In Starving for Acceptance, you share with readers your personal struggle with eating disorders and body image issues and the hope that emerged after your hard-fought battle. Why was this an important book for you to write?

This book reflects the core values in its Mission Statement: breaking the silence around men’s struggles with eating disorders, body image, and low self-esteem. These challenges often go unspoken due to stigma, denial, and shame, leaving many to suffer in isolation. My purpose was to let those who are struggling know they are not alone—that help is possible, and hope is real.

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?

The hardest thing for me to write about was revisiting the painful nature of living with an eating disorder. It has been a number of years since I dealt with Ed to the extent and depth that I was compelled to do in the memoir. For the book to be relatable to others, I felt vulnerability and honesty were essential.

What is one misconception you believe many people have regarding eating disorders?

I believe most people are under the impression eating disorders are the territory of adolescent, white, middle-class females. Period. Nothing could be further from the truth. Eating disorders cross all racial, gender, and economic brackets. Males constitute over 30% of all eating disorders, and even that may be grossly understated due to the stigma and shame of their silence.

Another big misconception is that there must be a single cause for the disease. We are complex beings, thus there is no easy answer. It is a complex issue comprised of any combination of physical, emotional, and environmental factors, including low self-esteem, perfectionism, depression, and feelings of being unworthy.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?

My wish is that the reader will derive hope and a deeper understanding of the process they are going through. Eating disorders are difficult to deal with. The sooner someone can identify they have disordered eating (such as constant food and body image thoughts, rules, and rituals) and the sooner they seek help with a therapist, family member, or trusted friend, the more likely they are to find peace within themselves. Silence is the killer. Trying to ignore the symptoms is no better. Recognizing the growing disorder and taking action is where the recovery begins.

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