Running Times magazine, the Concord Monitor and Healthcare Review.

Contacts:

Dr. Arnold E. Anderson, director, Eating Disorders Unit, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, 319-356-1354; e-mail: psych-edinfo@uiowa.edu.

Jean Bradley Rubel, founder, Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc., Eugene, Ore., 503-344-1144: Web site: www.anredcom

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Association, Kingston, Ontario, operates a 24-hour help line, 613-547-3684.

Background:

Something's Fishy, an online source of information, including ways to get help and find support, Web site: www.something-fishy.org/cultural/issuesformen.php

"Males With Eating Disorders" by Dr. Arnold E. Anderson, published by Brunner/Mazel, sells for $47.95.