Eating disorders are not just a female problem—and neither is sexual harassment. In a new study, the two are linked and, to the surprise of many, men are more likely to suffer from them than women.
When the media talks about eating disorders, it is most often in relation to how “too-skinny” or “too-heavy” women are poor role models with poor eating habits. But it is not new news that men suffer from the same eating disorders, and in a new study by the University of Michigan, these harmful behaviors may be linked to sexual harassment.
This is another area that men are often forgotten about because of the “macho man” stereotype, but the research team led by NiCole Buchanan found that men who had experienced sexual harassment were much more likely to engage in harmful eating behaviors than women who had been sexually harassed. The study is the first to examine the connection between sexual harassment and eating disorders in men.
“Although boys and men have lower rates of weight/shape concerns and eating disturbances, these issues are still significant and warrant intervention,” Buchanan said.
Participants were asked to report instances of harassment, defined as unwanted romantic attention, offensive sexual jokes, or catcalling. Out of 2,446 college-age participants in the study, 731 were men. Because women generally report higher levels of eating disorders, the findings surprised Buchanan and her team. Their surprise, and the public’s, may also be due to men being less likely to report sexual harassment and a pervading societal view that men are not phased by things like harassment or body image. However, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has showed that 16.3-percent of sexual harassment charges in 2011 were filed by men—an increase from the 11.6-percent in 1997.
Buchanan’s research highlights the perceptions of men and sexual harassment as well as body image. The fact that it was done at all is proof in and of itself that societal views on the subjects are changing, but its findings, in combination with those of the EEOC, show that men’s own views are also changing, that they feel less stigmatized by these things than they used to. Though the higher rates of eating disorders linked to sexual harassment are alarming, there is a small comfort in knowing that the issue is finally being addressed.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) in the U.S. at 1-800-931-2237
Photo: Sup3r_Fudg3/Flickr