Anorexia: Not Just A Women's Disease
"Oh I'm so fat". This is not something we normally think of hearing out of a
man's mouth. Women are thought to be the only ones that obsess over their
appearance. Therefore, anorexia is commonly thought to be a woman's disease. But in
reality, there are many men fighting it. Out of the estimated eight million people in the
United States with anorexia, about ten percent of the cases are men (Something Fishy,
par.1). These are only reported cases. It is assumed that there is more, but the men haven't
come forward, since it is very hard for a man to admit to having this disease.
Nevertheless, there are a growing number of men in America with this disease, and it
needs to be dealt with. This paper will address the causes, affects, reason why they hide it,
It is not known for sure what exactly causes anorexia in men. But there are a few
theories on it. One theory on the cause of anorexia in men is our culture today. Most
people think our culture only influences women with the constant pressure to be skinny,
with the magazines, and the skinny models, and everything. But actually, society
influences men to be thin quite a bit too. What's acceptable for a man's body shape is
very limited here in America. More and more magazines for men are about fitness, weight
lifting, and body building(Highlights, par. 6). The media and entertainment industry really
focuses on a nicely built, "in shape man". So some men do feel pressure to be physically
fit. Of the men that are overweight, some may choose anorexia as a way to diet. Anorexia
in men is rare of course, but it does happen.
Another possible cause of anorexia in men could be the sports that they participate
in. Some common men's sports that are thought to cause anorexia are wrestling, ballet,
ice skating, horse racing jockeys, and gym...