Binge Eating in Men: fact or fiction?

Most eating disorders are looked upon as ‘feminine’ conditions. So, you won’t be considered chauvinistic if you believed that ‘those things’ happened only to women – eating wild, purging, dieting, anorexia, and the like. But, new research shows that binge eating in men is on the rise. Many estimates suggest that approximately 30-40% of people who go in for treatment of binge eating are men.  

 What causes binge eating in men? 

Most men who suffer from Binge Eating Disorder have a sedentary lifestyle coupled with a history of depression and poor self-esteem. Thus, these men see themselves as ineffective and weak. They allow themselves the luxury of frenzied eating to compensate for their lack of control in other areas of life.  

In some cases, binge eating in men has a lot to do with their chosen occupation. Men who have been in the beauty or wellness industry often fall victims of Binge Eating. Just as women, men who are in the public eye feel the pressure to maintain their trim looks, which can lead to frenzied eating. So, male models who have been on restrictive diets for long or sportsmen who have been forced to restrict their food intake in any manner start bingeing when they feel unable to cope.  

Some reports suggest that older men are more likely to become victims of binge eating than women of the same age. This is because most men who cross their mid-forties feel that they can let go. They become less active physically and are more inclined to spend huge amounts of money on food.  

Night time eating is also another major cause of binge eating in men. This is the time they are back from the pressure of work and feel the need to relax and unwind. Unwinding generally happens over several packets of bagels, sandwiches and the like.  

Older men who have been flabby and overweight as children are at greater risk of developing binge eating.  

Binge eating in men can be controlled, just as effectively as in women. However, men are somewhat more reluctant to accept that they have a problem and may deny treatment. In that way, they are more at risk than women.  

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