Minorities and Men

Eating disorders over 30

Recently in the news were articles again about women presenting to treatment centers for care who were over the age of 30.  The headlines labeled these young people "Older women."  Treatment programs themselves stated that they had in place or were developing programs for the 30 year old and older group.

I was reading the articles intensely when I suddenly recognized, and with a shudder no less. Suddenly 30 year old women are old being lumped by the media into the category of "Older women!"  What lunacy! 

The phenomenon of a more diverse population presenting to treatment centers should be praised and women should be supported for coming forth to get the help they need. 

In fact, accordingly to the article, they are likely three distinct groups that present for treatment: 1. Those who are having a relapse of a previous eating disorder due to stress (job related, wedding, child).  2.  Those that have had an eating disorder since their teens. 3. Lastly,those who developed an eating disorder late in life.  This last category is believed to comprise only 20% of patients presenting for care.

No longer a teenager's disease, the papers claims.  And all along I thought it was long established that eating disorders are equal opportunity threats.  They do not discriminate.  Stop calling it a teenager's disease.

"But there's always 10 lbs somewhere, right?"

Umm, no.  Not in the context that you mean.

That unfortunately was a direct quote from a prominent politician's wife.  When I read it, I was incensed.  This woman had somehow went from a Harvard law educated dynamo who sat on boards to changing the perception of her life to "fit the mold."  In a magazine interview, she tells how long she exercises and gives the details of her parenting style.  In one stroke of a paintbrush, she is reinvented.  Cue the Tammy Wynette...(Stand by Your Man, come on, I'm not that old).

Treatment resources for men

In response to questions for a listing of resources for men, I have compiled a list of books and treatment facilities and links (with the caveat that I am not endorsing any program or book).

Books

The Invisible Man: A Self-help Guide for Men With Eating Disorders, Compulsive Exercise and Bigorexia (John F. Morgan)

Good Eater: The True Story of One Man's Struggle With Binge Eating Disorder (Ron Saxen)

The Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys (Harrison G. Pope, Katharine A. Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia)

Making Weight: Healing Men's Conflicts with Food, Weight, and Shape (Arnold Andersen, Leigh Cohen, Tom Holbrook)

Imagine...

1.    If you were fearless, what would be the first thing that you would do?

2.    If you didn’t have an eating disorder, would anything hold you back in life?

3.    If you didn’t think about food, weight and calories all day what you create, and how would you spend your free time? 

4.    If you learned to forgive yourself and love yourself the same way you are able to forgive and love others.

5.    If you were able to ask for what you needed from people and your loved ones around you.

6.    If everyone learned you weren’t perfect, and you learned that no body’s perfect.

7.   If you asked for help and learned you weren’t the only person struggling with body image issues.

8.    If your mood was no longer dependent on your weight.

9.    If your children learned healthy eating habits from you.

10.    If you were able to love and accept yourself as a beautiful person.

Copyright, Eating Disorders Recovery Support 2008

Blacks and body image (part one)

I'll let you in on a little secret...

Despite the strong held belief by many that Black Americans are immune from body image woes they aren't. 

Looking back over societal trends lets us see the changes that society has encouraged this population to adopt.

The many faces of eating disorders

Very recently, a young woman shared the story of her eating disorder.  She told of years of body shame (now ended) and her initial quest to obtain treatment.  Like many, her quest for perfection lead her down a destructive and dangerous path.  She mustered the courage to ask for help in the face of significant and ongoing symptoms but could not access care. The reason?  Not what you might initially think.  Keep reading...

The National Eating Disorders Association adopted the theme "Eating Disorders Come in All Shapes and Sizes" for their 2007 National Conference.  Far too often we have heard someone say, "You don't look like you have an eating disorder."  Old stereotypes of a certain "look" should be reassessed.   

When I introduced my blog, it was my hope to discuss eating disorders and topics that often have not received mainstream attention.  I hope to have discussions on Binge eating disorder and eating disorders/disordered eating in Hispanic, African American, other ethnic minority populations. 

Discussions of eating disorders/disordered eating and ethnicity are also in the works as issues of acculturation have been studied as precipitating factors for eating disorders.  Discussion about the effect of gender and other Men's Issues will also be a key component of this blog. 

Now back to today's topic...why did this young woman still have difficulty obtaining care?   

Is what you're reading affecting your thinking?

A little while ago, I made a trip to my local newsstand looking for inspiration for the blog, and stopped cold at the magazine rack.  When I saw the covers I was a bit disappointed. 

I saw teen magazines recommending exercise and food plans, and went on to find magazines geared toward, men, women, African Americans, Latinas, and Muslims that all promoted the underlying message that one needed to improved oneself, and that the current state of affairs is not good enough. 

In some way, this should not be surprising, as man has always been looking for that "fountain of youth," and seeking something more...what that thing is, I am not certain that they know.

Do I Look Fat? (the documentary) part two

Never before have I seen a documentary on eating disorders that presented such a raw, gritty, no holds barred, look at the world of eating disorders.  I have seen countless movies on eating disorders and read many books on the subject but watching the documentary was like being in the room with the sufferers themselves, and at times more than just being in the room with them, Mr Mathews actually takes us into their "head" and into the thought process of someone who is suffering from an eating disorder.

http://doilookfatthemovie.com

Do I Look Fat? (the documentary) part one

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the director of the documentary film, "Do I Look Fat?--Gay Men, Body Image and Eating Disorders," by Mr. Travis Mathews.  Mr. Mathews is currently active as a video journalist in the Bay area.

http://www.doilookfatthemovie.com/

The documentary was made in 2004, has been screened at NEDA and the American Psychiatric Association Conferences, which are no small feats. 

Am I sick enough to get treatment?

I received this question recently and have had it posed to me in the past.  It always saddens me to hear someone ask it.

I am have been told reasons why people do not feel deserving of treatment, or worse, horror stories when attempting to access treatment. 

But it boils down to one question...How bad do things have to get in order for YOU to be tired of this mean disease?