Stigma and misperceptions lead men to delay treatment for eating disorders

A new British study has reinforced the widespread belief that male eating disorders are often left untreated due to the stigma surrounding these illnesses. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford, who interviewed 26 women and 10 men about their experiences dealing with eating disorders.

The men who participated routinely responded that they had delayed seeking treatment for their disorders because they feared being maligned and not taken seriously by medical professionals. One patient even said that a doctor had told him to "man up" when he sought help. As a result, they would typically wait until they suffered a medical emergency to seek treatment for their disorders.

"Our findings suggest that men may experience particular problems in recognizing that they may have an eating disorder as a result of the continuing cultural construction of eating disorders as uniquely or predominantly a female problem," the authors of the study wrote.

Other factors that would lead the patients to avoid treatment is that they didn't recognize they had a problem or didn't know where to go once they had decided to seek treatment. The male patients thought that eating disorders were something that only women dealt with.

The fact that these issues are often misunderstood by medical professionals is yet another reason that it is crucial for those suffering from eating disorders to seek help from one of the top eating disorder treatment centers. At Fairwinds Treatment Center, we specialize in a dual diagnosis program that is managed by Dr. Pauline Powers, one of the top experts in the field. For more information on how our facility can help you or your loved one overcome their condition, please contact us today by clicking here or calling (800) 226-0301.