In this press release, a new website Men Get Eating Disorders Too has launched. This is the first website known to be exclusively devoted to men with eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating, binge eating disorder, compulsive overexercising, and "bigorexia."
The website is similar to something-fishy with general information, news, treatment, and message boards. It's not as extensive but it is in its early stages, so I'm sure more information will be added in the future.
I think this could be very helpful for this population since there has been a rise in eating disorders in recent years, according to a Harvard study in 2007. Many men feel isolated both in general with their eating disorder as well as in a treatment center which is normally filled with women. It's important that they have a place to reach out and have support, so hopefully this website will fill part of that void.
Note--*Interesting study of male Finnish twins and the incidence of eating disorders
Showing posts with label males. Show all posts
Showing posts with label males. Show all posts
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
One mother's mission for male anorexia awareness
I thought this was a moving video piece in the Lansing State Journal about Susan Barry's son, TJ Warschefsky, who died of anorexia Valentine's Day 2007 at the age of 22. He took his last breath while completing his nightly sit-up ritual.
One thing this video reminds me of is how insidious and powerful an eating disorder can be. Even when you have various treatment stints, parents who care and are supportive, there is still such a persistence with the illness. I don't know all the details of this particular story, but like so many others, it wasn't for lack of love or trying.
Susan Barry has now made it her mission to bring about awareness for male anorexia. She is currently writing a book, beginning a support group for parents in the Lansing area, and raising money for research through a 5K race.
I think it is important to have an advocate for males who are suffering from eating disorders. Although there is now more awareness that males too suffer from these illnesses, it is still an area of research and treatment which is lacking. Laura Collins points this out well in the piece.
I hope this advocacy for males with eating disorders continue, because in the end, eating disorders don't discriminate, and it is as much an illness of a woman's as it is a man's.
One thing this video reminds me of is how insidious and powerful an eating disorder can be. Even when you have various treatment stints, parents who care and are supportive, there is still such a persistence with the illness. I don't know all the details of this particular story, but like so many others, it wasn't for lack of love or trying.
Susan Barry has now made it her mission to bring about awareness for male anorexia. She is currently writing a book, beginning a support group for parents in the Lansing area, and raising money for research through a 5K race.
I think it is important to have an advocate for males who are suffering from eating disorders. Although there is now more awareness that males too suffer from these illnesses, it is still an area of research and treatment which is lacking. Laura Collins points this out well in the piece.
I hope this advocacy for males with eating disorders continue, because in the end, eating disorders don't discriminate, and it is as much an illness of a woman's as it is a man's.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Males and eating disorders
In the current British Medical Journal, there is an article about a young male medical student, Daniel Samuel, and his anorexia. Apparently, his wake up call that he was anorexic was when he went into an ED clinic on one of his medical rotations. There, he realized he had a problem, writing "I entered a room full of human mirrors of my bony form. I felt the pain they were suffering-the pain I was suffering." The first 150 words of his essay can be read here.
This is unrelated but really spoke to me. In another article I read about this Dr., he said, “The perfectionism associated with anorexia nervosa made me focus on my work more and more, and the drive to succeed in medical school isolated me: medical books and patients were my only friends." Sometimes I think this is a core issue for me in terms of academics. That was exactly what happened to me in my college years. I think it's still a fear I hold and one thing that hold me back from pursuing higher education. It's something I need to think about more.
Anyway, going back to males and eating disorders. I think it is important for men to speak about their eating disorders. Males and eating disorders is still not a subject that is brought up frequently, though there have been more men sharing their experiences within the past few years. Just recently, former Prime Minister John Prescott of the UK admitted to suffering with bulimia for years. By speaking out, he lets go of the shame that is often seen with bulimia.
Last year, male model Ron Saxen wrote a book called The Good Eater about his own struggle with Binge Eating Disorder. I have not read the book, but I did hear him in an interview. His story was heart wrenching but amazing that he was able to get to where he is today. I think people could relate to him and hopefully it opened more dialogue for others. There are other males who have also written books about their struggles. Hopefully, by educating, reading, and speaking about these illnesses, there will be less stigmatization by all whether an individual is male or female. After all, eating disorders do not discriminate.
This is unrelated but really spoke to me. In another article I read about this Dr., he said, “The perfectionism associated with anorexia nervosa made me focus on my work more and more, and the drive to succeed in medical school isolated me: medical books and patients were my only friends." Sometimes I think this is a core issue for me in terms of academics. That was exactly what happened to me in my college years. I think it's still a fear I hold and one thing that hold me back from pursuing higher education. It's something I need to think about more.
Anyway, going back to males and eating disorders. I think it is important for men to speak about their eating disorders. Males and eating disorders is still not a subject that is brought up frequently, though there have been more men sharing their experiences within the past few years. Just recently, former Prime Minister John Prescott of the UK admitted to suffering with bulimia for years. By speaking out, he lets go of the shame that is often seen with bulimia.
Last year, male model Ron Saxen wrote a book called The Good Eater about his own struggle with Binge Eating Disorder. I have not read the book, but I did hear him in an interview. His story was heart wrenching but amazing that he was able to get to where he is today. I think people could relate to him and hopefully it opened more dialogue for others. There are other males who have also written books about their struggles. Hopefully, by educating, reading, and speaking about these illnesses, there will be less stigmatization by all whether an individual is male or female. After all, eating disorders do not discriminate.
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