Yes, men.
Male Eating Disorder Treatment in NJ
10 million men in the United States have a clinically significant eating disorder. In fact, the National Association for Men with Eating Disorders (NAMED) estimates that 25-40 percent of people with eating disorders are male.
Despite these facts, eating disorders are often viewed as a “woman’s disease.” This stigma causes males (and other marginalized communities like the LGBTQIA+ population) to suffer in silence. If you are a male struggling with body image, fears of judgement, restriction, over exercise, and anxiety, you are not alone.
Society perpetuates stereotypes around being male and masculinity such that males have poor emotional connections, a push towards power, success, and control. Research shows that males are more likely to not get treatment when needed in part due to these stereotypes, stigma, and standards surrounding how males are supposed to behave and act in our culture. Therefore, when males do seek help, they tend to exhibit more severe symptoms.
We can help you avoid the crisis.
You don’t have to wait until your feel horrible to get the help you deserve!
Eating disorder treatment for men is hard to find, but here in at Hilltop Behavioral Health, we have one of the only male therapists in New Jersey certified as an Eating Disorder Specialist. Brian Pollack has completed vigorous training and testing to ensure men receive the help they need. He is also a former board member of the National Association for Males with Eating Disorders.
Signs of Eating Disorders in Men:
Eating Disorders can present differently in males than in other genders.
- The individual may appear withdrawn, isolated, silent, and struggling to eat. These may be signs of depression and an eating disorder. Depression is the leading co-occurring disorder for men with anorexia.
- Obsession with athletic performance, muscle shape, and size
- Over-consumption of protein, protein products, and even creatine
- Rigid, controlled, and obsessive personality
- Fear that food habits will lead to sickness
- Poor communication
- Intense preoccupation with food or body
- Obsession with the fear of being too small and perceiving oneself as little and weak
- Hyper-vigilance and focus on building muscle
- Substance use often co-occurs with eating disorders, particularly among men with binge eating disorder.
Here’s a quick video to help you see the statistics a bit more clearly
