ADOLESCENT MALES: Body Image Dissatisfaction and Disordered Eating

Why is it that eating disorders have historically been viewed as a 'female' problem? Are we still of the opinion that adolescent males express little dissatisfaction with their physique? Are we oblivious to the unattainable images of the 'ideal' male, with his wash-board abs and 16-inch biceps, which greet us when we turn on the TV or open a magazine? Are the 43% of males that report over-all appearance dissatisfaction being ignored; or is the stigma attached to eating disorders preventing them from seeking assistance? Are supplements, often no better than a high-protein diet, potentially a gateway into the horrors of steroid use? The goal of disordered eating for a male is to add bulk or tone and define the physique. A range of disordered eating habits are covered in the text, including the extremes of behaviour on both ends of a dangerous spectrum, two ends that are diametrically opposed but grounded in body image dissatisfaction.