Essay about Anorexia Nervosa in Males An Often Overlooked...

For many the term â€Å"Anorexia† conjures up memories of bone thin, weight obsessed teenage girls, models, and actresses. However, as the spotlight has been shined on Anorexia bringing this secretive and quiet disorder to a wider public perception, many still suffer in silence: either too ashamed to seek treatment, or because of an improper diagnosis. Over three million men each year are affected by Anorexia. In spite of this, men are less likely to be diagnosed, and the disorder is often overlooked due to the misconception that it is a â€Å"girl’s disease†. Unlike females, who are generally afraid to become overweight in an image obsessed society, males affected by the disorder tend to believe they are overweight, suffer from depression, or from†¦show more content†¦As with females, body image among males is a prevailing symptom and underlying motivation for the development and continuation of the disorder. Anorexia is a terrible disorder that ravages the body as it seems to bring comfort to the mind. A female anorexic tends to lose mostly body fat. Men primarily lose muscle tissue and tone. As this is destroyed it takes its toll on the body. Bone loss, heart muscle loss, and anemia are just a few of the ways this disorder affects the body. The two main causes of death with Anorexia are cardiac arrest and terminal dehydration. These are typically brought on by complications of starving the body of required nutrients for long periods of time. Typically, the initial onset of Anorexia strikes in the teen years and continues into young adulthood. During this time, many of those who suffer from symptoms of Anorexia develop a distorted body image. Among men, full blown Anorexia tends to develop later. As previously discussed, Anorexia in males is typically a response to being overweight. Men who develop the disorder generally try to lose weight by restricting their caloric intake and with intense exercise. Men, like women, are being increasingly targeted with similar unrealistic body images. Skinnier models in fashion and an accepted cultural belief that â€Å"a real man† has six pack abs, has created a social atmosphere that causes young males who may be of a healthyShow MoreRelatedBulimia Nervos Anorexia Nervosa2594 Words   |  11 PagesBulimia Nervosa Bulimia originated in Greece, from the word boulimia, which is defined as extreme hunger (the Bella Vita, 2013). Bulimia falls into the category of being a purge disorder, a lot of the time people that struggle with bulimia may have times where they battle with anorexia nervosa, meaning they restrict themselves from eating. There have been so many cases where people battle with bulimia for years upon years, despite the large variety of treatment there is. There are many perspectivesRead MoreGender And Gender Roles1456 Words   |  6 Pagesperson’s behavior based on the appropriate and acceptable rules for their gender. This notion derives from the assumption that girls favor dolls and dress-up, while boys prefer toy guns and trucks. These instances contribute to the concept that those of male and female gender must fulfill a specific ideology. These societal standards are ingrained within us as children and we are taught to become exceedingly aware of them. Girls are trai ned to become vessels of unstable emotions with an excess amount ofRead More Fashion Magazines and Body Image Essay5340 Words   |  22 Pages(Altabe Thompson, 1993; Brenner Cunningham, 1992; Davis Cowles, 1991; Koff, Rierdan, Stubbs, 1990; Mintz Betz, 1986). Even women who can be classified as being within or slightly below the normal weight range for their height often perceive themselves as being overweight and are dissatisfied with their bodies. Body image dissatisfaction is a crucial area of investigation because of its relationship to low self-esteem (Koff, Rierdan, Stubbs, 1990) and to depression (RierdanRead MorePsy 410 Week 2 and 3 Matrix of Disorders7746 Words   |  31 Pageshaving a panic attack), Social Anxiety Disorder (e.g., being embarrassed in public), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g, anxiety about being contaminated), Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., anxiety about being away from home or close relatives), Anorexia Nervosa (e.g., fear of gaining weight), Somatization Disorder (e.g., anxiety about multiple physical complaints), Body Dysmorphic Disorder (e.g., worry about perceived appearance flaws), Hypchondriasis (e.g., belief about having a serious illness), and