Eating disorders among men in the context of mental health and socio-cultural gender issues

Abstract

The paper undertakes the issues of epidemiology, conditions, and treatment of eating disorders in men, which are not widely recognised both in Polish and international research. The text is based on desk research analysis of research reports on eating disorders. Authors discuss the issue of eating disorders in the context of gender, indicating that the clinical picture of them (including the perception of one's own body, the ways and motives for striving for a perfect figure) is mainly related to the stereotypical roles and tasks that society and culture impose on men and women. The empirical material analysis allows us to assume that ED symptoms in men are more often (than in the case of women) related to (self) stigmatisation, diagnosis difficulty, coexistent dimorphic disorders, substance addictions, and more significant physical activity.ty.

Knowledge of Oral and Physical Manifestations of Anorexia Nervosa Among Polish Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Women's magazines and programs especially create certain canons of beauty, such as a slim body. Currently, little epidemiological studies on AN have been conducted in Poland (27)(28)(29). It is estimated that, among girls below 18 years of age in Poland, the problem of AN affects 0.8-1.8%, and after taking into account the two different types, its prevalence is as high as 3.7% (28).…”

“…It is estimated that, among girls below 18 years of age in Poland, the problem of AN affects 0.8–1.8%, and after taking into account the two different types, its prevalence is as high as 3.7% ( 28 ). AN is more often observed in females, but the morbidity of men was higher and ranged between 0.1 and 0.3% ( 29 ). The reason for this situation is that males often receive a late diagnosis due to the misconceptions that AN does not affect them.…”