Male eating disorders may be rising in U.S.

Intentional starvation, cookie binges, vomiting, hospitalization. The details were typical for an eating disorder.

But Jeff Everts might not seem like a typical sufferer.

In an era of diet fixation, chiseled underwear models and "a culture of muscularity," some researchers say eating problems among men are getting worse — even as sufferers face a lingering stigma about having a "women's disorder."

"We're able to hide it much better," said Everts, a 43-year-old Albuquerque, N.M., resident recovering from anorexia and bulimia. "We don't talk about it, where women would."

Women are more likely to have eating disorders than men. But men can also suffer from bulimia, binge eating and, to a lesser extent, anorexia, according to researchers.

Leigh Cohn, co-author of "Making Weight," believes such disorders afflict about 2 percent of men versus 4 percent to 5 percent of women, and he is convinced the rate for men is on the rise. Other researchers have differing estimates, but there are no definitive studies.

"It's hard to know because men have been so reluctant to seek treatment," Cohn said. "And men, in many cases, are unaware that they have an eating disorder. For example, they may exercise obsessively and just think that's regular guy exercise behavior."

Athletes whose weight is crucial to their performance — jockeys, wrestlers, distance runners and gymnasts — have a higher incidence of eating disorders. Cohn said they can develop bad habits when weight loss is seen as a requirement of the sport.

The root causes can be similar for men and women: genetics, low self-esteem, trauma and cultural influences.

Just as women feel pressured to look like stick-thin magazine models, men can be swayed by images of pumped-up hunks with broad shoulders, six-pack abs and narrow waists. Pictures of perfect bodies can reinforce the belief that "normal" bodies are not OK, researchers say.

And those perfect male images — think muscle-bound movie heroes, magazine cover boys and shirtless rappers — can be hard to ignore.

"I don't know what's on 'NYPD Blue' tonight," Cohn said, "but I'm assuming that we'll see some male skin, because we almost always do."