I’m not sure I like the term “male bulimia”. I never have. But I’m starting to think it is a term that more people should be using.
Male bulimia is a disorder in which a man experiences excessive eating and weight loss. It is a very real and serious problem. Some people have bulimia, but a very small percentage are thought to be affected.
It is a very real problem in the USA where there are over one million individuals diagnosed with the disorder, with many more cases still undiagnosed.
Female bulimia is a disorder of very similar symptoms as male bulimia. It is thought to affect 3% of women in the USA.
Male bulimia has a higher incidence rate in the USA. In the UK, male bulimia is more common in young men who have recently begun to drink, and is higher in university students. Females are typically affected at older ages, and are more commonly seen in women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Male bulimia can be very serious. The treatment for bulimia is very similar to that of any other disorder, and involves therapy and a strict diet. They do, however, usually involve a very strict schedule of daily activities, with a strict time limit for each meal, and strict rules for how many alcoholic beverages and calories should be consumed. This is a very difficult treatment for the person to adhere to, and is usually accompanied by a very serious stigma attached to the disorder.
So how does anyone who has experienced this disorder feel about it? I can’t tell you, but I’d be curious to hear your thoughts below.
You are so wrong. The stigma of male bulimia is largely due to the lack of social or religious support. Many people struggle with the idea that they have a problem and are trying to avoid the stigma. And those people who do get help are often told that they have to take this “treatment” before it’s too late. I have friends who have had this disorder who are currently under the care of a psychiatrist.
The cure is still in the works, but the thought of anyone ever being able to live with a bulimic disorder without the stigma is very disturbing. I know from experience that a person with bulimia will be likely to feel the stigma as well.
Some people go through life with these disorders and don’t even realize it, but others have bulimia and end up hospitalized or even killed because of it. That is because they feel that there’s no other way to live, which is a very bad idea. Bulimia is a serious mental disorder. The only way to cure it is to have the person learn how to love themselves and take control of their lives.