Cash fears see rise in men with anoxeria

Financial fears and the recession have triggered a rise in the number of men suffering from anorexia.

At least one-in-10 Irish adults diagnosed with an eating disorder are male, but experts believe cases of “manorexia” have surged since the downturn.

The Eating Disorder Resource Centre of Ireland says there is still a misconception, even amongst certain GPs, that teenage girls are the only sector of society who suffer the condition.

But the group says more and more adult males, particularly those who have been made redundant, are falling prey to the disorder.

Suzanne Horgan, director and founder of the Dublin-based resource centre, said: “A lot of Irish men at the moment are staring into a bleak future and feeling insecure about their finances of their jobs, so that makes them prone to anorexia, which becomes a coping mechanism for them.

“Men are still the traditional bread-winners in families, but if they have lost their jobs they will inevitably lose their self-esteem and feel lost. Anorexia is connected to the underlying sense of unworthiness that people feel.

“Jobs give people a purpose and if jobs are under threat or people are feeling anxious about the future, this has an impact on self-esteem, which can lead to men becoming anorexic or bulimic.”

Ms Horgan also says the media is to blame for “manorexia”, because she says impressionable males are more likely to become obsessed about their image and feel pressure to change their appearance to what they perceive to be the ideal.

But she believes there are many more undiagnosed cases because the condition is frequently not recognised in males, while men who are aware they are sufferers are often too embarrassed to seek professional help.

“I understand it’s hard for men because of the stigma attached to it. They are often afraid to talk about such issues, as they see it as a weakness and a threat to their masculinity, but they need to know they shouldn’t suffer in silence. There is help out there and they should seek out treatment.”

Ms Horgan has also previously pointed out children as young as five have fallen victim to eating disorders.

But she said over the past four months, she’s noticed that more school principals have taken pro-active steps to send warnings of disorders, including binge-eating, out to their students.

She explained: “A lot more schools have contacted me recently to go in and talk to the pupils. I’ve had a very positive reaction and hope and I’m delighted to do it, because it’s vital the young people are fully informed and made aware of the warning signs.”

Meanwhile, she says she is concerned about the rising number of people suffering carborexia — which sees people seriously risk their health by cutting all carbohydrates from their diets.

She said: “Carbohydrates are associated with weight gain, but cutting carbs out altogether is extremely dangerous. For the brain to function properly, we need to consume 600 calories of carbohydrates every day.”

* For more information, visit eatingdisorders.ie.