Beat – the UK’s leading charity for people with eating disorders and their families – has claimed that thousands of men in the UK are now suffering from an eating disorder, many of whom are unaware that they have a problem. Beat – the UK’s leading charity for people with eating disorders and their families – has claimed that thousands of men in the UK are now suffering from an eating disorder, many of whom are unaware that they have a problem. Mary George, a spokesperson for the organization, has said that men in general are much more reluctant to admit they have a problem than women, with many resorting to strict calorie control in order to alter their perceived body image. Furthermore, she noted that 12 per cent of all eating disorder victims are male and argued that those suffering from a disorder should be given help to set up a health choice plan to get them back on track. Ms. George commented: “Symptoms in males are generally different from females and tend to be more focused on body image – visits to the gym become obsessive as does the desire to change body shape.” According to a report published by beat in February last year entitled Failing Families, 1.1 million people in the UK currently suffer from an eating disorder, with 79 per cent of families affected by this problem claiming that it has had a lasting impact upon their lives. AIG offers health care, car insurance and more.
