Never Thin Enough Due to our society's preoccupation with thinness, Americans spend millions every year on dieting programs. The whole issue of weight control takes on a note of desperation for many people. If dieting doesn't do the trick, some of us will even resort to surgical procedures in order to boost our body-image. Those who become most desperate may develop dangerous eating disorders as a result of "thinking thin". Eating disorders are really self-esteem illnesses. They surface in individuals who are desperate to take control over what is happening in their lives. Society, personality, and biology all play a role in the development of eating disorders. Society's Role The media hypes a Barbie and Ken doll ideal of beauty. Women, in particular, are bombarded with messages that success and happiness depend on being thin. From an early age, girls equate being popular in school with being thin and pretty. This message unfortunately gets reinforced at home, as many girls grow up watching diet-obsessed mothers freak out over a weight gain of five pounds. Being overweight has negative connotations: "lazy", "out of control", "sloppy", unlovable," and "geek". Personality's Role Studies have shown that people who develop eating disorders share some specific personality traits:
Biology's Role The biological factor that seems to play a role in eating disorders is a strong tendency toward depression. Feelings of despair, hopelessness, low energy, and low self-esteem are all common signs of depression. An eating disorder may begin as a reaction to depressed feelings. The Role Family History Plays Successfully treating a person with an eating disorder involves understanding their family history. People with eating disorders often come from families with troubled parents. The parents may be clinically depressed, alcoholic, physically ill, or absent from the home. Growing up with parents who are troubled people makes children sad and angry. If the children are not allowed to express their sadness and anger, then they will develop compulsive behaviors to act out their suppressed emotions. Studies show that many bulimics and compulsive overeaters have a family history of alcoholism. When a parent is alcoholic, the home life becomes chaotic. As the alcoholic parent loses control, the child tries desperately to find his or her own sense of control through eating or not eating. Anorexics, by comparison, often come from families that appear perfect on the outside. However, one or both of the parents is often overinvolved in the youngster's life as a distraction from their own problems. The child grows up learning to please parents and other people, but does not develop a strong sense of self. When life's stresses mount, during puberty for example, the child may not have strong coping skills, and may begin dieting to handle feelings of helplessness. Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia Nervosa involves compulsive self-starvation which results in a weight loss of 25% or more of the body's normal weight. Anorexics have hunger pains like anyone else, but they refuse to eat for fear of gaining weight. Not eating gives the anorexic a false sense of control. The avoidance of food becomes the central focus of her/his life. Common Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa:
Bulimia Bulimics often don't appear outwardly to be suffering from an eating disorder. Their weight may be normal, but what they are doing to maintain their desired weight is not normal. This disorder involves compulsive eating of large quantities of food and then purging the food through vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive exercise. Bulimia often develops after an episode of anorexia nervosa. If a person is both bulimic and anorexic, then the term used to describe them is bulimerexic. Common Symptoms of Bulimia:
Treatment of Eating Disorders Through psychotherapy an individual learns to deal with their uncomfortable feelings in ways other than controlling weight gain/loss. In family therapy, the entire family learns how the home environment can be made more positive for everyone, but especially for the individual with an eating disorder. Parents learn how their own behaviors impact the individual needing treatment. Alcoholism, if it has been a decisive factor, can be addressed openly and constructively. In group therapy, the person with an eating disorder shares his/her experiences with other's who have the same struggle. Group members support each other's recovery. Nutritional counseling helps a person with an eating disorder normalize their eating habits, as well as learn more about healthy eating. People also learn the differences between emotional and physical hunger. Medication alleviates depressive symptoms like sleep difficulties, low energy levels, obsessive thinking about weight and food, and reduces anxiety. For further information about dealing with eating disorders, contact your COPE counselor. Taken from Eating Disorders: The Illusion of Control, by Alexandra S. Kaghan, LCSW Additional Resources : The Golden Cage by Hilde Bruch. Random House Love Hunger by F. Minirth. Fawcett Columbine Publishing Co.
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