Some of the most important parts of Zack Ham’s workout routine includes lifting weights, biking at the activity center and running along the levee in Forsythe Park.
Ham, a senior education major, is just one of the thousands of men across the U.S. that set aside time every day to drop fat and build muscle. Ham does not have a disorder, but he said men can be affected just as easily as women can by the desire to look good.
Eating disorders and body image issues are not a new phenomenon. In the past decade, eating disorders in women and girls, like bulimia, anorexia and binge eating have come to light and have received attention from the media and many organizations, but eating disorders in men have been swept aside for the most part.
“I know men who are obsessed with being fit and almost live in the gym and hardly ever eat. They worry so much about their image and that nothing is ever good enough and they end up looking unhealthy or get injured by over-stressing muscles and lack of nutrition,” Ham said.
While eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and binge eating have been traditionally associated with females, there are many males who suffer from the same diseases as well.
According to the National Institute of Health, males make up 5-15 percent of all those affected by anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and an astonishing 35 percent of patients suffering from binge eating. Another issue that many males are plagued with is muscular dysmorphia, which is a condition that revolves around an extreme desire to become more muscular.
One of the main problems with male eating disorders comes from the fact that not many people are aware that eating disorders are a problem for some males, although awareness is becoming a bigger deal.
Alexander Potor, a freshman music education major, opened up about his problems in the past with body image.
“A problem I have noticed is that I compare myself to other guys. I have never really had the media push on me what a guy ‘should’ look like so a lot of body image issues comes from me comparing myself to other guys,” Potor said.
Along with the lack of public awareness, one of the biggest issues facing men dealing with eating disorders and body image issues is the way society treats eating disorders and the social pressures that come along with the issue.
“I think society tries to hide the fact that men do face body image issues. No man wants to admit to feeling inadequate because he does not look fit or doesn’t feel happy with his body type. No man wants to admit that because most men feel ashamed to talk about their feelings and will feel like they will be judged by other males who aren’t willing to open up about their feelings,” Potor said.
Ham also agreed that society puts a big emphasis on men being “manly men” that don’t talk about their personal issues and problems, along with pressure from popular media and even females that gawk over attractive celebrities, that add to the problem that many men have with body image and eating disorders.
“The desire to look good and be the next ‘Channing Tatum’ will take a toll on a man. Men know women like the muscles and abs and want to be proud to show their boyfriends or husbands off,” Ham said.
For any males who may be dealing with an eating disorders or body image issues, there are many sites online as well as the counseling center on campus that is free to all students, to help deal with these issues.
