Treatment experiences of males with an eating disorder: a systematic review of qualitative studies
Open accessAbstract
Research has commonly examined eating disorders (EDs) predominantly in female groups. However, males are a large minority of people with EDs. In view of this, the present paper aimed to investigate and review the experience of treatment and recovery for males with an ED. We carried out a systematic search for qualitative articles focusing on the experiences of treatment and found only four papers which met inclusion criteria. Key themes identified across studies were 1) delays in seeking treatment, 2) clinical features distinctive to males such as drive for muscularity, 3) feminine and other aspects of treatment services, and 4) lack of consensus in views about relevance of sex in treatment. More studies are needed to explore male pathways through treatment and both impediments, but also facilitators, of successful engagement in and response to treatment.
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Guided self-help CBT-E may enhance treatment-seeking behavior, as patients who experience weight stigma due to their eating disorder prefer the greater anonymity of remote treatment.
“and may also enhance treatment seeking behavior, as patients who experience weight stigma due to their ED prefer the greater anonymity of remote treatment (Bird, 2019; Talumaa et al., 2022; Thapliyal & Hay, 2014).”
From Effectiveness of web-based guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced for binge-eating disorder: An implementation study (2024) · cites this paper as Thapliyal & Hay, 2014
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Clement, S., Schauman, O., Graham, T., Maggioni, F., Evans-Lacko, S., Bezborodovs, N., Morgan, C., Rüsch, N., Brown, J. S. L., & Thornicroft, G. (2015) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291714000129 · Cited by 3,152 · see citing works
Homosexuality as a specific risk factor for eating disorders in men
Russell, C. J., & Keel, P. K. (2002) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.10036 · Cited by 265 · see citing works
Treating eating disorders over the internet: A systematic review and future research directions
Aardoom, J. J., Dingemans, A. E., Spinhoven, P., & Van Furth, E. F. (2013) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.22135 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Juarascio, A., Shaw, J., Forman, E., Timko, C. A., Herbert, J., Butryn, M., Bunnell, D., Matteucci, A., & Lowe, M. (2013) · Behavior Modification · doi:10.1177/0145445513478633 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
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Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guideline
Ralph, A. F., Brennan, L., Byrne, S., Caldwell, B., Farmer, J., Hart, L. M., Heruc, G. A., Maguire, S., Piya, M. K., Quin, J., et al. (2022) · Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40337-022-00622-w · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Melisse, B., van den Berg, E., & de Beurs, E. (2024) · International Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1002/eat.24079 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Thapliyal, P., & Hay, P. J.
- Affiliations
- Western Sydney University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Hay, Phillipa J.
- Venue
- Translational Developmental Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-01
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 2001-7022 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2139138879
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Translational Developmental Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Keywords
- eating disorders, males, treatment experience, recovery, treatment-seeking delay, drive for muscularity, sex differences in treatment, treatment engagement
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