Eating disorders in men

Eating disorders risk assessment in men who practice team sports

Introduction

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by an overconcern about body weight and shape. Men who practice team sports have been systematically excluded from the high-risk eating disorders groups. This exclusion could be challenged based on misinformation about the prevalence of actual eating disorders within these athletes, with the previous evidence showing significant body image concerns among them and the under-diagnosis risk in populations of men.

Objective

To assess eating disorders risk in Spanish adult men who practice team sports.

Methodology:

An observational study was conducted with 276 athlete men aged between 18 and 55 years: 60.5% were team sports players and 39.5% were athletes of aesthetic, endurance, and weight-category sports. Data were collected via an online form including a general assessment sheet and four validated questionnaires: The Eating Habits Questionnaire for Athletes (CHAD), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Inventory of Eating Disorders (EDI-2), and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data analysis was conducted with the software IBM SPSS 28.0.0.

Results

About 20.36% of team sports players presented a clinical profile compatible with an ED diagnosis. There were no significant differences comparing EDs potential cases between team sports players and athletes playing sports categorized as high EDs risk. There were significant differences when analyzing the existence of EDs between the different groups of age, family pressure, and coach pressure. The U-value of the Mann–Whitney test presented significant differences when assessing the influence of BMI over the development of EDs.

Conclusion

Men who practice team sports may also be a high-risk group for the development of EDs. Being younger than 21 years, having a BMI larger than 25 kg/m², and perceiving high-level pressure from the coach and/or family would be risk factors for EDs in men who practice team sports.

Examining predictors of binge eating behaviors among racially and ethnically diverse college men

Objective: College men may be at risk for binge eating (BE) but are underrepresented in research. This study aimed to examine if body weight/shape concerns, perceived stress, and psychological distress significantly contributed to the likelihood of BE over the past 28 days. Participants: A racially/ethnically diverse sample (N = 873) of college men. Method: An anonymous online survey was administered. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the hypothesized associations for the entire sample, and exploratory analyses were conducted within each racial/ethnic group. Results: The model explained approximately 25% of the variance in BE, with body weight/shape concerns as the only significant predictor in the overall sample and for the White, Black, and Asian subsamples; none of the variables were significant among Latino men. Conclusions: Body weight/shape concerns predict BE among diverse college men. The findings have implications for future research, as well as for prevention and intervention for college men.

Prevalence of eating disorders on male team sports players

OBJECTIVE

To determinate the prevalence of EDs in national adult male team sports players.

METHODOLOGY

An observational study was conducted with 124 football, rugby, volleyball, handball, water polo, baseball and hockey players ranging between 18 and 55 years old. All subjects signed the informed consent before participating in the study. Data were collected via an online form including four validated questionnaires: The Eating Habits Questionnaire for Athletes, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 and the Body Shape Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted with the software IBM SPSS V.23.0.0.

RESULTS

18.5% of the population presented a clinical profile compatible with an ED diagnosis. We cannot confidently say that the prevalence of EDs within our sample is conditioned by the analysed variables.

CONCLUSION

Male team sports players may also be a high-risk group in the development of EDs. Risk factors such as young age, semiprofessional sporting status and body fat composition could influence its development.

Eating Disorders in Males: How Primary Care Providers Can Improve Recognition, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Eating disorders are complex and multifactorial illnesses that affect a broad spectrum of individuals across the life span. Contrary to historic societal beliefs, this disorder is not gender-specific. Lifetime prevalence of eating disorders in males is on the rise and demanding the attention of primary care providers, as well as the general population, in order to negate the potentially life-threatening complications. Current literature has continued to reinforce the notion that eating disorders predominately affect females by excluding males from research, thereby adding to the void in men-centered knowledge and targeted clinical care. To determine what is currently known about eating disorders among males, a scoping review was undertaken, which identified 15 empirical studies that focused on this topic. Using the Garrard matrix to extract and synthesize the findings across these studies, this scoping review provides an overview of the contributing and constituting factors of eating disorders in males by exploring the associated stigmas, risk factors, experiences of men diagnosed with an eating disorder, and differing clinical presentations. The synthesized evidence is utilized to discuss clinical recommendations for primary care providers, inclusive of male-specific treatment plans, as a means to improving care for this poorly understood and emerging men’s health issue.

Child maltreatment and eating disorders among men and women in adulthood: Results from a nationally representative United States sample

OBJECTIVE

Child maltreatment is associated with an increased likelihood of having mood disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and personality disorders, but far less is known about eating disorders. The objective of the current study was to examine the associations between child maltreatment, including harsh physical punishment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical neglect, and exposure to intimate partner violence, and eating disorders in adulthood among men and women.

METHOD

Data were from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions wave 3 (NESARC-III) collected in 2012-2013. The sample was nationally representative of the United States adult population (N = 36,309). Lifetime eating disorders (anorexia nervosa [AN], bulimia nervosa [BN], and binge-eating disorder [BED]) were assessed using diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria and the alcohol use disorder and associated disabilities interview schedule-5 (AUDADIS-5).

RESULTS

The prevalence of any lifetime eating disorder was 1.7% (0.8% among men and 2.7% among women). All child maltreatment types were associated with AN, BN, and BED with notable differences among men and women. Overall, the types of child maltreatment with the strongest relationships with any eating disorder were sexual abuse and physical neglect among men and sexual abuse and emotional abuse among women.

DISCUSSION

Clinicians should be mindful that child maltreatment experiences are associated with increased odds of eating disorders including AN, BED, and BN. Such relationships are significant among men and women although notable gender differences in these relationships exist. Abstract word count = 248.

Epidemiology and treatment of eating disorders in men and women of middle and older age

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We summarized recent literature on the epidemiology and treatment of eating disorders in middle-aged and older women and men.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of eating disorders according to DSM-5 criteria is around 3.5% in older (>40 years) women and around 1-2% in older men. The majority of those eating disordered persons are not in treatment. There are new terms like 'perimenopausal eating disorders' and 'muscularity-oriented eating disorders' indicating the impact of the aging process and sex-specific differences.

SUMMARY

Disordered eating and eating disorders occur in both women and men of all ages. Medical complications because of age, the stigma of eating disorders in a still 'untypical' age, and the glorification of sports activity often hinder the recognition of eating disorders in midlife and older persons. Treatment approaches should consider treatment strategies tailored for older women and men, addressing the context of midlife and aging.