Suffering in silence and shame…? Let me help you out!
If you are a man who has been affected by an eating or body image problem and are struggling to cope, I would like to reassure you that you are not alone. It is estimated that 1 in 3 men suffer from an eating disorder.
Research shows that up to a quarter of sufferers are men from all walks of life. Unfortunately the high level of stigma makes it difficult to gather more accurate data. Many men also struggle to reach out because they fear being labelled as gay. This is an additional barrier for men who usually find it harder, compared to women, to open up about their issues. Lastly most eating disorder treatment services are aimed at women leaving men without a male orientated service to go to.
All of the above reasons have prompted me to specialise in working with men.
FAQ and Topics about Eating Disorders in Men
Male therapist for men with eating disorders
Can you choose to have an eating disorder?
What percentage of men get eating disorders?
What triggers an eating disorder in men?
What thoughts do men with anorexia have
Male therapist for men with eating disorders
Shame and stigma prevent many men with an eating disorder from seeking therapy. It takes much courage for men to reach out and open up. A man talking to another man can make it easier to do so. Unfortunately there are very few male therapists for men specialising in eating disorders. It’s the reason I have expanded my practice to work specifically with men.
I have an empathic, non-judgemental and personable nature. As a male eating disorder therapist, I aim to work with men who struggle with anorexia, bulimia, anorexia and bulimia, binge eating, overeating, purging, non specified eating disorders body image issues (dysmorphia) and any other food related issue.
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What percentage of men get eating disorders?
Research suggests that up to a quarter of sufferers are male.
It is estimated that out of:
100’000 men
- 19 are affected by anorexia nervosa and
- 29 are affected by bulimia
The high level of stigma affecting men with eating disorders, means that it is very difficult to obtain accurate figures. Part of the reason men struggle to ask for help is that most services are aimed at woman, which leaves some men thinking that they have a “typically” female problem. That’s quite simply not to case as anyone can get an eating disorder.
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Worry you have lost control over how much food you eat?
Hi! My name is Flavio. A male eating disorder therapist supporting men with eating disorders and body image issues. I have considerable experience working with Eating Disorders and specialist experiential training. I understand the stigma and shame that stop men seeking help. Together we can explore what has triggered the ED and work on overcoming the factors keeping you stuck.
Fully qualified experienced male eating disorder therapist for men. BACP registered and ready to help you!
***FREE*** First Step to Recovery
Contact me with a brief description of the problem. The first conversation is FREE OF CHARGE
Can men choose to have an eating disorder?
Eating disorders (ED) are complex mental health problems. Any man, regardless of race, age or background can develop and ED. It is not your fault if you have one. Fault and blame often go hand in hand. I have trained to work in a sensitive way that doesn’t seek to blame men or anybody else in their life. I have several years of experience working with eating disorders. I work with women, men, the BAME and LGBTQA community.
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What triggers an eating disorder in men?
Eating disorders in men are often brought on by one or more the following:
- relationship breakdown
- career changes or pressures at work
- difficult coping with pressure overall
- Illness or loss
- bullying and criticism for being overweight
- practising sports that require extreme weight control
- comments from sports coaches
Research implies that eating disorders in men take root when they get into exercising. Would you say that applies to you or have you identified a different path?
With time, the desire to attain a perfect body, becomes more obvious and later develops into an obsession, which makes you limit food intake. Anyone observing from the outside, can simply overlook this tendency as a wish to become healthier. You can probably recall yourself that at first you went through a stage of being toned, fit and muscular. The eating disorder only manifested much later. This is what makes it harder for a man to notice the onset of the eating disorder and make it more challenging to treat because the eating disorder has a stronger chance to become embedded long before you start noticing it.
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Using stimulants to maintain low body mass?
Hi! My name is Flavio. A male eating disorder therapist supporting men with eating disorders and body image issues. I have considerable experience working with Eating Disorders and specialist experiential training. I understand the stigma and shame that stop men seeking help. Together we can explore what has triggered the ED and work on overcoming the factors keeping you stuck.
Fully qualified experienced male eating disorder therapist for men. BACP registered and ready to help you!
