Our culture is fixated on weight, body shape, body size and other aesthetic aspects of one's appearance. 78% of women and 56% of men are dissatisfied with their weight.15 -18% of high school and college age students will manifest symptoms of an eating disorder. People are constantly bombarded with images of unattainable and unhealthy "ideal types" about weight and appearance.

When addressing eating disorders it is more accurate to think about them as occurring on a continuum.

      

Someone who occasionally splurges

someone who deals with emotions through food

someone who is  fixated on their weight

anorexia  bulimia binge- eating

How eating or not eating seems to help a person is the key question. If a person becomes fixed on their way of managing the use of food, then there may be a problem. It is not a sign of weakness to have dilemmas with food. Often there are emotional, cognitive and biophysical reasons for this behavior.

There is no one way to heal. It takes many paths on this journey to recover from this disorder. It is recommended that a person seek assistance, by attending groups or by finding individuals that can help. I have many years of experience treating the spectrum of eating dilemmas. I also offer training to other clinicians on this subject.

Web links:

    Eating Disorders "Portal"

    Eating Disorders "Portal #2"

    resource list

    mirror-mirror

    Jump to a reading list

Suggested reading:

"The Body Betrayed: A Deeper Understanding of Women, Eating Disorders, and Treatment" by Katheryn J. Zerbe, M.D. - Gurze Books, 1995.

    see this book

"Bodylove - Learning to like or looks and ourselves"  Rita Freedman, Perennial Library, 1990.

    see this book

"Making peace with Food-Freeing yourself from the Diet / Weight Obsession" by Susan Kano, Harper Collins, 1989.

   see this book