Hi all, my name is Ava and I am a UCL PhD student. I’ve made a research based video on the barriers that men may face when accessing treatment for an eating disorder (all types), hope some of you find it interesting

ava_flava123 · 2021-05-28T05:24:27+00:00

This refers to barriers from an individual, societal and systemic level, eg bias towards women in ED research and therefore assessments & clinical practice. Research references in the video description

dontpet · 2021-05-28T08:10:00+00:00

Thanks. I appreciate the work done. I watched the first third but got to the possible reasons for men not using services then balked.

I really struggle with the explanations that most researchers have for male behavior. It could be you got past reasons inside men, such as the toxic masculinity starter, but I didn't have the heart to continue.

I set up and have run a support service for men for the last decade. Men poured in the door once we got going. We are now the largest community counseling service in our region, double the size of the next biggest one. Almost all male clients.

My point is, men are open to services it's just that people like you and me aren't seeing they exist.

Getting back to the reasons men aren't finding their way into services, you have to focus on doorways. If you do a graph of men, women, and median number of gp visits over a lifetime you will likely find up to the age of 13, Boys and girls are the same at about 2 visits per year.

Between thirteen and 40, girls stay about the same. Boys go to a median of 0 visits. Around that age, the boys and girls get very similar again. Boys genuinely don't need a GP typically over that time.

This is critical for the eating disorder conditions. Having someone you get to know in a clinical environment mean's you get a chance to think of your health more often. To see posters, pick up booklets, ask questions. A doctor or nurse gets to know you maybe and picks up when something is different or your weight changes or skin is sallow.

Then consider the engagement women have in other settings. Have a birth, you are engaged in a range of community supports as a woman. Not as a man. Be involved in your life education and that exposes you too health info and support services. A majority of women doing this where I live.

Consider the impact of having a same sex friend who is a nurse or social worker or counselor. The significant majority of these are women, with them getting engaged in health directly. But they pass it off to their friends and friends of friends.

Not starting off explaining the situation for men as being largely socially caused is harmful. It's cruel. It is I believe unconsciously blaming men, and we are right to suspect this is the attitude of a professional.

Hyper agency in reflecting on men is harmful and time the research community got over it.

hendrixski · 2021-05-28T11:22:58+00:00

Good video, thanks for posting.

I'm curious, How much of the gap (that you cite) between reported prevalence of eating disorders is due to either 1) men being discouraged from reporting and 2) men not being educated about reporting because the outreach targets women?

Arguesovereverythin · 2021-05-28T21:37:55+00:00

Was an interesting video. Why was this marked NSFW?

smalpose · 2021-05-28T23:36:09+00:00

This is the first time I've commented in this sub, just wanted to say thank you for your work. Well done. Wish you the best forward OP.

DIES-_-IRAE · 2021-05-28T16:21:40+00:00

Thank you.

Comments