When one thinks of eating disorders, they commonly think of women, but men also struggle with these disorders. “Ten years ago, men accounted for only 10% of eating disorder cases, but recent studies show that 16% of patients are men, and that figure appears to be rising” (Cohn N.P.). Men struggle to have the “perfect figure” as well as women do, but      women make up the majority of those with eating disorders. About ninety percent of anorexics are women and about four and one half percent to eighteen percent have bulimia (Health 413).
Men and women both struggle to have the perfect idolized body. Men want to gain weight to build muscle for the nice arms and chest, but they tend to lose the weight instead. Women want to lose weight for that model figure, but gain it easily. One’s body becomes unhealthy and looks bad. People with eating disorders tend to have low self-esteem (Cohn N.P.). They try to exercise often. Women lose their periods. All of this starts because one sees his or her body as fat, even though it may be extremely thin (Health 1037).

Many things cause eating disorders. It may be hereditary. People who are anorexic or bulimic feel secure knowing they can completely control their weight (Baxter N.P.). “People with eating disorders are obsessed with food and, in one way or another, abuse it” (Nardo 11). “People…feel out of control around food or feel that food rules their life” (Health 1037). They like to know they can control something when others cannot. This causes weight loss, trouble sleeping, trouble with relationships, and bad mood swings (Eating N.P.).