Thinking About Eating Disorders

Allow me to tell you the story of a friend of mine.

A young teenage girl we know recently suffered through the death of her mother and consequently had to be faced with being raised by her father in whom she was petrified of. Did I mention she was to be in charge of raising her 6 younger brothers and sisters.

She was always thin, but now weighs 90 pounds. She doesn’t think she has a problem and her father doesn’t think she has a problem. There are many questions in this situation, the major one being does she have an eating disorder. If she does have an eating disorder, what type is it….anorexia, bulimia?

It’s clear she needs help, others have tried, however her father prevents any intervention. The question becomes, what is causing the eating disorder? That’s why I assembled this collection of articles and ebooks on eating disorders. Hopefully, you…the reader, might see yourself or someone you care about in the articles to come. Perhaps you might see that you are experiencing the symptoms discussed for anorexia or bulimia. Maybe you binge eat.

In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population, people are at more of a risk than ever when it comes to developing an eating disorder. The celebrities in television and the media display stick-thin figures which can create a high standard of beauty that can lead to many problems with an individual’s self esteem. When coupled with the fact that an obesity epidemic is overtaking much of the modern world, it’s important to have a full understanding of the eating disorders which are prevalent in society today in order to be able to catch the warning signs when an individual you know is afflicted.

This truly is a life and death discussion. Admitting you might have an eating disorder of some type is the first step in finding a solution to your problem. I pray that you might listen to the voice inside your head as you read the following material.

 

Improving Your Body Image and Preventing Eating Disorders

Improving one's body image, health professionals tell us, is one of the best ways to prevent the onset of an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious conditions that can be difficult to treat because health professionals do not yet understand precisely how these complex disorders develop. Why do some people develop eating disorders, while others don't? While many health professionals have put forth many causes for these disorders, no one understands the specific combination of factors that contribute to the onset of an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are the three most common types of eating disorders. All are characterized by an unhealthy relationship to food, and health professionals believe that cultivating a positive body image and adopting a healthy lifestyle may prevent eating disorders.

The following are five ideas for improving your body image. Practice them daily to make them a part of your life forever.

1. Wear clothes that fit and flatter. Are you one of those people whose closet is filled with clothes that don't fit right? Many times, we buy what we like, and not what fits or flatters our bodies. Find clothes that you feel comfortable in. Your clothes should make you feel beautiful and comfortable. Avoid tight fitting clothes, or anything that feels even slightly uncomfortable or self-conscious.

2. Don't avoid certain activities because of your body. Many people who are self-conscious about their body often avoid activities they love. Many individuals may avoid certain sports, fitness classes, dating and even social gatherings because of the way they feel about your body. Remind yourself that ostracizing yourself from the people and activities your love is not going to change your body or make you feel better. In fact, the opposite is true. Creating a supportive community of friends and family, and doing activities you are interested in can make you feel more secure and confident.

3. Helping others can make you feel better about yourself. Consider participating in some kind of volunteer work as a way to help others and feel better about you. Volunteer work can help put you in touch with those who need help, and helping others is a proactive and positive way to raise your self-esteem.

4. Think of your body as your best friend. Eating disorder patients often externalize their own bodies, viewing it as something outside of themselves that they must battle and subdue. Instead, think of your body as a best friend. Would you criticize or even despise your own best friend? Would you support and nurture a good friend, or them poorly? When you think of your body as your best friend, it makes sense to treat it with a sense of respect, love, patience and acceptance.

5. Make a list of all the things you love about your body. Write down everything that comes to mind, even things that seem insignificant to you at first. Read your list daily and add to it at all times. This list can serve as a powerful reminder of your inner strength, beauty and health.

Written by: Scott Parat