Men and Eating Disorders

Many people don’t realize that men suffer from eating disorders. They think it is a women’s disease. It is difficult for many men to admit that they have an eating disorder because of this. And may be less likely to receive help due to their shame. According to National Association of Eating Disorders (NEDA), one in three people who have an eating disorder are male. Then add on the stigma of mental health. It can be difficult for many men to admit that they need help.

Professional Ball Player Opens Up About His Eating Disorder

You may have heard of Mike Marjama who is a catcher for the Seattle Mariners. Last month, he told his story about his struggle with an eating disorder when he was in high school. It was serious enough that he needed inpatient treatment for it. Looking back, he said his body image concerns began in middle school. He thought he had to be muscular to have a girlfriend. He said he had anorexia, and then bulimia.

Marjama shared his story in the hopes that other men would get the help they need. He wants to remove the stigma associated with it. No one needs to suffer in silence. As a result, he made a short documentary on the topic in “Uninterrupted”. He has also been a guest speaker at high schools hoping that others can learn from his struggles.

Marjama’s Interview

According to an interview from NEDA he had always sought out to have the ideal body image for a male. He wanted to be just like the models from Amercrombie and Fitch-the lean, muscular physique. In order to do that he restricted what he ate (to get rid of fat) and worked out all the time (to increase muscle mass). Marjama thought this would be his way into the major leagues. He learned methods of extreme calorie cutting from wrestling. Then, he ended up with bulimia.

He went on to say that many men suffer from poor body image. Just like with women, there are magazines that have the ideal body plastered all over the covers. Some men turn to steroids to obtain the ideal amount of muscle mass.

Marjama said he realized he had an eating disorder during Thanksgiving and he had put very little on his plate. His mother confronted him about it, and that is when he started treatment. He also said he was a perfectionist, which tends to be a trait that many people with eating disorders posses. He stated that everything had to be perfect even not eating. At times he’d eat ice cubes to feel that he was eating.

Seeking Treatment

Through the treatment he sought coping skills and learned to stay positive. He started to look at food differently-as nutrients to fuel his body, so he can perform at peak capacity. He said that it was important to focus on who we are as people, not what our bodies look like. No one can be their best when they have restricted calories. From the site sports.good.is he stated he also has a strong support system, which is crucial in recovery. This includes his mother (a nurse practitioner, and the Mariners).

It is challenging to treat athletes with eating disorders, as many times they need to stop doing the sport they love. He said he had to give up playing baseball his junior year of high school because of his eating disorder. Being able to go back to their sport can be a motivator, yet it is a difficult road to go down.

His message is, “Everyone has self-doubt. But I think it’s important for people to know that even a Major League Baseball player can have demons, and it’s OK to ask for help.”

If you think you are suffering from an eating disorder, it is important to find out and to get help. The sooner you get help, the easier you can recover. I have worked with many men who suffer from eating disorders, and my dissertation was on male body dissatisfaction. Please call me at 713-304-6554 if I can help.

Take care,

Debbie