[Body images of male patients with eating disorders].

Ideals of male attractiveness have changed considerably. The ideal male body at present is characterized by low body fat and pronounced muscles. Similar to what has been found for women, these normative societal conceptions should influence the pathology of men with eating disorders. In the present study, men with and without eating disorders are compared regarding body satisfaction and body perception. Both questionnaire data and a computer assisted approach are applied. Men with bulimia nervosa wish to have a body with less fat whereas men with anorexia do not wish for a bigger body although they are seriously underweight. Men in all groups wish to have more muscles. Men with and without an eating disorder do not differ in this respect. The wish for less body fat and more muscles is associated with body dissatisfaction in men. Treatment of men with eating disorders should focus on men's body images similar to how it is conceptualized in treatments for women with eating disorders. Different from women, a body image focused approach for men should emphasize the meaning of muscularity.