Eating Disorders are very complex. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes Anorexia, Bulimia or Binge Eating, but concerns about weight and body shape play a role in all of them.  People from all walks of life suffer from eating disorders; educated, wealthy, heavy, thin, those who have many or few friends, those who had a stable background and those who didn’t have loving parents.

There are three influences; genetic, social and psychological.

Genetic Factors: Anorexia is eight times more common in people who have relatives with the disorder. Many researchers believe there is a genetic predisposition to having an eating disorder. Studies have demonstrated that over-eating among identical twins if greater than the co-occurrence among fraternal twins. This would support an inherited theory because identical twins are generally more similar than fraternal twins.

Researchers have found that the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine are significantly decreased in acutely ill patients suffering from Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. These neurotransmitters also function abnormally in individuals afflicted with depression. This leads some researchers to believe there may be a link between these two disorders. Besides creating a sense of physical and emotional satisfaction, the neurotransmitter serotonin also produces the effect of feeling full and having had enough food.

Other brain chemicals have also been explored for their possible role in eating disorders. Individuals with eating disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating have been shown to have a higher than normal level of the hormones vasopressin and cortisol. Both these hormones are normally released in response to physical and possible emotional stress, and may contribute to some of the dysfunction seen in eating disordered individuals.

Researchers have identified specific chromosomes that may be associated with bulimia and anorexia.  In particular, regions on chromosome 10 have been linked to bulimia as well as obesity.

Sociological Factors: Our family, friends and society in general have a significant influence. The media here in the United States has a great impact on all of us.  Some researchers think that media images in movies, advertising and music video give a false idea of what attractiveness is and establishes these images as the ideal way to look which is impossible to achieve. We are shown what we should look like and taught that our happiness is dependent on it. We learn and accept what we’re surrounded with. You’ve heard the old adage garbage in garbage out unfortunately there is too much garbage going in to us in this culture.
Athletes including those involved in swimming, basketball, gymnastics, track, dance, cheerleading are more focused on their bodies. When in uniform, fewer clothes are worn and the athletes may be more susceptible to eating disorders.
Some researchers think that media images in movies, advertising and music video give a false idea of what attractiveness is and establishes these images as the ideal way to look which is impossible to achieve. Other issues like OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and anxiety may also be present in those with eating disorders.
Psychological Factors: Just as an alcoholic uses alcohol to deal with emotions, some people use food to deal with life’s experiences that seem overwhelming. Practicing the eating disorder may bring a sense of partial control over their seemingly uncontrollable life. Some underlying issues that are associated with an eating disorder include: low self esteem, depression, feelings of loss of control, feelings of worthlessness, identity concerns, family communication problems and an inability to cope with emotions.

It is interesting to figure out why someone has an eating disorder, knowing why can help us prevent it from happening in the future.  Everyone who suffers with such problems needs to realize, there is a way to heal. If you’d like individual help with this or other problems, put your name and email address to the right.  I’ll give you ½ hour free consultation. 

Subscribe to my blog by clicking on the orange circle at the top of the page. You will be given a link to subscribe and you’ll receive notice of future posts.

It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an Eating Disorder

7 million women and 1 million men

Eating disorders are usually divided into three categories: Anorexia, Bulimia and Compulsive Overeating (Binging).

Anorexia is basically a self-imposed starvation. Any actual gain or even perceived gain of weight, is met with intense fear. Although people with anorexia are obsessed with food, they continually deny their hunger. Anorexics view of themselves is distorted. In the obsessive pursuit of thinness, anorexics loose weight in a variety of ways; restrictive dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxative and diuretic abuse. If Anorexia is left untreated, it can cause severe medical problems and even lead to death.

Bulimia is the repeated cycle of out-of-control eating followed by some form of purging. Bulimics are caught in the devastating and addictive binge- purge cycle,  eating compulsively and then purging through self induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, ipecac, strict diets, fasts, chew spitting, vigorous exercise, or other compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binges usually consist of the consummation of large amounts of food in a short period of time.

