When I first opened an adolescent intensive outpatient program for eating disorders in Maryland, I expected to have a room full of struggling kids. Mostly girls, they all came with distorted body image, eating disorder behaviors, and underlying mental health concerns trying desperately to manage the demands of life, school, friendships, and family. I also […]
Remembering it’s about health, not size or weight
It’s been some time since I saw the number on a scale when I stood on it. Normally I ask the nurses and techs who take my vitals not tell me the number and that I’ll step on the scale backwards. Sometimes I look, allowing myself the opportunity to challenge any lingering eating disorder thoughts […]
The work continues for males with eating disorders
I’m on a plane heading back to Baltimore after attending the International Academy for Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) conference near Las Vegas. As is my habit, I use this time traveling home to process what I’ve seen and heard at the conference. Sadly, I’m no more hopeful for the field as it relates to men […]
Middle age and older men get eating disorders too
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, males are every bit as susceptible to developing eating an eating disorder as a female. The research to date has mostly consisted of looking at younger males, and that’s why I’m pleased to see the first ever study on middle aged males to date. Published in […]
Males don’t present like females with eating disorders
This statistic is false – males make up one in 10 of those with an eating disorder. But it’s the statistic most frequently quoted in the media. Why? Because this number represents the percentage of males seeking treatment. The reality is males make up at least 1 in 4 of those with anorexia and bulimia […]
We have a long way to go
I’m sitting in the San Francisco airport having wrapped up my week at the International Conference on Eating Disorders 2016. Perhaps it’s my fatigue setting in, but I don’t feel terribly enlightened from the experience. Instead I continue to feel sad at the state of the industry. Here’s why. My two personal areas of expertise […]
BED and the male experience
I’m heading home right now after attending the Binge Eating Disorder Association Conference in Hollywood, FL. There were some good programs, inspired speakers, and a lot of good camaraderie. What continues to be missed is the experience of males with BED. I spent much of the time in meeting rooms educating colleagues and advocates alike […]
I’m Tired
I’m obsessed with watching YouTube videos. Usually, I’m glued to makeup, hair, and grwm (get ready with me) videos, but recently I’ve started watching Buzzfeed videos more often. A few days ago, I came across the video “Things Men are Tired of Hearing About Their Bodies.” It’s funny because even though I’ve worked in the […]
The dad-bod phenomenon
I just finished watching The Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight. Normally that puts me a in good mood. Not tonight. Stewart and fellow comedian Kristen Schaal spent time making fun of the recent explosion of media commentary on the “dad-bod phenomenon.” Celebrity men, many of them considered to be icons of sexuality over the […]
Hey man, you have an eating disorder
Shame! Shame on you! Made you feel bad just reading that, right? When you feel bad, when you’re afraid, you do whatever you can to avoid the feeling again. Men and boys are terrified of being bullied, told they are weak, or told they are different. We will do whatever we can to avoid that […]