Prevalence and characteristics of men with eating disorders in primary care: how do they compare to women and what features may aid in identification?

Hay, Phillipa J., Loukas, Arthur, and Philpott, Hamish (2005) Prevalence and characteristics of men with eating disorders in primary care: how do they compare to women and what features may aid in identification? Primary Care & Community Psychiatry, 10 (1). pp. 1-6.

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Abstract

Objectives: Little is known about men with eating disorders (EDs) in primary care. The present study objectives were to (i) assess ED prevalence, ED features, weight, co-morbidities, exercise patterns, sexual orientation, and help-seeking in men attending a general practice setting and (ii) compare the results with a similar study of women. Method: Five hundred men chosen randomly from two general practices were screened with the Eating Disorders Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q), with an extra question concerning exercise for weight or shape control. Subsequently 50 subjects were interviewed to confirm psychiatric diagnoses and assess clinical features, weight, help-seeking for EDs and exercise.

Results: The prevalence of eating disorders was 1.2% (0 to 3.2 95% CI), most being Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) of a bulimic type. This was significantly lower than the prevalence of eating disorders in the female study (χ2=12.91, df=1, P< 0.001). Men with EDs had frequent psychiatric co-morbidity. Eating disorder phenomenology was similar between the genders except that men were less weight concerned or likely to have self-induced vomiting. Men were also less likely to seek treatment.

Conclusions: As with women, better definition of EDNOS syndromes may help in recognition of men with EDs.

Item ID: 7054
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1746-885X
Keywords: eating disorders; gender; general practice; identification
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Date Deposited: 24 Mar 2010 23:41
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110319 Psychiatry (incl Psychotherapy) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920410 Mental Health @ 100%
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