The Value in Being a Mesomorph

Or: How I am Learning to Love my Bombshell Body

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

Eating disorders are an unspoken pandemic throughout the world, but instead of being treated as the diseases that they are they are often stigmatized and even monetized. There is a pervasive idea that eating disorders only effect the over pampered rich white woman and should therefore be ignored and derided as a symbol of privilege.

But:

1. About 25% of individuals suffering from eating disorders in the UK are men.
2. Eating disorders may be associated with or even symptomatic of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
3. There’s no positive correlation between high socioeconomic status and eating disorders and for some eating disorders the correlation is actually negative.

And all of the above points mean that the pervasive social understanding of eating disorders is directly damaging to individuals with it. Men have a harder time overcoming the associated social stigma and getting treatment, women with ASD are not treated and have their conditions exacerbated, and people who may not be well off are being targeted by predatory “health,” schemes.

I have skin in the game. I have suffered from anorexia nervosa. I’m also on the autism spectrum. And where I sit on the economic spectrum ……