SubscribeBulimia: Men Are Vulnerable Too
The Sunday Times announced that John Prescott (former Deputy Prime Minister of the UK) suffered with bulimia for many years. The news quickly made national headlines. Prescott has spoken candidly about the illness, emphasizing that he wanted to reveal his struggle with bulimia in order to help others who have struggled on in silence.
I never admitted to this out of the shame and embarrassment. I found it difficult as a man like me to admit that I suffered from bulimia - the doctors told me that it was probably due to stress. I eventually managed to control it and to stop it a few years ago.
Prescott has urged fellow bulimics to seek help and advice, and spokespeople for groups such as Beat (an eating disorders charity), and doctors, have applauded his courage. Many hope that it will encourage others - particularly men - to seek help.
Men and Bulimia
The BBC reports that Prescott "began binging and vomiting during his years in the shadow cabinet in the 1980s, but the condition got worse when Labour came to power in 1997."
Eating disorders are often associated with stressful jobs, and this can redouble feelings of shame and secrecy - for someone in a high-profile or high-prestige position, admitting their illness can be hugely difficult. And for men this can be particularly hard, when bulimia and other eating disorders tend to be associated with teenage girls.
The charity Beat writes in their leaflet Men and Eating Disorders that:
Many people assume that eating disorders only affect teenage women. This is not true. At least 10% of people diagnosed as having an eating disorder are men. However there are probably many more undiagnosed cases because there is less chance of the condition being recognised in male sufferers. Many men find it hard to ask for help especially when the doctor or counsellor does not recognise their symptoms.
The charity also has a leaflet aimed at men, explaining the typical characteristics of bulimia. If you're concerned about yourself, or a friend, this is a good place to start.
Speaking out About Bulimia
I think that Prescott was very brave to talk publicly about his bulimia; he's a man who often meets with a less than kind reception from the British press, but his courage may help hundreds or thousands of men, and women, to seek the help that they need.
Do you suffer from bulimia? (It's characterized by eating very large quantities of food very quickly, then purging by vomiting or use of laxatives.) Even if you feel unable to tell anyone - perhaps because you're male, successful, ashamed, or subject to media scrutiny - then be encouraged by Prescott. Confide in a close friend, phone your doctor today to make an appointment, find out about self-help groups, and start your journey to recovery.
Prescott has now recovered from his bulimia, and the BBC reports that "he has not suffered from the disorder for a year and exercises in the gym for 45 minutes a day."
My husband's friend has bulimia or at least he exhibits several symptoms of it. Having suffered from bulimia myself, I can kind of tell that he's got some problems. He'll often eat several pizzas and then vomit them up, claiming that he had too much beer before eating them. He also does the "chew and spit" thing...he'll eat a bite of candy bar and then spit it out without swallowing. My husband thinks it's "weird", but doesn't think much of it. I think a lot of men don't seek help because they think of it as a woman's disease.
ReplyThat is some aggressive pie eating.
ReplyJust stumbled across your blog. I find it really useful and helpful. I found it through the 300 calorie meals link, but thank you for posting something on male bulimia. I know a male who struggled with that in high school, and to this day still limits himself with everything he eats, or else he'll just keep going! He is pretty religious about working now too.
Replythis is really sad issue,though important. there must be many men,who struggle with some kind of eating disorder. men possibly have more difficulties with finding help,because we still think it's odd for a man to have bulimia. more men need to tell the publicity about their issues with food so that we don't think bulimia/anorexia existing only among teenage girls!
Replydoes this piece warrant that choice of photo?
ReplyWell would you prefer a picture of the vomiting instead?
Replyit just struck me as a humourous photo and somewhat distracting from the piece, that's all. A strange choice.
Maybe someone vomiting would be more appropriate.
ReplyHi Mj,
I did try to find a more serious picture related to bulimia but couldn't find anything suitable. If you find the image inappropriate (in the context of the article) let me know, though: I certainly didn't intend to cause any offence.
Best,
Ali
ReplyI'm not offended no, I just thought it a strange choice.
ReplyI think it says a lot that the only picture of a man binging you found has him in a humorous way. I'm sure if you looked for a picture of a woman binging, you'd have your pick of sad and guilty looks.
So it reinforces the point of the article, that it is not "acceptable" for a man to come out and say he has an eating disorder.
ReplyI think men kind of get the short end of the stick sometimes. They see beefy, hunky construction workers with washboard abs eating Monster burgers dripping with cheese and grease, guzzling beer, etc., all without gaining a pound. It's really no different than the messages women get from the media that we should eat anything we want and still be a size 2.
ReplyWhat's it called when people eat normal amoutns fo fodd (i.e. Dinner) and vomit that up?
ReplyIt's still bulimia, but it's possible they have a combination of bulimia and anorexia. It's quite common...
ReplyED-NOS.
ReplyThey don't meet the criteria for Bulimia Nervosa, but they still have a serious, damaging eating disorder.
Its really a nice information i have gathered from this article. thanks
Replyyou bloody fool damm it.
Replyinteresting.
I work so much with the female population I really do *almost* forget that this disease strikes men as well
thanks for the prodding/reminder
ReplyHaving working in this field for many years - I've seen a number of men who have bulimia and I think the thing that strikes me most about the difference between men and women is the EXTREME shame men feel about their bulimia. It's not that women don't feel ashamed about it - but what I found so interesting was that in one of the eating disorder clinics I worked in on a University campus - was that young women actually 'taught' each other how to be bulimic, as if it was a reasonable and acceptable method of weight control. So you'd find bulimia spreading like wildfire in a friendship circle. You'd NEVER find that amongst men. But I also think that as the emphasis on male body shape and form becomes more forefronted in the media - it's inevitable that we'll see more male eating disorders and not just bigorexia (http://www.ditch-diets-live-light.com/bigorexia.html) which is probably the best known male ED at the moment.
ReplyCari
Was he bulimic in order to lose weight? Or was it just a result of the overeating?
ReplyWhile it is very interesting to read this article I am not surprised by it. Men are definitely at just as much risk as women.
Reply