Although the prevalence for men is much lower, the number of men seeking treatment for eating disorders is increasing. Even so, men are still less likely than women to recognize the problem and seek help. Despite subtle differences between male and female anorexics, both partake in excessive exercise and starvation. It is not surprising nor uncommon to see males with eating disorders overuse anabolic steroids to improve muscle tone and build strength. Certain subgroups within each gender show a disproportionate increase in eating disorders.
Male wrestlers present with higher rates of eating disorders.
Men who develop eating disorders are also more likely to have experienced pre-morbid obesity and exhibit lower testosterone levels. While the dynamics of eating disorders are complex, similarities between men and women are great. Underlying causes often go back into childhood and include poor self-esteem, abandonment, sexual abuse, inability to tolerate stress, ineffective communication and isolating oneself from others. The basic principles of treatment for eating disorders are similar for both men and women and consist of psychotherapeutic interventions, nutritional education and counseling and often times psychopharmacological interventions. Psychotherapy may occur in both individual and group settings, and focuses on developing ways of coping with stress other than through dysfunctional eating behavior.