Mind and men's health
Your relationship with food
Signs worth a conversation, and what's known about eating problems in men.
Food can take up more of your head than you'd like, in either direction. Some signs are worth a conversation, and they come first.
When to get care
Now
If you have thoughts of ending your life or hurting yourself, call emergency services or a support line now.
You don't have to wait for it to pass, and you don't have to face it alone.
Soon
If you're skipping meals on purpose, going a whole day without eating, or feeling strong guilt after eating, talk to your doctor or a psychologist in the next few days.
These are worth a calm conversation, with no blame.
Soon
If you weigh yourself several times a day, or the fear of gaining weight back takes up a lot of your head, talk to your doctor or a psychologist in the next few days.
Soon
If you feel you have to train no matter what, train after long fasts, or push hard to get very lean for a competition, talk to your doctor or a psychologist in the next few days.
Signs like these are worth a conversation too.
Soon
If you're tempted to take more medicine than prescribed to eat even less, talk to your doctor first.
Only your doctor changes the dose.
What's known
Eating problems happen in men too, and short questionnaires may miss more of them in men. One common 5-question tool picked up about 3 in 4 cases in samples with fewer than 60% women, against almost 9 in 10 in mostly female samples; only 3 studies included adult men.
Guidelines recommend asking about eating problems before starting these medicines and paying attention during treatment. A restrictive eating disorder is a reason they give not to use them, and a current or past eating problem is a reason to involve a specialist.
What usually helps
- Regular meals, even small ones
- Talking about it early, with your doctor or a psychologist
To take to your appointment
- I've been thinking about food and my body more than I'd like. Can we talk about it?
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