An 18-year-old male steps onto his scale to check his weight. Photo by: Leviana Coccia
Eating disorder: When a person eats (or refuses to eat) to satisfy a psychic need. It’s a term often thrown around, especially in the media, and associated with females. There is too a lot of pressure, particularly with young females, that they have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful. When we talk about eating disorders, we often talk about the females who are plagued with body image issues that too often result in a life-threatening disease. But why do we never hear about males?
According to a Statistics Canada survey from 2002, nearly one in 100 males in Ontario was at risk of an eating disorder, compared to the three in 100 females in the province. Nationwide, 360,514 females were at risk of an eating disorder, compared to the 64,254 males at risk.
Janice Morgante, executive director at Eating Disorders of York Region, a non-profit organization,said up to 10 per cent of eating disorders sufferers could be men.
However, Jennifer, a Registered Nurse from Telehealth Ontario, (who is required to keep her last name off-the-record), did some research on the database regarding males with eating disorders, and found that most of the information was based on females. In fact, the research she found stated that more men needed to be studied to understand how they develop eating disorders and what differences there may be between how both males and females suffer.
“An eating a disorder is as unique as the person who is affected,” Morgante said. “There aren’t really blanket cases.” So, why then, is there such little information on males suffering from eating disorders?
Some clinicians feel that the figures regarding male eating disorders are underreported, mainly because many men are too embarrassed to admit that they may be suffering – especially from something that – is thought – to only affect women.
Learn more about the four different types of eating disorders by clicking here.
Help at home
Eating Disorder Clinics in the GTA
In Toronto, there are organizations that provide support for both males and females suffering from eating disorders. Except, options are only unlimited for those who have money, Morgante said.
Sheena’s Place, a centre offering services in a non-institutional environment located downtown, serves as a link between people with eating disorders and hospital-based programs, schools, agencies therapists and families. They offer support programs for people affected by eating disorders. No referral is necessary to get into the free programs.
“Sheena’s Place and EDOYR are the only non-profit organizations in the Greater Toronto Area unless you’re looking at private places like Bellwood Health Services, a private clinic offering support but costing a lot of money,” Morgante said.
EDOYR has to work very hard to raise funds and is reliant on friends who provide support and help spread eating disorder awareness. Since they are not a government agency, EDOYR doesn’t get ministry funding from mental health or long-term care.
Lack of funding is unfortunate, since “eating disorders have the highest mortality rate than any mental health issue,” Morgante said. Though this is the case, when someone’s death is caused by an eating disorder, death certificates often read, “heart failure,” instead.
What’s next?
Eating is a part of every day, regardless of whether an individual is male or female. “When food becomes something other than a source of nourishment and it takes control of one’s life,” Morgante said, “…then it is something the person would need help with.”
Some people may be hesitant to come forward with their disorder. Morgante’s wish is for eating disorders to be seen in the same light alcoholism and drug abuse are: Support-worthy, regardless of gender.
Next.
