Introduction to a special issue on eating disorders and related symptomatology in male populations

Abstract

Objective It is our sincere pleasure to introduce a special issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders focused on eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations. Method Contributions focused on three main themes among male populations: (a) the nature of eating disorder symptoms and recovery; (b) long‐term outcomes following eating disorders treatment; and (c) muscularity‐oriented symptoms of eating pathology. Results The contributions to this special issue highlight the importance of better understanding how eating disorder symptoms manifest, may be maintained, and respond to treatment among male populations. Findings across the articles demonstrate some similarities between male and female samples with respect to core eating disorder symptoms, as well as important differences, particularly with respect to muscularity‐oriented disordered eating. Findings related to treatment outcome also highlight the suboptimal long‐term remission rates and elevated mortality among male inpatients with eating disorders. Discussion The diverse range of samples, methodologies, and research questions addressed within this collection of papers demonstrates the breadth of the important scientific work on this topic. As eating disorders and related symptoms in male populations continue to be underrecognized and underserved, we hope that this special issue will encourage further high‐quality clinical research in this area.

No pain, no gains: Conformity to masculine norms, body dissatisfaction, and exercise dependence.

“…Exercise dependence can be used as a proxy for maladaptive muscularity- and leanness-related behaviors in men (Murray & Lavender, 2018). Tod and Edward’s (2015) meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise dependence is associated with drive for muscularity, which contains both muscularity attitudes (i.e., muscle dissatisfaction) and muscularity-related behaviors (Chittester & Hausenblas, 2009; Hale, Roth, DeLong, & Briggs, 2010).…”

The Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test, Drive for Muscularity Scale, and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory among Chinese Men: Confirmatory Factor Analyses

“…Eating disorders (EDs) are severe mental illnesses characterized by disturbances in eating behaviors and body image [ 1 ]. Traditionally, research on EDs and their key risk factors—body image disturbances—was mainly conducted among women [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. However, there has been ample evidence showing that EDs and body image disturbances increasingly occur in men, and the presentations of EDs and body image disturbances among men are often distinct to those observed in women [ 5 ].…”

Validation of the Arabic version of the Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (Ar-MDDI) among Lebanese male university students

“…Traditionally, research on eating disorder (ED) symptoms, weight, and body image has mainly focused on women populations [1]; while men have for a long time remained largely under-researched [2,3]. However, in recent years growing evidence has accumulated on occurrence of ED symptoms in men [2][3][4][5][6][7], which attracted increasing attention from researchers around the world [8]. Disordered eating behaviors and body image issues have different characteristics and features across genders [9], manifesting as a drive for muscularity and leanness (body composition) in men versus a drive for thinness in women [9,10].…”