Petition for better service for men affected by eating disorders
Men Get Eating Disorders Too has started a petition on the Number 10 website to encourage better service provision for men with eating disorders.
According to the MGEDT website, studies suggest that between a tenth and a quarter of people with eating disorders are male. It is possible that the real figures could be much higher, since many men do not feel they are able to get help for their eating disorder.
MGEDT believe that part of the reason for this is a lack of awareness of eating disorders in men from doctors and other health practitioners. They claim that numerous male sufferers have reported that getting a diagnosis for their eating disorder is a struggle, and that their symptoms were dismissed - probably because eating disorders are commonly seen as a female problem.
The petition reads as follows:
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure men with eating disorders are given the same opportunities for treatment and care as female sufferers and are by no means discriminated against by their doctor / other health practitioner because they are male.
You can sign it by clicking here.
Source: Mental Health Foundation