***FREE*** First Step to Recovery
Contact me with a brief description of the problem. The first conversation is FREE OF CHARGE
Males with Anorexia
One trait of anorexia in men is the distortion of body shape and weight. However men with eating disorders are not overly concerned with their weight. They are far more worried about the shape of their body and certain parts such as stomach, buttocks, legs, chest and face. Many men with anorexia will show a significant distortion of how they see these body parts. Many men with anorexia are also preoccupied with their genital size and this can be very difficult to discuss openly. The distortion is not just visual it also affects the value that is attributed to these parts. Men have a sense of having less value if they are unable to live up to an unrealistic body image ideal.
Males with Anorexia often exhibit certain eating and calorie burning patterns:
- avoidance of fatty foods
- excessive exercise
- drive to improve athletic performance: (boxers, runners, gymnasts, wrestlers are especially at risk)
- self-induced vomiting
- taking laxatives and appetite suppressants, slimming pills or water tablets
- use of stimulants to maintain low body mass which could be disguised as hedonism
Excessive exercise can often be driven by having been slightly overweight in childhood and by a need to regulate difficult emotions.
From a hormonal perspective, men with anorexia can experience a reduction in testosterone which may lead to a loss of sexual interest and impotence. As men recover from the anorexia sexual interest may return. This will be apparent in the occurrence of wet dreams and increased masturbation.
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Anorexia and Bulimia in men
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can overlap in men. When this happens it is referred to as a bulimic subtype of anorexia nervosa. The subtype will show episodic overeating and purging in addition to the starving and over exercising behaviour of the restrictive anorexic. It is known as a subtype of anorexia nervosa because anorexia trumps bulimia due to it’s more serious nature and has more complications, which make it harder to treat. If you are bulimic sub type anorectic, then you may find it harder to recover because you have to address two different sets of behaviour.
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What thoughts do men with anorexia have
Abnormal thinking is what defines anorexia. Assessing a man based on his weight can be useful but the state of mind highlights the condition.
Core believes in men with anorexia include:
- Fear of normal body weight and shape
- Obessions with losing weight and modifying body shape
- self-esteem based on what body looks like instead of personal life and holistic life view
As a man with anorexia, you may struggle to admit having a problem in the early stages because anorexia nervosa resolves the cognitive and emotional conflicts you are experiencing. You may be aware of the distress that anorexia causes you but you are even more aware that not having anorexia is far worse.
Additional mental featues include:
- irritability
- depression
- becoming socially withdrawn
- reduced sexual desire
- shorter attention span
- difficulty concentrating
- obsessive ruminations or rituals
- hoarding belongings
- repetitive counting of belongings or laying them out in precise order
These mental features are largely caused by the effects of starvation. The combinations of these features is often referred to as the starving mind or starving mindset.
Depression is a recurring trait of the starving mind. For some men it is a key concern and so it will need additional treatment in itself. However for most men, depression may be linked to nutritional deficiency and so needs to be treated with nutritional rehabilitation.
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Is your sexual desire declining?
Hi! My name is Flavio. A male eating disorder therapist supporting men with eating disorders and body image issues. I have considerable experience working with Eating Disorders and specialist experiential training. I understand the stigma and shame that stop men seeking help. Together we can explore what has triggered the ED and work on overcoming the factors keeping you stuck.
Fully qualified experienced male eating disorder therapist for men. BACP registered and ready to help you!
***FREE*** First Step to Recovery
Contact me with a brief description of the problem. The first conversation is FREE OF CHARGE
As a man with anorexia you may find that you have become more socially withdrawn. Perhaps you were always a little shy and introverted but it is more likely that you have become more withdrawn to help you conceal your anorexia.
Your family, partner, colleagues, friends or even yourself may have noticed a change in personality that is very different from how you were before you became anorexic. An example of this might be a compliant or “good boy” becoming deceifulf, aggressive, argumentative and quick to anger. People around you may struggle with this so blaming the anorexia (the anorectic part in you) might help improve relationships.
To beging with the starving mind or anorectic mind is a small part of you but it gradually becomes your main identity. It may give a sense of control over the mental and emotional aspects of yourself. If you have relationship problems then the anorexia at first can feel like a good friend that will make you indifferent to them. The dark and dangerous nature of anorexia is exactly that: an apparently good friend who turns into a devastating enemy before you have a chance to realise it.