Men and eating disorders

[Bonobo]

A person we know just lost their 29 year old son who had struggled for years with an eating disorder.

He was a well-loved kindergarten teacher and musician and had apparently had a "good two years" where it seemed he was recovering and making progress.

Although more common with women, eating disorders, body issues and related confidence issues should not mistakenly thought of as only affecting women. In fact, I wonder if men have to suffer even more in silence and shame since they are so often labeled strictly as "women's issues".

Anyway, this was a tragic loss and his funeral was attended by many of his former students now in junior high. I hope his parents find some peace.

[Zalatix]

1. There are lots of things that men deal with that society simply does not address... n/t

[XemaSab]

2. That sucks

[redqueen]

3. Tragic.

I would think you're exactly right that fewer men bother to seek help even if they do realize they have a problem, due to the demonization of all things "feminine".

As the media increasingly objectifies men, you can count on the number of boys and men experiencing eating disorders to rise.

[dawg]

4. American men are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

A big chunk of society, including many women, still expect us to be "manly" and keep our problems and weaknesses to ourselves. But many men, when they find they need help or just someone to confide in, find that they really have nowhere to turn.

[Xipe Totec]

6. So much so, that men find that breast cancer treatment is denied to them.

http://thepinkfund.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/men-with-breast-cancer-denied-medicaid-treatment-coverage/

[laundry_queen]

5. ugh, I'm sorry

My brother nearly lost his friend and hockey teammate in high school to anorexia. This kid used to be a bit chubby and then got sick with the flu and lost a few pounds. When he returned to sports as he felt better, he played really well and his coach mentioned that he probably played better because he lost a few lbs. That was all it took, he went into an anorexic spiral and 4 months later went into cardiac arrest. He survived and his family ALL went into intense therapy. Last I heard he was doing okay, but it was something that most people didn't talk about, and I think the reason it went for so long was because people were afraid to tell his mom that there was something seriously wrong with his thinking (ie at school he'd admonish my brother for eating a cookie because the resulting possible weight gain would hurt the team. Then he'd only eat lettuce and carrots.) I think if it was a girl who lost that much weight in that short of time, people wouldn't have had any issue with intervening early on.

Anyhow, I'm very sorry for your friend. Losing a child has to be the worst thing anyone can experience.

[murielm99]

7. My brother has a friend who had anorexia.

He is sixty now, and living and teaching in California. He lost his marriage, his career, and nearly lost his life before finding a program that could help him.

I am sorry for your friends on the loss of their son. Any illness like this is tragic.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. I knew a man with an eating disorder coupled with alcoholism.

He maintained that you could survive on German beer. Not only did he drink himself to death, but he suffered from anorexia. He was 5'9.5" and weighed maybe 115-120, skin over bones. His family would buy him restaurant take-out food and he'd refuse to eat it. If you gave him a sandwich, he'd take out one slice of meat, tear it in half, and eat just that. He said the rest would make him fat.

Very sad.