Unfortunately this event has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

It’s a little-discussed fact that men can suffer from the same eating disorders as women. The numbers may be fewer but the impact of such disorders on their lives, as well as those of their friends and families, is huge nonetheless.

Our panellists have first hand experience of treating, caring for and living with male eating disorders. They include carer, writer and campaigner Jenny Langley, author of ‘Boys Get Anorexia Too’; and Imam Alyas Karmani. Along with Sam Thomas, recovering bulimic and founder and director of the charity Men Get Eating Disorders Too, they’ll attempt to cast some light on a subject often left in the dark, looking at some of the causes and cases they’ve encountered as well as the help available. Poet and journalist Ralph Dartford chairs.

Contributors

Alyas Karmani

Alyas Karmani is an Imam and Khateeb at a number of UK Mosques. He has a psychology background with close to 20 years’ experience of counselling and therapy work focusing on Muslims’ mental health and emotional wellbeing, and is currently a consultant for West Yorkshire and London Probation Service, aiding in the resettlement and reintegration of Muslim Offenders.

Jenny Langley

Since her son recovered from anorexia 13 years ago, Jenny Langley has campaigned to raise awareness of eating disorders in boys and men. Through her website and book ‘Boys Get Anorexia Too’, Jenny provides support and hope to many families struggling with a male eating disorder. She won the Beat Volunteer Recognition Award in 2014 for Outstanding Service to Education and Awareness.

Sam Thomas

Sam Thomas founded Men Get Eating Disorders Too (MGEDT) in Spring 2009 following his own experience of an eating disorder throughout his teens. He is dedicated to raising awareness of male eating disorders and frequently talks about his experiences and of the issue of male eating disorders in the media and at conferences. Sam’s work has been recognised in the Shelia McKechnie Campaigner Awards, Beacon Prize, Beat Awards and the Talk Talk Digital Heroes Awards.

Ralph Dartford

Ralph Dartford is the author of Cigarettes, Beer and Love (Ossett Observer Presents 2013) and Recovery Songs (Valley Press 2019). His forthcoming third collection, Serotonin Songs will be published by Valley Press in 2021. Ralph is writer and tutor who mainly works with people who are in recovery from alcohol and substance abuse. His spoken word performance show, Recovery Songs continues to tour nationally.