Eating Disorders in Men & the "Superfemale" Complex

While eating disorders are not that common among men, there are still a significant number of male patients who experience eating disorder such as bulimia and anorexia. Accounting for only 10 percent of all eating disorder patients, this figure has increased in recent decades.

For some men, especially those suffering from co morbid gender identity disorder, the eating disorder is a symptom of a much greater psychological complication. In fact, men who classify themselves as homosexual, often score much lower on tests that evaluate their personal bodily self image and their opinions on eating and dietary supplementation.

In many clinics, when a man is considering a sex-reassignment operation, there is a great need for psychological evaluation in terms of eating disorder development. Often, because of the gender identity complication, a man who desires sex-reassignment as a female, may already show signs of an eating disorder, as a way in which to manage or decrease libido.

In addition to suppressing libido, men who seek sex-reassignment may also suffer from an eating disorder that is closely associated with that of biological females; the need to comply with societal views of a female body. For a man who wishes to undergo this degree of surgery, an eating disorder may develop as a need to begin the transformation by acquiring a more feminine physique that is thin and waferly.

In rare cases, eating disorders for men who undergo sex-reassignment, develop after the sex-reassignment surgery has taken place. Sometimes this eating disorder develops in response to the psychological and emotional impact of "coming out" after sex-reassignment surgery but, for many men, it is simply associated with the new perceived way to practice a lifestyle as a transgendered woman.

"Superfemale" is a term commonly associated with men who suffer from gender identity disorder and co morbid eating disorders. Simply defined as the need to over accentuate female characteristics and traits, men who assume the role as "superfemale" often develop eating disorders at any point in their gender identity confusion.