By the end of high school, Michael Bartone stood
6 feet tall and weighed 135 pounds.
“I used to just drink water and a mint, and I’d
be set for the whole day,” he says.
Michael had anorexia.
“It is still primarily a female issue, but it is affecting
more boys and men,” says Rick Kilmer, Ph.D., a psychologist
and eating disorders specialist.
In fact, research published in the American
Journal of Psychiatry found that 20% of anorexia cases
are males – twice the estimated number a decade ago.
Why are the numbers of male eating disorder cases on the
rise? Experts say that in one way, boys are no different than
girls: They are influenced by the popular media, which shows
numerous images of big, strong, muscular males.
“We’re exposed to 1,200 ads a day through different
sources of media telling us how we’re supposed to look,
what we’re supposed to do, what defines success, what
gives us value,” Dr. Kilmer says.
Dr. Kilmer says although it’s not an easy task, parents
can counteract the media with a message all their own.
“The message that you are not your body, you are not
your pecs, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it’s
your character, your accomplishments, your relationships that
matter,” Dr. Kilmer says.
“What it really came down to was being comfortable
with yourself, and really having confidence in yourself. And
that’s basically what I lacked,” Michael says.
With the help of a dietician and therapist, Michael slowly
gained weight. Now, he is now 30 pounds heavier.
To those who think anorexia only affects girls, Michael says,
“Hello, this happens to us, too.”
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The American Academy
of Family Physicians (AAFP) describes an eating disorder as
“an obsession with food and weight.” While these
disorders are more commonly diagnosed in females, it appears
that a growing number of males also develop problems with
anorexia nervosa – an obsession with being thin –
and bulimia – eating a lot of food at once and then
“binging and purging.” In fact, the experts at
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., cite
a study published in the American
Journal of Psychiatry that reveals for every four females
who develop anorexia, one male also suffers from the disorder.
And a 1995 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention found that 3% of the 11th-grade boys surveyed
used laxatives or vomited to lose weight.
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As a parent, it’s not always easy to
determine if your daughter or son is suffering from an eating
disorder. But the AAFP suggests using the following warning
signs for anorexia and bulimia as a guide to evaluate your
child:
- Unnatural concern about body weight (even if your child
is not overweight)
- Obsession with calories, fat grams and food
- Use of any medicines to keep from gaining weight (diet
pills, laxatives, water pills, etc.)
The more serious warning signs can be more difficult to notice
because children with eating disorders often try to hide the
symptoms:
- Throwing up after meals
- Refusing to eat or lying about how much was eaten
- Fainting
- Over-exercising
- Not having periods
- Experiencing increased anxiety about weight
- Developing calluses or scars on the knuckle (from forced
throwing up)
- Denying that anything is wrong
If left untreated, a child with an eating disorder can suffer
some health problems, including disorders of the stomach,
heart and kidneys; irregular periods or no periods at all;
fine hair all over the body, including the face; dry scaly
skin; dental problems (from throwing up stomach acid); and
dehydration.
Eating disorders can be treated. The Nemours Foundation says
admitting that a problem exists and getting help is your child’s
first step to getting back to a healthy lifestyle and normal
weight. Because eating disorders involve the mind as well
as the body, therapy is often shared among counselors who
know each of these areas. The first step is to start eating
regular meals, with no skipping. The next steps involve counseling
and learning about nutrition.
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