Bulimics, like Anorexics, are also obsessively involved with their body shape and weight. The medical complications of Bulimia or the binge-purge cycle can be severe, and like Anorexia, can be fatal.

Compulsive (Binge) Eating is excessive eating a lot of food during stressful times. Binge eating disorders usually occur in secret. While an unhealthy approach to life, this disorder does not typically lead to the types of health problems anorexic and bulimics have.

For many people, binge eating temporarily relieves stress, but after eating, guilt, shame, frustration and depression set in.  It’s a vicious cycle.  Compulsive Overeaters are often caught up in the vicious cycle of binge eating and depression. They often use food as a coping mechanism to deal with their feelings, but unfortunately feelings of quilt, shame, depression and embarrassment are added to the negative feelings experienced.

It is not uncommon for compulsive overeaters to eat normally or not at all, in front of others and then make up for eating less by bingeing in secret. For others, binges consist of grazing on foods all day long.  Similar to Anorexics and bulimics, compulsive overeaters are constantly struggling and unhappy with their weight. People with eating disorders have a distorted view of how they look, and this differs from how others see them. The number on the scale often determines how they feel about themselves.
The practice of an eating disorder like anorexia, bulimia or compulsive overeating may be an expression of something that the eating disordered individual has found no other way of expressing. It can be looked at as a survival mechanism.

Just like an alcoholic uses alcohol to survive, people with eating disorders use eating to deal with their feelings.

Obesity and weight problems are an issue in the majority of people with compulsive eating problems,

I was not in the majority.

I am grateful for the hardworking, middle class family who I knew loved me. With this wonderful beginning, I was gifted to learn all I needed to know, about how to create a happy life for myself.  One of the defining experiences I had was a few years of compulsive eating. My first year of college, I developed an eating disorder.  I was like many people with an eating disorder, my perception was skewed. I thought I was overweight. I had a distorted view of how I looked, it was different from how others saw me. I was born with skinny genes, of course they saw me thin, but I felt fat.

Like with all of my learning experiences, I’m grateful for this understanding that I have of eating disorders. With it I can relate with others and it’s easier for me to help.

No matter what your life experiences are, you are a valuable person! If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, as with any addiction, you can overcome! It will take serious introspection and time, but it can be done!

Don’t feel imprisoned in your own body any longer. Take control of your life! Allow me to provide you with the help that will set you free!

Leave your name and email address above. I’ll contact you, and we can work together!

I was born with skinny genes. But like many of you, I understand the roller coaster emotions of weight loss and diets. Even though I have always been thin, I didn’t always think I was thin. I spent much of my teen age years reading teen magazines and watching television. I didn’t feel thin. I thought I was fat. I was like so many young women struggling with eating issues. I’d determine to be good and stop eating, virtually starving myself for days. Then, my self-control would crumble and I’d binge eatstuffing my face with any delicious, fattening food I could find.

In short, I’d eat myself sick.

Embarrassed by my behavior, I’d resolve to gain control over my eating. I’d starve myself again to make up for my embarrassment. I’d successfully contain my cravings for a few days before I’d cave in again and head for the pantry.

On and on this cycle went. My self-esteem dipped lower and lower as I failed to control my eating. It seemed the more I tried to control food, the more food controlled me. I felt trapped and hopeless as I struggled to manage my weight and feel like I looked good.

I longed to leave the endless spiral behind and walk in freedom. I longed to control my eating. I longed to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. I longed to release the real me and let go of my bondage to food. And yet, no matter what I tried, I couldn’t find the keys to control and freedom. 

After difficult emotional work, I gained enough control that I wasn’t binge eating anymore. It wasn’t until years later that I had total control of my eating.

It was then that I realized I literally ate myself sick.

When I went in to see the Dr. last month, for my MRI results, I told her I was going on a “Medication Holiday”. I am following Ivy Larson and her Gold Coast Cure. I said I finally have control over my eating, I’m choosing to eat a very healthy diet. My doctor questioned, “You have control over your eating?” as if that was a given for everyone.

You can order Ivy Larson’s book on the bottom right side of my home page.