Do males also suffer from eating disorders? Yes, they do!
| 1st March 2018
EATING DISORDERS is a massive issue in the UK, as well as worldwide. On average, 149 weeks pass before those experiencing eating disorder symptoms decide to find help.
Approximately 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder of some kind. This week is the Eating Disorders Awareness Week with many events taking part across the UK to raise awareness of eating disorders.
There are many types of eating disorders – the most well-known are Anorexia and Bulimia. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Research has found that 20% of anorexia sufferers will die prematurely. Bulimia is also connected to serious medical complications. Eating disorders affect the quality of life of the sufferers and those that care for them.
It’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week!
34% of UK adults were unable to name any signs or symptoms of eating disorders. This lack of awareness leads to a three-and-a-half year gap between symptoms emerging and treatment being sought.https://t.co/XGIUXUyrX9#WhyWait #EDAW2018 pic.twitter.com/ZCUjbzLTTY
— Beat (@beatED) February 26, 2018
Eating disorders is widely understood to be mainly affecting women but it is not always the case. The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence suggests that around 11% of those affected by an eating disorder are male.
A 21-year-old Adam Fare, from Cumbria, was diagnosed with Anorexia. He used to have many physical symptoms in the past. He is doing much better now but still suffers from anxiety at times.
Adam Fare
Adam first realised he had a problem when having bad bowel symptoms at the age of 12 when he just started secondary school. He was having pain when eating. Then he eventually became aware of what he was consuming a lot more as well as controlling the amount of food.
It took 7 – 8 years to the medical professionals to diagnose his physical problems. After all that time his eating disorders then became a major problem.
Adam said: “I was in denial about it for many years. When I was studying at the university, I’ve lost lots of weight and couldn’t cope.
“I went to the hospital and they took me all over the country, trying to help me with my physical symptoms. The problem was at that time that they’ve never had any male suffering from eating disorders in Cumbria before.
“They didn’t know what to do with me.”
Adam still controls his meals and weight but he is looking positively at life. He is trying to change his mindset. He is going to the gym, tries to gain weight, and is also being active.
Adam Fare
Adam has decided to complete the Manchester Half Marathon in May fundraising for UK’s eating disorder charity Beat because there is not enough exposure for males with eating disorders.
He stresses the importance that people need to start talking about it a lot more; especially medical professionals need to acknowledge it more often.
Adam gives advice to other people suffering from eating disorders: “Acknowledge the issue and that you might have an eating disorder and seek help.
“It is possible to live and work with it. It isn’t easy and it’s a long road, but it is manageable and you can still have a good life.”
Consider to support Adam’s Manchester Half Marathon raising money for UK’s eating disorder charity Beat here.
Useful websites:
Beat is the UK’s eating disorder charity
‘Men Get Eating Disorders Too’
Eating Disorder Service Salford
Read an article by Hope Primus relating to eating disorders here.