Negligence in treating men who display eating disorder (ED) symptomology begins with the history of the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). For example, in the DSM-IV-TR, to satisfy a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa (AN), it states that an assigned woman at birth (AWAB) must, “have an absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles for a diagnosis” (p. 589). Gender-focused criteria could contribute to the hesitation a clinician encounters when diagnosing an assigned male at birth (AMAB) with AN. Across ED criteria and research, the language does not include males as frequently (Jackson, 2008). The fifth edition of the DSM has since evolved and eliminated much of its gender-focused criteria but eating disorders in men are still so woefully underrepresented and under-researched.
Dear Readers,
Please find below an article that was published in Desi Blitz, ‘Usman Mukhtar gets Candid about Eating Disorder’. Eating Disorders are underrepresented in Muslim Population and in Men population they are underrepresented .
- The National Eating Disorders Association says 10 million males will be affected in their lifetimes.
- Men make up 15% of cases including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, recent research shows.
- A recent study says 22% of young men turn to dangerous means to bulk up muscle with disordered eating behaviors.
- Men with anorexia nervosa may face “harsher stigmatization from their peers or go undiagnosed” because of the stereotype that anorexia nervosa is a “female” disorder, a recent study found.
- A study this year highlights the stigma, shame, and isolation men often have that may impede and delay treatment.
- And a study published in May found that risk assessment tools for eating disorders likely reinforce gender stereotypes by better reflecting female symptoms.
We need more Muslim Men to com out and speak about their eating disorders. We need to create more awareness of this illness. We share the article below for research and information purpose only.
Usman Mukhtar gets Candid about
Eating Disorder
Usman Mukhtar has opened up about his struggles with an eating disorder. The actor revealed he follows a “strict diet”.
Usman Mukhtar has shared details about his struggle with an eating disorder and how it caused him to lose weight.
During a recent appearance on Tony Navaid Rashid’s show Tony, Tea and Company, the Pakistani actor revealed that he went through a dramatic weight transformation.
The Hum Kahan Se Sachay Thay star spoke about a variety of topics including his on-screen relationship with his Anaa co-star Naimal Khawar.
Speaking about the struggles he has faced since his debut, Usman said:
“I never faced the casting couch. I am a very different kind of person.
“Commercial things don’t really appeal to me, because I feel commercial things are great up to a point, but nowadays, they are devoid of logic.
“There is no logic in commercial cinema. It is getting dumber by the day.”
Usman Mukhtar added: “I didn’t want to do those things, and I struggled a lot with it over the course of my career.
“I used to do theatre, but I didn’t go commercial because I couldn’t find good content.
“But, then, you realise that if you stay and work within your bubble, you won’t get the recognition that you want.
“So, then, after running away from it for a long time, I decided to do TV.
“Anaa gave me the recognition that I never got.”
Following his success with his television debut in Anaa, several fans of his and Naimal Khawar’s characters took their on-screen relationship too seriously.
Explaining how he and Naimal never saw each other in a romantic way, Usman said:
“Naimal and I never had that kind of a dynamic. We were always like siblings.
“People think we met on the set of Anaa, but we’ve known each other much longer than that.
“We never thought of things that way.
“I think it’s a compliment on our performance on screen and being able to portray that chemistry very well.”
Usman Mukhtar revealed that his successful TV debut led to an overwhelming number of offers.
The actor said the pressure led to an eating disorder.
Usman said: “One thing that no one knows about me is that I have an eating disorder.
“I’m in a different phase right now where I can’t eat as much.”
“I’m on a very strict diet. Even if there’s biryani being made at home, I won’t have any.”
He added: “Sometimes I am on a very strict diet, but when I let it go I start eating more.
“I was 138 kgs, after which I went to 83 kgs.”
“I’m 89 kgs right now and I need to lose more weight.”
When the host asked Usman Mukhtar whether he worries about sustaining his success, he said:
“I have no plans. People have tried to scare me a lot with this, but my aim is to try and select good projects. Try to challenge myself.”
