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Men and PHP/IOP Treatment of Eating Disorders
How many people are you surrounded by right now, in your home, at Target, in your office? 50…100…500? Imagine increasing that to 10 million. Try ignoring them all. For males and eating disorders, a staggering 10 million men in the United States suffer from an eating disorder.
Males and Eating Disorders
From 1999 to 2009, the incidences of men being hospitalized due to an eating disorder increased by 53% [1]. Yet, their struggle with these disorders is often under-researched and under-treated. 10 million struggling men with eating disorders, ignored.
Because of this, even writing this blog was a challenge. Trying to find popular or academic articles on males and eating disorders is like finding a needle in a haystack, let alone trying to find one specifically about Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) or Partial-Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for men.
Much of what we know about eating disorders and optimal treatment interventions are based on research done with female populations, as they are the highest reported population suffering from these disorders.
Many researchers note that, “their (men’s) needs still go largely unaddressed in what remains a female-centric realm” and that this is “cause for concern…especially considering the difficulty of getting men into treatment in the first place [2].”
As far as IOP and PHP programs are concerned, even though most are co-ed, they are often female-dominated, creating a barrier for men seeking treatment and attempting to feel comfortable doing so.
While IOP does include individual therapy, much of it is based on group interactions during psychoeducation or support groups, activities, or meals.
“Therapy often takes place in a group setting, in which women typically outnumber men by a wide margin. It’s no stretch to propose that an 18-year-old male with anorexia would be reluctant to share his fears and insecurities in such an environment [2].”
This is particularly true considering societal pressures placed on men to be stoic and emotionally disconnected.
IOP and PHP programs also involve individuals going back home after treatment that day, which can increase the likelihood of a male that feels uncomfortable or unwelcome in treatment simply not returning.
Men also have more trouble getting insurance to cover any eating disorder treatment at all. All of these factors make receiving treatment for males and eating disorders challenging, including IOP and PHP programs.
Thankfully, increasing awareness of eating disorders is also increasing awareness of the many populations that struggle with them.
Hopefully, research follows to learn more about specific IOP and PHP treatment factors, methods, and programs that would be most effective in helping men recover from eating disorders.
References:
[1] Unknown (2019). Eating disorder treatment for men. Carolina House, retrieved from https://www.carolinaeatingdisorders.com/programs/male-inclusive/. [2] Collier, R. (2013). Treatment challenges for men with eating disorders. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 185:3.About the Author:
Margot Rittenhouse, MS, PLPC, NCC is a therapist who is passionate about providing mental health support to all in need and has worked with clients with substance abuse issues, eating disorders, domestic violence victims, and offenders, and severely mentally ill youth.
As a freelance writer for Eating Disorder Hope and Addiction Hope and a mentor with MentorConnect, Margot is a passionate eating disorder advocate, committed to de-stigmatizing these illnesses while showing support for those struggling through mentoring, writing, and volunteering. Margot has a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective on eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published November 20, 2019, on EatingDisorderHope.com
Reviewed & Approved on November 20, 2019, by Jacquelyn Ekern MS, LPC
