home news sports culture ideas up-to-date

You are viewing
Volume 38 Issue 4
October 17, 2000

To return to the current issue please click here.

Eating disorders on rise in males, study says

BY HEATHER FRIED
U-WIRE
Submitted October 17, 2000

BOSTON — Eating disorders, which are generally associated with the female gender, are on the rise among males, according to a recent study.

As of 1994, males accounted for only 10 percent of all reported eating disorder cases. The most recent study, however, placed the number nearer to 20 percent, afflicting an estimated one man in six.

According to Dean Hammer, a pre-doctoral intern in clinical psychology at the Danielsen Institute, the increase can be attributed to the pressure now placed on men to adhere to certain physical standards — a strain formerly placed solely on women.

“Now that we live in a world dominated by mass media, society is more open to scrutiny,” he said.

Boston University students agree media-spread perceptions are a major factor influencing men’s attitudes toward their bodies.

“The concentration on physical appearance and sex in movies and advertisements places a significant amount of pressure on guys,” said engineering major Alex Narkaj. Freshman Mike Mayne said he feels pressure because of the methods used in sex-appeal advertising.

“Models in magazines have been placing pressure on girls to conform to society’s ideals for a long time, but now there is an increase in male modeling, for example in the Calvin Klein ads, that is placing this same pressure on guys now,” he said. “It gives us the idea that we have to be built and muscular.”

Students also said sports, particularly wrestling, perpetuate unhealthy body images that eventually lead to disorders. Jason Holder, a junior and member of the BU wrestling team, said during wrestling season many athletes go on “diets” to make themselves gain weight and muscle mass.

Mayne also admitted that pressure from coaches and a desire to do well in sports keeps him focused on his weight.

“I work out all the time and add protein to everything, but sometimes I still look in the mirror and see myself as being the same size I was in the eighth grade.”

Men’s feeling pressure to maintain a strong, athletic physique is a trend on the rise, according to Michael Jarvinen, a sales representative at Boston’s City Gym and Aerobics Center. He said there has been as much as a 20-percent increase in the number of memberships in the past year, the majority of which have been males.

Hammer indicated other causes for the increase in eating disorders amongst males could include a possible increase in the number of men who have experienced some sort of emotional, physical or sexual trauma.

Back to Top | Previous Page | Home