Life as a Male 'Anorexic' Murray Drummond University of South Australia Information surrounding male anorexia and bulimia nervosa is limited. Currently, health promoters and practitioners in this field have little to guide them apart from the data that informs female anorexia and bulimia nervosa. This paper is based on in-depth interviews with past and present eating disordered men. Using life historical accounts, the men provide rich descriptive information to document their plight with body image concerns and eating disorders. The paper provides insight into the lives of male anorexia and bulimia nervosa sufferers. Further it attempts to draw on their perceptions of what it is like being a male with a disorder that is often perceived as being a female phenomenon. The paper also explores the issues surrounding men and body image in contemporary Western culture. It highlights some of the significant issues confronting men and boys in relation to the social construction of masculinity and the links with body image concerns and eating disorders. Although the paper is not grounded in practitioner based information, it does seek to arouse awareness in those working in this emerging field of study. This paper is based on current ongoing research with eating disordered men. One of the primary reasons for conducting such research is to highlight the significance of eating disorders amongst men. Currently, there is a dearth of literature in this field of study including a lack of information to assist practitioners working in the area. Having previously attempted to attract funding for such a project one comment from the funding agency was based on concerns as to whether men and eating disorders was 'a real issue'. In terms of comparisons between the percentages of men and women with eating disorders, there appears to be a significant difference. Literature indicates that approximately five to ten percent of individuals who seek assistance from health care professionals for eating disorders ares.men (Drewnowski & Yee, 1987). However, a number of issues can be raised with respect to these statistics. It is possible that men may be under- represented with respect to statistics on eating disorders. Notions surrounding the social construction of masculinity underpin this concept. This is particularly so with regard to the non-use of health services and problems associated with a lack of self-care for some men (Draft National Men's Health Policy, 1996; Fletcher, 1992; Huggins, 1998). Further, the culturally embedded feminised perception of illness, and in particular psychological illness such as eating disorders, may be linked to certain eating disordered men not accessing health services for fear of retribution (Lloyd, 1996). Another important factor is the use of sport and physical activity as a means of weight loss in some men (Yates, Leehey, & Shisslak, 1983). Consequently, there are several sports and physical activities that are more alluring to particular men with eating disorders as it is arguable that they tend to complement 80 Australian Journal of Primary Health-Interchange Vol. 5, No.2, 1999