"The finest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to oneself." -Michel de Montaigne
This rings true for many people, however for many Americans, one can not even begin to imagine how to believe this for themselves. One in every two-hundred women suffer from anorexia and two to three women are bulimic. Nearly ten to fifteen percent of people who suffer from either one of these eating dissorders are males. These statistics show that eating disorders are not only found in women, but it is also an issue among men. Not many people think men have eating dissorders, however, they certainly have picked up these patterns throughout the past decade.
As stated in, "More Men Battling Their Weight," binge-and-purge eating and anorexia are more common in men now then it has ever been. With magazines and media telling men that they have to look a certain way, many begin to feel that the fastest way to lose their weight is to turn to bulimia or anorexia. As many can see, these eating disorders strongly affects the women of society today, but many fail to realize that men struggle with these things as well. Just as women are affected by media and the false images of who/what they should be, men also pay attention to what the magazine covers and movies have to say.
Although it is not as common in men as it is in women, the percentage of males who are affected by eating disorders is substantial enough to call it an issue. It is not only found in adult men, but it is also found in adolescents. When I was in middle school, I knew a young man who felt that he was not capable of fitting in because of his weight. He began to eat a great deal less than what he did prior to this time. Not only did he eat less, but he also began to exercise frequently. He began to model himself after these false images posted all over the internet and magazines.
Years ago, these eating disorders were simply unimaginable, however it has become socially acceptable throughout the past couple of decades. In the nineteen-fifties, it was ok for a woman to be normal weight; now women feel that they should be merely skin and bones. This has spilled over to the men. The men have picked up these customs in hopes of becoming the "perfect man" without realizing that the perfect man doesn't have to be extraordinarily muscular. Rather, eating healthy and staying fit will do the trick. Not only will men feel at ease with themselves in society by staying healthy, but they will also feel comfortable in their own skin when they are improving for themselves rather than those around them.
