ANAD

Patrick Bergstrom Speaks Out About Anorexia Nervosa Athletes

"I am not just battling an eating disorder, but also the stigma of having a condition that is typically viewed as a female problem. It is not an issue that is often discussed in competitive world of male athletics much less lacrosse."

Patrick is a 25 year old athlete, former Division III college lacrosse player recovering from a four-year battle with anorexia nervosa. For the majority of those years, his problem was diagnosed as merely a drinking problem. He was told, “men cannot suffer from an eating disorder.” Patrick is a testimony that men can not only suffer the horrible effects of a eating disorder, but can successfully recover.

Read about Patrick's experience.

Males with disordered eating…

Quick Facts:

Weight preoccupation solely in women? No!

In a 2005 Article, Taub-Dix, a dietitian spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, reported that one-third of her weight loss clients were men, a figure that has grown substantially in the last 10 years.

Previously, it was stated that only 10% of eating disorders is found in males. Experts believe the figure could be far higher as men are less likely to admit to the condition than women.

Why don’t we have accurate figures on this?

The stereotype of the effeminate homosexual male model also dominates, but 80 percent of men with eating disorders - whether bulimia or anorexia - are heterosexual.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, there are about 1 million men with serious eating disorders and tens of millions who have some form of eating disorders.

A Harvard study in February 2007 found that in a population of 3,000 adults, one-quarter of those with eating disorders and 40% of binge eaters were male.

How do eating disorders appear in males?

Appearance differences: Anorexia may be less noticeable in men than women because men can still have muscle mass even though they are thin.

-They may not look drawn and painfully thin like female sufferers, but instead appear muscular, but they are still suffering from the same eating disorder."

Dysmorphia (reverse anorexia) or the Adonis Complex – inordinate preoccupation and dissatisfaction with body size and muscularity. Male is actually large and muscular despite their perception of themselves as small or frail.