Men make up 20% of sufferers

Anorexia is an eating disorder in which a person continually diets and starves him or herself.

About 1.6million people in the UK are estimated to suffer from an eating disorder with anorexia, bulimia and bingeeating disorder the most common. Up to 20 per cent of these are thought to be men.

It’s not known why one person develops an eating disorder while another does not, but it’s thought biological factors may play a part. Symptoms of anorexia include fear of eating, excessive exercise, avoidance of foods perceived as fattening, being withdrawn and obsessive calorie-counting. Sufferers are often reluctant to seek help.

Men who suffer from eating disorders may find it more difficult to get diagnosed and treatment as many health professionals still associate this with women.

Although a man can develop anorexia at any age, the majority of cases start aged 16 to 25. Many will live with their condition for years without realising they have it.

Department of Health statistics only record how many individuals receive hospital care for ‘eating disorders’. The vast majority of these are believed to be anorexia cases as this is the type most likely to need inpatient treatment.

A report from the Royal College of Practitioners shows a 66 per cent rise in male hospital admissions for eating disorders from 1997 to 2007.

For more information, visit the Men Get Eating Disorders Too website at mengetedstoo.co.uk.