Nutrition Frenzy

There are signs that anorexia is increasing at a faster rate among men than women as the beauty and fashion industry puts a greater focus on males, an eating disorder expert has warned.

In recent years designers have promoted sizezero chic for both sexes, with waif-like men in slim-fit clothes parading the catwalks of London Fashion Week.

Professor Hubert Lacey, a psychiatric consultant at St George’s Hospital in Tooting and the Capio Nightingale clinic in Marylebone, saw more male than female anorexia referrals for the first time this summer.

He said: ‘”It was shocking, a huge surprise and evidence of how rapidly male anorexia is increasing.

‘Although it’s not at the level found in women, people working in the field have seen it really take off over the past couple of years.

‘I came back from holiday last week and for the first time ever I had more male referrals for anorexia than female ones.’

He said that men are subject to a relentless message that body perfection is a measure of self worth - with men from the higher social classes most commonly affected by eating disorders.

Harvard University found last year that a quarter of anorexia and bulimia sufferers are now male.

The British Fashion Council says its health guidelines apply equally to both sexes.

What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person’s normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight. Weight loss is obtained by many ways. Some of the common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating.

Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.

People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it.

The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running.