As part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2023, Specialist Occupational Therapist Esther Dark shares insight into her work as a PhD Student researching the meaning of anorexia at The University of Brighton.
Eating disorders are often characterised as ‘female mental disorders’, leading to men’s experiences and voices being marginalised. That’s why this year’s awareness week is about raising awareness and generating conversations on eating disorders in men.
My doctorate research on anorexia illuminates how the privileging of certain body types , hinders understanding of lived experience. I know from personal and professional experience the impact these presumptions can have on acknowledgement and help-seeking. Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations and ethnicities and have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. More than raising awareness this year, it’s important to consider practical ways to overcome barriers to ensure recovery is accessible for all.
Research tells us that 1 in 4 people with eating disorder are men. However, this is considered a gross underestimate due to poor recognition, and the social stigma men experience seeking support for an eating disorder, leading to shame, isolation and entrenchment of the eating disorder.
Raising awareness of eating disorders more widely in society will contribute to breaking down social stereotypes. Not just for men, but across marginalised and underrepresented groups who experience eating disorders, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, older populations and those from ethnic minorities.
As occupational therapists, we can consider our unintentional biases, challenge dominant social and medical assumptions and encourage those who display eating disorder behaviours to seek support, as timely intervention is critical to good outcomes.
What can you do to support ?
Share the awareness video from Beat, the leading eating disorder charity, to help raise awareness. You can also download their resources pack to #HelpMenGetHelp.
More information can be found at:
References:
Beat, (2023), “Yes, Men Get Eating Disorders Too”, edaw.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/
Coopey, E and Johnson, G (2022) “The male elephant in the room”: a qualitative evidence synthesis exploring male experiences of eating disorder, Journal of Eating Disorders, 10, 131
Murray, S. B., Nagata, J. M., Griffiths, S., Calzo, J. P., Brown, T. A., Mitchison, D., Blashill, A. J. and Mond, J. M. (2017) 'The enigma of male eating disorders: A critical review and synthesis', Clin Psychol Rev, 57, pp. 1-11.
Robinson, K. J., Mountford, V. A. and Sperlinger, D. J. (2013) 'Being men with eating disorders: perspectives of male eating disorder service-users', J Health Psychol, 18(2), pp. 176-86.
Räisänen, U. and Hunt, K. (2014) 'The role of gendered constructions of eating disorders in delayed help-seeking in men: a qualitative interview study', BMJ Open, 4(e004342).
Strother, E., Lemberg, R., Stanford, S. and Turberville, D. (2012) 'Eating Disorders in Men: Underdiagnosed, Undertreated, and Misunderstood', Eating Disorders, 20(5), pp. 346-355.