The importance of dedicated men’s groups in eating disorder treatment
Written by Jacob Selfridge, Care Partner at Within Health
A common myth about eating disorders is that they only affect women. The truth is that many males also suffer from eating disorders, but often hide their struggles due to embarrassment and shame.
Connection to others who are struggling with similar issues can be very therapeutic. However, similar to women, men also may feel a strong sense of belonging with others who are like themselves. At Within Health, our clinical teams have recognized the value of the dedicated men’s groups we offer as part of our enhanced treatment programs.
For many men, these groups offer safe spaces in which they can explore experiences previously affected by silence, stigma, and shame around eating disorders.
Eating disorders don’t discriminate by gender
Historically, eating disorders have been thought of as an illness that affects mostly women. But in reality, there are many different types of eating disorders, and men can experience all of them. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) are all types of eating disorders that can affect all genders.
Unfortunately, males with eating disorders are less likely to recognize that their behaviors are indicative of an eating disorder and therefore don’t often seek help. In addition, they may find that their family and friends, as well as their healthcare providers, do not recognize the warning signs of an eating disorder. Instead, they are often seen as someone who is simply very into their fitness or is an athlete in training.
How stigma perpetuates eating disorders amongst men
Being in treatment for an eating disorder can make someone feel extremely vulnerable. The additional layer of vulnerability for men is to go against the norms of the typical view of masculinity in our culture.
The process of seeking and receiving treatment for any kind of problem may make a man feel as though he is failing at what it means to “be a man,” which can cause embarrassment and lead him to resist getting treatment.
Men may also feel ashamed of their behaviors when they enter treatment for an eating disorder.
They may feel like they don’t “fit in” because the majority of individuals treated for eating disorders are females. They may also feel as though their struggles will not be taken seriously because the focus of their symptoms is related to aspects such as muscularity, athletic activity, and excessive exercise, in addition to weight and thinness.
Men experiencing these concerns may believe that they are alone, that no one understands what they are going through, and that their struggles are unique.
The unique role of dedicated men’s groups
Dedicated men’s groups offer participants the unique opportunity to discuss specific topics with other men that would not typically be explored in a mixed-group setting. For many of our participants, there is relief.
The primary goal of a men’s group is for members to talk about their experiences and pressures and to be understood by others. This can be a powerful experience for the men in the group as they no longer have to explain why they are in treatment.
Topics explored could include things like:
- Striving for muscularity vs. thinness: The differences and similarities of two forms of male body dissatisfaction.
- Compulsive exercise and exercise dependence
- Sports, fitness, and expectations attached to performance
- Masculinity and emotional expression
- Eating disorder symptoms and feelings of shame
- Identity beyond physical appearance or achievement
These are not issues that are unique to men or that affect all men. But certain themes frequently appear when men have the space to speak freely to other men who have been struggling with issues of eating and body image.
Men’s groups provide a unique and powerful therapeutic environment where men can do their work in an atmosphere of community and respect with their male peers.
Male groups are designed to complement other groups
Dedicated men’s groups are not a replacement for mixed-gender groups or other aspects of treatment.
A mixed-gender group is an important component of a person’s comprehensive treatment for an eating disorder, as it allows for a variety of perspectives on various topics. In addition, individual, family, and psychoeducational sessions, process groups, and identity-specific groups all have unique benefits for those struggling with an eating disorder and can lead to unique insights in the recovery process.
In conjunction with the rest of the therapeutic program, men’s groups can deepen and complement the work done in other groups and in individual sessions.
Building more inclusive treatment
While offering dedicated groups for males can make a big difference, creating a more welcoming environment for this demographic extends beyond this. Treatment providers must examine the extent to which all aspects of offered programs are beneficial for males with eating disorders.
Creating dedicated groups for men in treatment can be very powerful, but to really create more inclusive treatment for men with eating disorders, a number of other changes need to happen, such as:
- Reviewing the language used in educational materials and patient communications.
- Recognizing that individuals with an eating disorder can struggle with body image concerns outside of trying to be thin.
- Being familiar with how aspects of the eating disorder (such as compulsive exercise or muscle dysmorphia) are expressed by males.
- Understanding the different barriers to treatment that exist for men suffering from eating disorders.
- Avoiding assumptions about eating disorders in general and who they affect.
Eating disorder experiences among men are highly individualized, varying significantly by diagnosis and age. Consequently, clinical treatment must be adaptive, accounting for diverse identities and the multifaceted ways these conditions manifest in male patients.
The goal of treatment for men with eating disorders is the same as for women: to develop a treatment environment where all individuals are seen, heard, and treated with respect and understanding.
