The purpose of the essay “Eating Disorders in Men: Current Considerations,” written by Jeffery A. Harvey and John D. Robinson, is to analyze literature regarding eating disorders and trends in the U.S. that can lead to these kinds of disorders in men. It claims that men go undiagnosed for eating disorders due to the old assumption that they are “women’s disorders.” They also say that men suffer from eating disorders due to the media’s portrayal of the “perfect” body image. Due to this false portrayal of men they are likely to develop muscle dysmorphia, also known as reverse anorexia because instead of wanting to be thin men are compulsively trying to gain weight in the form of muscle. Harvey and Robinson explain that men go undiagnosed because the diagnostic criteria does not account towards men with eating disorders. I wonder, since this essay was from 2003, if the diagnostic criteria changed? Young boys also become affected by the media’s portrayal of men. From a young age boys are taught that men are supposed to be very muscular which can lead to them participating in steroid use when they get older. I agree with that statement because I do have a younger brother and he believes that the normal male physique includes a six pack.
Harvey and Robinson explain that men may not be diagnosed for anorexia nervosa because the diagnostic criteria includes amenorrhea, which is the absence of menstruation, even though both men and women share the same symptoms. They also state that females are more compulsive in terms of dieting and weight control rituals compared to men. I disagree because I know some male athletes and they are much more compulsive when it comes to dieting than I am. This source differ from my previous sources by focusing more on how the disorder is diagnosed and how the media affects men in a negative way. The essay claims that men who suffer from an eating disorder also have a large percent chance of suffering from a psychological disorder as well.
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