Introduction to Eating Disorders

 

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a compulsive behavior surrounding food that controls your life and also limits your freedom to eat in a healthy and normal way.
There are many different types of eating disorders. In this program we will mainly focus on the following types:

ANOREXIA:
An addiction to dieting or self starvation. This usually causes a total deterioration of a person’s physical and mental health.

BINGE EATING DISORDER:
A pattern of powerful, and often secret, binge eating (quickly eating large amounts of high-calorie, sugary, fatty foods). This is often used as a drug to either numb unwelcome feelings or make life “better.” As with compulsive overeating it usually causes serious weight gain.

BULIMIA:
A pattern of powerful, and often secret, binge eating (quickly eating large amounts of high calorie, sugary, fatty foods).The binge is usually followed by purging (removing the food eaten during the binge by using laxatives, diuretics, self-induced vomiting, compulsive exercise, or starvation). Because of the purge there isn’t necessarily weight gain, but it is very harmful to one’s health.

COMPULSIVE OVEREATING:
This resembles the binge in bulimia (which may or may not be done secretly) or “grazing” (constant eating) over a few hours. This usually is done to escape or drown out unwelcome emotions such as anger, inadequacy, embarrassment, fear, loneliness, pain, insecurity, or boredom. This usually causes serious weight gain.

People with eating disorders find themselves in a vicious cycle. This cycle will probably be all too familiar if you are in the grip of an eating disorder.

The Eating Disorder Cycle

1. Uncomfortable feelings of dissatisfaction, anxiety, and depression
2. A pressing desire to get rid of these feelings
3. Use of food to numb the feelings (binge, purge or starvation)
4. Feelings of guilt, shame, self-hate, and hopelessness after the food abuse
5. Resolution to never binge, purge or starve again
6. Lack of ability to honor these personal boundaries
7. Right back to number one to keep on repeating the cycle day after day…

 

Why do eating disorders occur?

Many professionals and experts in the field of eating disorders believe that our society and the media’s obsession with weight plays a huge role to reinforce the practice of eating disorders. Others believe that certain issues such as dysfunctional families, controlling relationships, illness, death of a loved one, divorce, or sexual and physical abuse may trigger eating disordered behaviors. Research also shows that hereditary factors play a part in eating disorders so some people might have inherited a predisposition to having an eating disorder.
However, everyone seems to agree that eating disorders are complex. It’s not an isolated incident that causes an eating disorder, but rather a combination of factors. From my own experience I have to agree with this.

 

You don’t have to keep suffering from these problems. There is hope for you to Break Free from the vicious cycle of Eating Disorders forever. You can regain your health, enjoy life, and eat in a normal healthy way.

Please get in contact with a physician and Christian/Biblical counselor as soon as possible, especially if this eating disorder has been going on for a while. Your health might be in serious danger!

You can also have a look at my 12 Week Online Course for Women Struggling with Food . This can be a great enhancement to professional care, and can help you break free from your eating disorder. I compiled this course from my own experience with this struggle, insight and understanding I’ve gained from women who joined my support groups, Biblical principals, and material by well-known Christian authors, counselors, and doctors. This study is jam-packed with information, practical guide lines and honest testimonies.

 

 

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