Just Eat – It Is Not That Simple

Have your friends or family members been telling you that you have an eating disorder?  Are they offering advice like …  Just “upsize” your meals.  You are pretty, just way too skinny, so you just need to eat more.  Here, just have a dessert.  Just make yourself eat more.

Eating disorders are complicated.  For everyone who struggles with an eating disorder it is hard to understand why we do some of the things we do.  It takes time to uncover the connections between past hurts, our emotions, and the desire for control we put into food-related behaviors.  You should not expect to overcome your unhealthy eating habits alone; if you suffer from an eating disorder, you understand it is just not that easy to change.

You are not alone in your struggles; estimates show that up to 10% of the current U.S. population struggles with some aspect of an eating disorder.  You probably began to develop your eating disorder during your teen years.  Research points to the social, physical, and cognitive changes during the teen’s years that combine to create a vulnerability to eating disorders.  Though females are far more likely to develop eating disorders, the men of the world are also at risk for developing an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are complicated to diagnose.  The symptoms of an eating disorder are mapped along a continuum.  At times, we all may display some of the symptoms of having an eating disorder.  For example, if we have a big event in our future, such as a wedding or class reunion, we may focus on our weight with the goal of having a perfect body for the event.  The question is, is your behavior affecting your ability to enjoy social events, or does the time you spend thinking about food and weight verge on obsessing?

In general, eating disorder symptoms include severely limiting caloric intake, extreme exercising, binge eating, purging, and constant weight checking.  Check these red flags, they may suggest an eating disorder:  skipping meals or making excuses for not eating, excessive focus on healthy eating, making your own meals rather than eating what the family eats, withdrawing from normal social activities, persistent worry or complaining about being fat and talk of losing weight, frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws, use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss, excessive exercise, problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting, leaving during meals to use the toilet or expressing depression, disgust, shame or guilt about eating habits.

Eating disorders have an effect on your physical well-being that can range from minor complications to deadly ones and can decrease your quality of life.  As anyone who struggles with an eating disorder knows, changing food related behavior is extremely complicated.  These behaviors are not easy to just “get over” or “fix.”  In addition to a wide range of physical problems, eating disorders frequently come with other disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.  Getting the help you need is critical; your goal should be to get the help you need before the eating disorder destroys your health, family life, or ability to succeed at work.

Eating disorders can take many forms and present extremely diverse symptoms.  However, one thing remains true: they are life altering and complicated.  You do not have to confront them on your own.  Seeking out therapy can offer you treatment options that take you and your specific symptoms into account.

Overcoming an eating disorder is not simply about self-control.  It is not all about finding the magic fix.  It is not just trying harder on your own.  Don’t think that this is something you have to find an answer to on your own.  Help is out there.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Isaiah 40:29

When you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  I Cor. 10:13

 Cheryl Gowin, and Dennis Gowin, Hope for Tomorrow Counseling Center.  Contact us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions at 434-808-2637.