'More suffering from manorexia'

There are signs that anorexia is increasing at a faster rate among men than women as the beauty and fashion industry puts a greater focus on males, an eating disorder expert warns today.

In recent years designers have promoted sizezero chic for both sexes, with waif-like men in slim-fit clothes parading the catwalks of London Fashion Week.

Professor Hubert Lacey, a psychiatric consultant at St George's Hospital in Tooting and the Capio Nightingale clinic in Marylebone, saw more male than female anorexia referrals for the first time this summer.

He said: "It was shocking, a huge surprise and evidence of how rapidly male anorexia is increasing. Although it's not at the level found in women, people working in the field have seen it really take off over the past couple of years.

"I came back from holiday last week and for the first time ever I had more male referrals for anorexia than female ones."

He said that men are subject to a relentless message that body perfection is a measure of self worth - with men from the higher social classes most commonly affected by eating disorders.

Harvard University found last year that a quarter of anorexia and bulimia sufferers are now male. The British Fashion Council says its health guidelines apply equally to both sexes.