I read an article on Yahoo about men with eating disorders and wanted to know what you guys think. Obviously the ladies are not the only insecure ones as far as weight goes. Have you guys heard of this or know a man with this kind of eating disorder. This is interesting to me because when we think of anorexia and bulimia we always tend to associate it with women. Here's the link. Check it out.


http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040511/ap_on_he_me/fit_male_eating_disorders

I have have to attest to this article. I have a small eating problem, Emotional Eating. Where instead of knocking someone out, I just go thrash the buffet and snack cakes LOl. I have found more healtheir ways for this, by subsituting healthy foods for junk food and etc. But I think alot of us guys have eating problems. I try to eat 2 meals a day just to maintain my low weight, and I constantly am conscious of my size and etc. I think more of us should talk about this and maybe we could help each other out.

Great thread!! I'm looking forward to reading the responses it receives!

Queenie :spinstar:

I haven't met any men who have been in this situation, but I do believe that there are many. I really try to eat healthy, but I don't think I obsess about it. Maybe I do. I guess if I had a problem with it I'd probably be in denial anyways. I've been cutting out alot of stuff like meat, most junk food, soda, alcohol, but I don't think that's a problem. I just think it a healthy way of living since those things are bad for us anyways. It's not even about looking like the buff guys in the magazine because I look far from that, but I am happy that I am not over-weight. That's my main thing, I just don't want to be over-weight and I want to be as healthy as possible. I don't think that's a bad thing as long as you go about it the right way, not starving yourself to do it.

Amen SHo Nuff. Say Kente, why is we the only folks talking. LOL

African food is really healthy: Rice, beans, baked chicken & fish, peanut sauce, fufu, malanga, plantains, etc. I recommend those who haven't tried it, to give it a try!

I'm not so sure that men's eating disorders are on the way to becoming as prevelant as women's...
but this may be changing(?)

I agree that there are the same influences on brothas (young and old) as sistas. The stands are filled with “health” magazines with big buffed models with six packs on them. Even the hip hop magazines (Vibe, XXL, Source) are filled with buffed models (and celebreties) flossin the stylish gear. (If I see another video or picture of L.L. Cool J with his shirt off, I going to puke).

At any rate, since men tend to BE visual, some might assume that most women/potential mates are visual as well, and be all stressed about it. Our society seems to place a lot of value on size and appearance. Geez, it's one more diversion from romancing our partners... like flexing our biceps is better than buying flowers and helping with the dishes. Am I right, ladies? Check in! What do you really value in a man? Six pack? Bringing home the bacon? Showing he loves you in a way you absorb it? Serving you? Saying he loves you? A massage? Chocolate? Just time together? Is it important what we look like? Why or why not? Do we need to be stressed about how we look?

Well I think women are attracted to men who are physically attractive. However you are right, there is an over emphasis on it by this society.

But we must be honest at the end of day and say that alot of people do not date for inner beauty they date based off what they see. As long as people are wise enough to take into account the person as a whole, I do not see nothing wrong with a sista wanting a nice looking man who does all the things you listed. There are some of us out their.

Yeah, I think we are getting the same treatment that men have been giving women for years, as far as being interested in looks more than anything else. Well, actually for women, I think money goes first. But we are now being held up to the light and looked at and compared to these guys on videos and magazine pages. For a guy now it's more important to have a six pack and muscles than to be healthy. I think men do starve themselves, and it would be alot harder to find out about it because a man will never admit that. I've never wanted to have muscles bulging out of my neck, but at the same time I do see the difference in the way women see a man who does have that. They love it. Like "The Rock" and Vin Diesel and other guys. I mean, women love these guys. Not for their talent, but for their appearance. So when you see this you can obviously see why alot of guys would try to mimic this. Me myself, I don't want to have to worry about it all turning to flab later on if I don't keep up the steady gym work-outs, so I'd rather stay skinny. :lol:

LOL@Kente Amen my brother.

Many men with eating disorders suffer from what they term as a reverse anorexia, ie fear of losing size. They compulsively work out to increase or keep their size the same because they are afraid of appearing small, ie not muscular or bulked up and thus unattractive.

Anorexia/bulimia can be seen in the gay male community, which places much emphasis on looks and appearance.

S’up Gempis,

I knew it was only a matter of time before you responded to this thread.

Interesting point that you bring up.
Many men with eating disorders suffer from what they term as a reverse anorexia, ie fear of losing size. They compulsively work out to increase or keep their size the same because they are afraid of appearing small, ie not muscular or bulked up and thus unattractive.
The link in this thread also states that over exercising is a symptom of an eating disorder. Here is the problem I have with that argument. Most men who are trying to bulk up or stay big, take in a lot of calories to maintain their size. Having said that, how can over exercising be classified as an eating disorder. Wouldn’t over exercising better be classified as some sort of compulsive behavior?

Maybe they mean it's similar to eating and vomiting. Instead of vomiting, you exercise to where you burn the calories that you intake. I guess that would still be compulsive wouldn't it? :idea:

When I think of eating disorder I think more of not eating enough in an effort to stay at a certain weight.

Well, I think you're both right. Compulsive exercising is a compulsive behavior. But an eating disorder isn't just anorexia or dieting - it includes overeating, compulsive or not, and bulimia. I believe psychologists, et. al, consider the definition of eating disorders as having a disordered or diseased relationship with food, whatever the fashion.

In my own observation, I believe anorexia, bulimia and overeating are all the same basic disease - they just manifest in three different ways.

The whole issue of eating is a slippery slope anyway. I think many people have some kind of odd relationship with food at least once in a while. But perhaps I digress. :shades:

Great Comments Guys.