An exploration of the lived experiences of men who have an eating disorder in the guise of anorexia or a-typical anorexia/EDNOS
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: In the United Kingdom (UK) the number of males with Eating Disorders (ED) admitted to hospital has risen by 70% since 2000. Taking account of under-reporting and misdiagnosis, men are now thought to represent 25% of those diagnosed with anorexia. To date, within academic literature, there has been a strong focus on EDs in women, perpetuating and maintaining stereotypical ideas of anorexia and the existent social stigma. Whilst there has been a plethora of quantitative studies regarding anorexia per se, with some specifically relating to men, there is a dearth of qualitative studies, with only two studies examining the experiences of men with EDs accessing services identified within the literature review. In adding to such a limited body of knowledge, this study was undertaken with the purpose of exploring the lived experiences of men who had an ED, namely anorexia, and/or an eating disorder not otherwise specified. Methodology: Qualitative research, adopting a narrative approach was used, in order to promote the hearing of the participants’ own constructed stories. Data was collected via narrative interviews with seven men aged 23-34 years old. In the first instance narrative analysis was used for each man’s story, with thematic analysis being used to explore commonalities and difference across all seven interviews. Findings: The interviews highlighted the need for male stories of anorexia to be researched and voiced. The men shared many background similarities, experiencing a range of negative consequences during their everyday living; from discriminatory health care, to problems with employment and isolation. Four major themes emerged from the cross-narrative analysis: (1)The final John Doe, (2)Masculinity – The beast in me; (3)Not working 9-5; and (4)Help, I need somebody – Bedlam revisited. Conclusions: If men experiencing eating disorders are to receive appropriate and supportive health care, further research is needed to ensure better understanding…
abstract: Background: In the United Kingdom (UK) the number of males with Eating Disorders (ED) admitted to hospital has risen by 70% since 2000. Taking account of under-reporting and misdiagnosis, men are now thought to represent 25% of those diagnosed with anorexia. To date, within academic literature, there has been a strong focus on EDs in women, perpetuating and maintaining stereotypical ideas of anorexia and the existent social stigma. Whilst there has been a plethora of quantitative studies regarding anorexia per se, with some specifically relating to men, there is a dearth of qualitative studies, with only two studies examining the experiences of men with EDs accessing services identified within the literature review. In adding to such a limited body of knowledge, this study was undertaken with the purpose of exploring the lived experiences of men who had an ED, namely anorexia, and/or an eating disorder not otherwise specified. Methodology: Qualitative research, adopting a narrative approach was used, in order to promote the hearing of the participants’ own constructed stories. Data was collected via narrative interviews with seven men aged 23-34 years old. In the first instance narrative analysis was used for each man’s story, with thematic analysis being used to explore commonalities and difference across all seven interviews. Findings: The interviews highlighted the need for male stories of anorexia to be researched and voiced. The men shared many background similarities, experiencing a range of negative consequences during their everyday living; from discriminatory health care, to problems with employment and isolation. Four major themes emerged from the cross-narrative analysis: (1)The final John Doe, (2)Masculinity – The beast in me; (3)Not working 9-5; and (4)Help, I need somebody – Bedlam revisited. Conclusions: If men experiencing eating disorders are to receive appropriate and supportive health care, further research is needed to ensure better understanding…
author: Lyons, Gareth
language: en
date published: 2018
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:26:30Z
provider: U. of Salford
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: U. of Salford