Filmmaker Travis Matthews had the inspiration to make a documentary about gay men, body image, and eating disorders in 2005, when he was struggling with an eating disorder. Matthews had a difficult time finding treatment for his eating disorder - a problem experienced by many men with extreme eating behaviors. Treatment programs are traditionally geared toward women. Matthews commented about his search for help, "It just seemed like nothing was out there."
Matthews' film, "Do I Look Fat?" is rooted in his desire to help others. He holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, but has placed his counseling career on hold to produce the film. He feels that it is the best way to reach out to other men who struggle with eating disorders. Matthews hopes to counter stereotypes within the gay community about how men should look, either very skinny or obese.
He comments on his expectations for the film's impact, saying, "My hope is that this will happen within the gay community-a grassroots sort of thing where people start talking to each other. ... I hope the gay community in general is maturing in a way to be healthier. The time is right for more treatments and open discussions to be available."
(Source: media.www.thelantern.com)
Labels: eating disorder, gay, documentary, travis matthews, do i look fat
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