by Ken Gehring via www.kengehring.com First of all, let me start by saying that I am not a writer and this is the first time I have ever written a blog so I thought that I would start with something very dear to me. I’m a man and I’ve spent my life ashamed of my […]
Opinion | More male representation needed in body positivity movement
By Paige Lawler, For The Pitt News Since its founding in 1996, the body positivity movement has gained popularity, growing from a single organization to an international movement — but it’s still missing a crucial demographic. Founded by two women, the movement aims to create a community that embraces bodies of every size and is free of […]
Male Body Image Concerns Are Not New
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 […]