Men Now Part of Rising Number in U.S. Eating Disorders Crisis

A recent study shows that although eating disorders are traditionally considered to affect mainly women, men represent a growing proportion of individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, two of the most common eating disorders. A June 2020 New York Times article notes, “the pandemic has created new hurdles for those managing difficult relationships with foods.”…making it even more challenging to maintain healthy eating patterns. In addition, many are working from home for the first time, spending the day, in some cases alone, near a stocked kitchen. Returning guest, Dr. Melissa Spann, Chief Clinical Officer at Monte Nido, where state-of-the-art treatment services for eating disorders are provided shares tips on solutions to this growing problem and offers help to navigate triggers.

Melissa Orshan Spann, LMHC, PhD, CEDS-S | Chief Clinical Officer

Dr. Spann is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP™). Dr. Spann received her Doctoral degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, Master’s degree from the University of Miami, and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. Dr. Spann serves on the board of the Southeast Eating Disorder (SEED) Conference Committee and has presented nationally on topics related to adolescent development and body image issues, eating disorders in the Jewish community, the intersection of trauma and eating disorders, binge eating disorder, body image development, and women’s issues.