Wednesday 02/05/2024
PHOTO: Anton Darius
Text: Laura Torrens y Lina Camacho
In the world of mental health, eating disorders have long been primarily associated with women and stereotyped as feminine behaviors. However, recent studies bring to light the often overlooked realities: teenage boys and men also struggle with these disorders and deserve the same attention and support given to girls and women.
Eating disorders today, a complex and multifactorial reality
Eating disorders are a complex reality, among the most lethal and challenging mental disorders in modern psychiatry. Part of the complexity of these disorders arises from their multifactorial nature; they are composed of cultural, social, relational, biological, and genetic factors. Of course, the complexity does not come from the simple overlap of these factors, as this is something eating disorders share with most psychopathologies, but rather from the interaction between these different domains that, when overlapping, generate the extraordinarily challenging problems demonstrated by individuals with this diagnosis, psychologically, medically and socially (Robinson, Skårderud & Sommerfeldt, 2017).
Now, especially regarding the cultural and social domain, this is where gender plays an important role in these disorders. Therefore, to destigmatize the reality experienced by many adolescent boys and men suffering from an eating disorder, it seems important for us to highlight a series of findings that differ significantly from the commonly known female realities in this field. Revealing in this way the diversity and complexity of eating disorders in the male population.
EDs in male athletes: More than a simple coincidence
Concerns about body image in men usually involve musculature; goals and behaviors for muscular improvement are common among teenagers and young men. Often, the prevailing body ideal in the world of sports significantly influences the eating behaviors of teenagers and young men, especially among those involved in sports that emphasize musculature and thinness. Sometimes, to define their musculature more or enhance performance, athletes consume supplements, which are associated with future steroid use, implying a significant risk of developing an addiction to these supplements. Which in turn implies a higher risk of developing other addictions such as alcohol and a greater likelihood of engaging in alcohol-related risky behaviors. Additionally, in sports such as baseball, cycling, and wrestling, there is a concerning increase in symptoms of eating disorders, prompting reflection on the pressure they face to achieve certain physical standards.
When used for a long period, steroids can cause:
- Growth delay in teenagers (making bones mature too quickly and stop growing too soon)
- Liver tumors
- Abnormal enlargement of heart muscles
- Aggressive and violent behavior and mood swings
- Blood lipid problems contribute to the development of heart diseases
- Acne (or worsening of acne)
- Increased breast growth in boys, especially during adolescence
- Irreversible stretch marks
- Increased risk of hair loss and male pattern baldness
- Muscle pains
Ethnic Diversity: How eating disorders affect adolescents depending on the country and body type
Another significant finding is the relationship between eating disorders and ethnic diversity, and that is because each ethnicity is characterized by a different body constitution. The sociocultural narrative has always led us to believe that eating disorders are predominant in adolescent girls from Anglo-Saxon countries and Western culture. However, the reality is different. A study among a population of adolescents in Minnesota found that eating disorders were more common among Asian boys (43%), followed by African American boys (38.5%), and Hispanic boys (35%). This area of knowledge remains largely scarce, as there is little research investigating the interaction between ethnic body constitution, body satisfaction and eating disorders. Thus, to avoid falling into common gender and ethnic stereotypes, it is advisable to set aside the belief that eating disorders are a matter of adolescent girls from Western cultures.
Sexual Diversity: Gay men, anorexia and other EDs in the LGTBIQ+ group
On the other hand, we cannot ignore the reality of adolescents and young men who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Research has shown that these individuals face specific challenges regarding their body image and eating behaviors: it often happens that due to the social pressure they experience to affirm their sexuality to society, if their right to freely express their identity is not properly welcomed and respected, they can easily develop dissatisfaction with their bodies, which, if not cared for, can lead to self-harming behaviors. Some desire a larger muscular body and engage in activities such as bodybuilding, while others may experience dissatisfaction with various bodily characteristics such as genitals, body hair, body shape, facial features, and/or limbs, which has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing an eating disorder due to their discomfort with their own body. This population presents high rates of binge eating, vomiting, and long fasting intervals.
The importance of changing the approach to EDs in men and adolescents
In summary, greater attention is needed for male populations in the field of eating disorders, emphasizing the importance of considering factors such as sports, ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, and gender identity when addressing these disorders. May this motivate all of us, both health professionals and anyone else, to adopt a more inclusive and compassionate approach in this field. Together, we can work to break stigmas and provide the necessary support for those struggling with these challenges.
References:
- Gupta, R.P. (April 2023). What Are the Risks of Steroid Use? Teens (for Teens) Nemours KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/steroids.html
- Nagata, J. M., Ganson, K. T., & Murray, S. B. (2020). Eating disorders in adolescent boys and young men: an update. Current opinion in pediatrics, 32(4), 476-481.
- Robinson, P., Skårderud, F., & Sommerfeldt, B. (2017). Hunger(Vol. 1). Breakneck Media