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Friends on the Bench

Male Eating Disorders Treatment, Nutrition Therapy and Help in the St. Louis Area, Missouri and Illinois

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Provide Help for Men, Adolescents, and Boys Struggling with Anorexia, Bulimia, Orthorexia, ARFID, Disordered Eating, and Other Eating Disorders

Promote metabolic recovery. Restore a healthy body weight. Improve your relationship with food and body. Address medical complications. Implement healthy, sustainable eating habits. Experience food freedom and recovery from your eating disorder with online or in-person treatment and outpatient medical nutrition therapy.

Which eating disorder is most commonly found in males?

Research is limited in this area. This is largely due to the stigma that men do not experience eating disorders which makes it more difficult for men to speak upon their experiences and seek help. Eating disorders can affect anyone, including men.

Metal Surface

How are male eating disorders different than female eating disorders?

There are gender differences in both the symptoms and treatment of EDs in boys, adolescents, and men compared to females. 

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Although this does not apply to every individual, there is a common theme in what males consider the “ideal male body type”. There is more of an emphasis on muscle mass, broad shoulders, and a six-pack in comparison to the typical “ideal female body type”. In addition, due to the myth that males do not experience EDs, it makes it more difficult for them to seek help especially early on.

 

Healthcare professionals may overlook many of the warning signs, therefore, increasing the risk of the severity that an eating disorder can inflict.

Waiting at the Door

What do men with eating disorders often display? 

Common Symptoms & Warning Signs of Male EDs

 

  • Sudden weight loss

  • Preoccupation with bodybuilding/muscle tone

  • Anxiety or stress related to body and food

  • Food rituals

  • Misuse of anabolic steroids

  • Disordered perception of 'good foods' and 'bad foods'

  • Need for control

  • Low self-esteem

  • Lowered sex drive

  • Depression

 

If you believe you or someone you love is struggling, it's important to get help. Recovery is possible with outpatient nutrition therapy and treatment -- online and face-to-face. See below to learn more about risk factors that are associated with EDs in men.​

Gray Surface
Gray Surface

Which risk factor (factors) is associated with eating disorders among males?

Some factors that have been known for increasing the risk of developing an ED are...

  • Perfectionism

  • Body dissatisfaction

    • Muscle dysphoria​

    • Media pressure

  • Certain sports - long-distance runners, wrestlers, swimmers, dancers

  • Trauma

  • Depression and shame 

  • Substance abuse

  • A family history of eating disorders

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Achieve recovery. Improve your relationship with food and body and begin to heal today.

Treatment for Eating Disorders and/or Disordered Eating in Men and Adolescents

We provide eating disorder care for everyBODY. 

 

A dietitian nutritionist is a fundamental piece of your recovery team. As expert eating disorder dietitians in the St. Louis area, we work with patients to guide them toward healing their relationship with food and body. We offer virtual nutrition counseling, or face-to-face appointments in our Illinois and Missouri offices.

 

Here’s what you can expect:

Assessment and Individualized Planning

We assess your diet, eating behaviors, and triggers. Many with bulimia nervosa have nutrient deficiencies because of inadequate intake of food or purging behaviors. Medical Nutrition Therapy can help address these deficiencies through individualized diet plans and, if necessary, supplementation.

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Ongoing Support

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Ongoing support is essential throughout the treatment process. This may include regular check-ins with your ED dietitian to track progress, address challenges, and make any necessary adjustments to the nutrition plan. We recommend our ongoing recovery coaching

Normalization of Eating Patterns

One of the primary goals is to establish regular and balanced eating patterns. This may involve structured meal plans with adequate energy intake to support physical health and recovery.

 

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Meal Planning and Food Challenges

For anyone struggling with bulimia, meals, grocery shopping, and food can be overwhelming. Meal planning and exposure to feared foods or situations are often incorporated into treatment to help you overcome restrictive or binge-purge behaviors and develop a more flexible and balanced approach to eating.

Nutritional Education

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Nutrition education is a big part of our recovery program. Teaching about healthy eating habits and the role of different nutrients in the body is crucial. This can help you develop a better understanding of your nutritional needs and fosters a positive relationship with food. Food is neither an enemy or a reward. It simply is.

Collaboration with Other Treatment Providers

We work closely with your interdisciplinary team of therapists, psychiatrists, and other members of the treatment team to ensure a coordinated approach to care. This may involve sharing progress reports, coordinating interventions, and addressing any underlying psychological issues that contribute to disordered eating behaviors.

Long-Term Maintenance and Relapse Prevention

MNT also focuses on long-term maintenance and relapse prevention strategies to help you sustain their recovery and avoid returning to disordered eating patterns.

Our goal is to help you restore your relationship with food and body, develop sustainable habits, and support you through your recovery process.

How much does medical nutrition therapy and outpatient eating disorder treatment cost?

We are in-network with many insurance companies. Insurance-based nutrition counseling depends on your insurance provider's approval and specific insurance plan. We can only provide services based on what they allow, following their specific guidelines. Such perimeters include:

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  • Limitations in visits 

  • Requiring a certain amount of time in between appointments

  • No additional support between appointments 

  • Check your medical nutrition therapy benefits here.

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While nutritional counseling can be beneficial for various conditions, we find that, specifically for those suffering from disordered eating, continuous support and ongoing accountability is the game changer in achieving recovery.

 

We also provide affordable, self-pay options. We believe that full recovery is possible with the right support and treatment. We look forward to being part of your healing process.

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