The myth that eating disorders only affect women means there are still too many men who aren’t getting help.

While it’s great to see more women accepting and celebrating their bodies for the way they were born to be, body image issues and eating disorders are mental health issues that do not discriminate. The difference is that they often look different in men, who are more likely to over exercise, abuse muscle building substances and engage in unsustainable diets. In pursuit of a big, tall, muscular and lean ideal, destructive behaviours can easily lead to both physical problems and psycho-social distress.

Our guest, Alex Rodriguez, went through his own battle with eating and exercise, became an accredited dietitian, and now supports other men in recovery.

“Our worth as men, or as human beings, is not determined by what we look like, nor how we eat, nor how good we are at “insert name’ exercise,” he says. "Much of my work includes normalising and destigmatising mental health experiences. I just want the world to be a safer, less judgemental, more accepting place."

Listen to Alex on body ideals in relation to men, their experience of eating disorders, and how a sympathetic health professional can support a more genuine and sustainable health.

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