When I say the word Anorexia, what is the first things that you picture in your mind? A GIRL, right!!! Well, recent findings done by the National Eating Disorder Association, have found that close to one million males in the United States are suffering from anorexia or bulimia. So, why are we not aware of these findings? Simple. An eating disorder is not suppose happen to young males. The shame that is related with this disorder often makes these cases hard to come across with. There are definitely more growing numbers of these cases that are not being recorded, because these individuals are just too embarrassed to admit that they have " A girl problem."
If this disease is only suppose to happen to women then the challenge for these boys becomes the search for medical attention. Since these boys are often ashamed of their condition, they are more prone to be twice as sick than the opposite sex. This becomes a major problem because by the time that the family members of these individuals catch on, the person will be in devastating stages of the disease.
Okay. Well, what if a boy wants to seek help and is not ashamed to admit his problem? The reality is that resources to help ameliorate this condition are often just targeted toward females. If a teenage boy types in his computer, "What can I do if I am battling Anorexia," all of the results would be geared toward the female audience. The problem is clear, there needs to be help readily available for males not just females. It is crucial to make these individuals understand that their problem can be cured and that there are ways (facilities, programs, and intervention) that can help them with their problem.
You can follow and learn more about male anorexia by viewing the stories of Avi Sinai, Victor Avon and TJ Warschefsky at Boys dying to be thin: the new face of anorexia.
By: Stephanie Loza
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