Our history

‘Men Get Eating Disorders Too’ was founded by Sam Thomas in 2008 in response to the lack of awareness and service provision for men affected by eating disorders.

Having suffered bulimia throughout his teenage and early adult years Sam knew first hand how difficult it can be to get help being a male with an eating disorder. Reflecting on these experiences he realised there wasn’t much out there for men that provided them with essential information so that men can recognise their symptoms. This led to the idea of setting up the website, which is thought to be the first and only website dedicated to supporting and representing the needs of men.

The site was launched in spring 2009 with the support of ITV Fixers they helped with the development of the website and to establish the campaign. MGEDT was featured in the monthly ITV Fixers slot on ‘Meridian Tonight’ in the South-east in December 2008 in which Sam interviewed his dad about his perspective of having a son with an eating disorder and counsellor Lorna Marchant.

Following the launch the campaign spiralled and Sam found himself regularly giving interviews on national TV and radio including Five Live and Radio 1. The campaign has also been featured national press including the Daily Mirror.

There’s no question that male eating disorders are a massively under-represented issue and we believe that campaigning is vital if the stigma and gender misconceptions associated with eating disorders is to be broken down. In Jan 2012 MGEDT launched a new petition calling on the Direct Gov website calling government to improve service provision for men with eating disorders both on policy and delivery levels.

In September 2009 we were awarded funding from the Scarman Can Do Health Fund and the Co-operative to pilot a Peer Support Group for men affected by eating disorders in Brighton and Hove. The aim of the group was to provide men with a space to share experiences and give/receive peer support. The pilot came to an end in Jan 2011. We are hoping that now we have piloted the group we can provide a model and some guidance for others who are looking to set up male specific peer support groups.

MGEDT now has six Trustees on the management board and became a constituted organisation in April 2010. MGEDT became a registered charity in Dec 2010.