Strong Support from Penn State
Julius first went public about his eating disorder in a heartfelt Facebook post on Oct. 3. “After a long consideration of not only myself, my family and my team, I have decided to go public about my absence from the team during spring ball of 2016 and throughout this summer,” he wrote. “I was admitted into the McCallum Place on May 9th for eating disorders.” In the post, Julius said he has struggled with an eating disorder the last 11 years of his life, and that the support from Penn State head football coach James Franklin, the training staff and his doctors helped him through this difficult time. Julius ended his post with an offer to support anyone struggling with similar issues. He called for anyone suffering from eating problems to message him on Facebook for support. He said he would reply immediately to talk to them about his own struggles and to help in any way he could. Since going public about his struggles with eating disorders, Julius’s team and coaches have rallied behind him. “I’m very, very proud of Joey. I really am, in so many ways” Franklin said during a press conference. “We’re just here to support Joey and his family in every way we possibly can.” Quarterback Trace McSorley reaffirmed that team support in a conference call the day after Julius’s Facebook post. “We’re proud of him for coming out with everything and feeling like he’s in a place where he can do that,” McSorley said. “That’s a big step for him, and we’re excited that he’s able to make that step.”Julius Encourages Struggling Men to Get Help
Julius says that eating disorders do not affect only women and that the stereotype is inaccurate. “I just think it’s completely false,” said Julius. “I mean, we all eat.” When asked in the “Good Morning America” interview if he thinks there are men struggling with eating disorders who are too ashamed to come forward and seek help, Julius said, “I think so, because I was one of those guys.” In the United States, 2 to 5 percent of the population experiences binge-eating disorder. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of Americans with anorexia or bulimia are male, according to a review in the American Journal of Psychiatry. A study by Cornell University found that 40 percent of male football players surveyed displayed behaviors associated with an eating disorder.Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.