If you are a male, it can be slightly tricky to determine if you are suffering from an eating disorder. The classic symptom of a male with an eating disorder is a neurotic preoccupation with his looks and physique. For such a man, staying in shape and not becoming ‘fat’ become obsessions.

Men do not suffer from any different or unique form of eating disorder. The disorders are the same – anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and EDNOS. However, men may tend to suffer more from bigorexia, also called muscle dysmorphia.

Some of the classic symptoms include indulging in crash dieting courses, steroid abuse to gain muscle mass and lose fat, following high protein diets, continuous checking of one’s physique in the mirror, etc.

Another definitive indicator that a man is suffering from an eating disorder is when he starts neglecting his family, friends, loved ones, and even work in order to be able to exercise rigorously and stay in shape.

That is definitely abnormal behavior that needs investigating, and more often than not you will find such a person to be suffering from some form of eating disorder.

Treating Male Eating Disorders

As is usually the case, the problem lies much deeper in men with eating disorders; it is not just about maintaining healthy diets and ensuring a proper physique. Often the issues are on a more psychological level, and involve self-esteem, insecurities, inability to cope with stressful situations, and such related problems.

Usually the person uses these techniques (in the case of men – rigorous exercising and dieting for example) to establish a false sense of control over situations and indeed, over their lives.

However, as is the case with all eating disorders, these control techniques are harmful in the long run, and such a man needs treatment and counseling to be able to cope with the situation in a genuinely healthy manner.