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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. David Eckman 
 
 
Question: 
 
Why do women seemingly have more struggles with eating disorders? 
 
Answer: 
 
When it comes to eating disorders, it’s a woman’s world. The reason 
why women typically have a greater struggle with eating disorders is a 
cultural problem.  
 
This is a total heartbreak. Imagine how the culture forces women to 
view themselves. They have to compare themselves with these 
incredible women you’ll find on TV and in magazines, and they’re told 
over and over again, “Your worth is directly related to how you 
appear.” They’re told that message a thousand times a day, so that 
food becomes the definition of their identity. 
 
It’s a curse to have food really determine your identity, but that’s what 
happens in this culture. And that’s why 95% of the people who are 
struggling with eating disorders are women, because there is a 
tremendous cultural pressure. 
 
We have now embraced or have been hit with an avalanche of 
pornography, and men are struggling with that. Way before this 
avalanche of pornography, there was an avalanche of pictures that 
were presenting false pictures of what it means to be a woman.  
 
Why do more women than men struggle with eating disorders? It’s 
really ultimately a cultural problem. As a woman, there’s something 
very important you can do for yourself, and that is just push this 
culture aside, and recognize that who you are is vastly more important 
 
 
than what you eat. Embrace the fact that you are a human person, 
you have dignity, inherent dignity, and don’t accept the cultural view 
that all you are is your appearance. Your appearance is significant, but 
who you are is of vast, vast importance. Embrace that. 
  
 
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