Men are Reluctant to Seek Treatment

Men in general are less likely to seek counseling for psychological problems than women, and men with eating disorders are even more reluctant to seek treatment.

1. Men associate eating disorders with women, and therefore, do not consider themselves at risk for an eating disorder
2. Sharing this part of themselves with others is embarrassing
3. The thought of disclosing feelings, especially covert one's, provokes overwhelming anxiety
4. They rationalize their compulsive dieting and exercising as "just being" health conscious 
5. Men do not menstruate, therefore, unlike women, stoppage of menses is never a concern for seeking medical attention
6. Men either do not have sufficient financial resources and medical insurance for paying for therapy or they fear therapy will drain them financially

1. Men are just as vulnerable to eating disorders as females
2. They are not alone. Other males have eating disorders, too
3. Support is available to them through professional counseling and other support networks
4. They use an eating disorder as a coping mechanism, therefore, their eating disordered attitudes and behaviors are based upon reason and are not foolish 
5. Treatment is made financially accessible through modest costs for consultations and health insurance coverage  

Treatment providers must make treatment financially accessible to their clients through accepting a variety of insurance plans, using sliding scale fees for payments, and creating a benefit fund where donations can be collected and used for clients most in need of financial assistance.

Unique Treatment Needs

Andersen (1990, p. 160) states that although certain aspects in the treatment of eating disorders are the same for both sexes, “there exist also unique and special aspects of diagnosis and treatment pertinent to males with eating disorders.”

Many therapists treating eating disorders are unaware of the unique aspects faced by male clients with this disease. Most dieticians are not familiar with the special therapeutic-style to nutrition counseling required for helping people with eating disorders.

Encourage Early Intervention

Treatment Approach

1. Resolving conflicts
2. Dealing with crisis
3. Developing a healthy body-image
4. Working through identity issues
5. Developing positive thinking patterns
6. Learning new coping and stress reduction skills
7. Reducing the client's social anxiety
8. Reducing the client's sexual anxiety
9. Building and maintaining healthy relationships
10. Dealing with control issues
11. Developing independence and autonomy

According to Andersen (1990, pp. 148-152) effective psychological treatment for males with eating disorders has three principle characteristics:

1. It focuses on resolving a “central dynamic formulation,” which states the purpose the eating disorder serves in the client's life.
2. It's multimodal in scope by integrating individual, nutrition, group, and family therapy along with medication treatment.
3. It's sequential in its techniques according to the client's needs. Andersen believes the most helpful psychotherapy sequence starts with supportive and educational psychotherapy, followed by cognitive-behavioral work, then to psychodynamic psychotherapy, and finally to existential psychotherapy.

Regarding using a cognitive-behavioral approach, Andersen (1990, p. 151) explains, “The fundamental concept underlying cognitive psychotherapy is first to identify the abnormal patterns of thinking (‘cognitive grids') that distort neutral information and lead to painful emotional consequences, and then to confront and change these abnormal thinking processes so that positive emotions and healthier behaviors will result. . . . Some of the abnormal cognitive patterns characterizing many eating disorder patients are overvaluing the benefits of thinness; using all-or-none reasoning; catastrophizing; employing the mechanisms of projection and intellectualization.”

Conclusion