Eating disorders: Girls and boys, women and men (by Nina)
It is a myth that only girls develop eating disorders. Adult women do as well. Boys (and men) also get into trouble with food, body image and the many issues that fuel these problems. There are wrestlers who qualify for divisions based on their weight. And some will go to great lengths to qualify. I've heard stories of "wrap my body in plastic so I'll sweat off those pounds." Those small jockeys you see at the track (well, some people see them; I just see them in documentaries about racehorses, like "in" Seabiscuit") are in the same situation. It is not a secret that throwing up meals has historically been a way for jockeys to attain a desirable weight.
Boys and men are not exempt from some of the underlying issues that drive girls to these self-destructive behaviors that put their bodies and lives at risk. The website Something Fishy, has extensive, varied, and helpful information on eating disorders with a comprehensive section about men.
www.something-fishy.org/cultural/issuesformen.php.
