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Body Image Issues

Home > Men's Health Home > Mental Health > Body Image Issues

• Eating Disorders
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder
• Additional Resources

Did you know that men, like women, can struggle with body image issues? Some men secretly live with an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder—conditions that not only can harm your health, but also interfere with daily living. People with body image disorders often isolate themselves from others and can suffer from depression and other mental health problems.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. Many more women than men have anorexia and bulimia. But binge eating disorder affects men and women equally. With binge eating disorder, people overeat well beyond the point of feeling full. Sometimes, people try to make up for their binges by dieting or not eating. Body weight ranges from normal to severely obese.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

People with body dysmorphic disorder have extreme concern over a real or imagined "flaw" in appearance. Men and women are affected equally, but focus concern on different parts of the body. Men tend to be preoccupied by their skin, hair, nose, and genitals. People with this condition often feel "ugly" and can be self-conscious around others.

Obsession with food or how you look is no way to live. If you have body image issues, don't let shame or embarrassment keep you from seeking help. Medicines and counseling can help people with eating disorders and body image disorders.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Loving Your Body Inside and Out - As busy women living complex lives, we are sometimes overwhelmed by the amount of health information and misinformation in the media and on the Internet. This web page has been designed by the NWHIC to provide women with information they can trust about how to stay well and feel good about ourselves.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/bodyimage/

2.   Eating Disorders - This is a detailed booklet that describes symptoms, causes, and treatments of eating disorders, with information on getting help and coping.

   http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eating-disorders/summary.shtml

3. Binge Eating Disorders in Males (Copyright © NEDA) - This publication explains the behavioral, emotional, and physical characteristics of binge eating disorders in men.

   http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=316&Profile_ID=41182

4. Body dysmorphic disorder (Copyright © MFMER) - This fact sheet describes body dysmorphic disorder, which is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with a real or imagined defect in your physical appearance. Learn more about signs and symptoms, causes, self-care, and when to seek medical advice.

   http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/body-dysmorphic-disorder/DS00559

5. Enhancing Male Body Image (Copyright © NEDA) - This fact sheet contains information on strategies for prevention and early intervention of male eating disorders. This fact sheet also includes a section about enhancing male body image.

   http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=316&Profile_ID=41161

6. Information for Boys and Men (Copyright © NEDA) - This resource contains links to helpful information for men and boys from the National Eating Disorders Association. Topics include body image, bulimia, anorexia, and more.

   http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=285

7. Male and female athletes and obligatory exercise (Copyright © ANRED) - This fact sheet describes how to recognize someone who is addicted to exercising, a so called obligatory exerciser, and how much exercise is too much.

   http://www.anred.com/ath_obex.html

8. Males with eating disorders (Copyright © ANRED) - This fact sheet talks about what eating disorders men get, how many men have eating disorders, risk factors, and treatment.

   http://www.anred.com/males.html

Organizations

1.   National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS
2.   National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, CMHS, SAMHSA, OPHS, HHS
3.   National Mental Health Information Center, SAMHSA, HHS
4. American Psychiatric Association
5. American Psychological Association
6. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
7. Mental Health America
8. National Alliance on Mental Illness
9. National Eating Disorders Association

= Indicates Federal Resources