Eating Disorders

Disorders such as Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder and Compulsive Overeating can affect anyone, regardless of social background, ethnic origin, age or gender. The vast majority of sufferers will report onset before the age of 20, while 10% report onset before the age of 10. In the case of Simple Bulimia, it begins most commonly in females around the age of 18, frequently following an emotional trauma such as the break-up of a relationship. Many do not seek professional help until it becomes life threatening and a small but significant minority will die, mainly from suicide.

Behaviour
Sufferers will typically display a range of inappropriate behaviours including unsuccessful dieting regimes; eating abnormal amounts of food over a short period of time (often when not hungry); eating so rapidly they swallow without chewing; eating secretly or at night; poor body self-image; hiding food; feeling disgusted, depressed or guilty after eating. In the case of Bulimia Nervosa, they will follow a diet-binge-purge pattern, using vomiting, diuretics, laxatives, suppositories, enemas, anything to regain a sense of control by evacuating the food they have eaten.

Causes
Those with eating disorders tend to be perfectionists, with unrealistic expectations of themselves and others and many use eating as a means of controlling their lives. Sufferers who eat excessive amounts of food high in fat and sugar e.g. chocolate find it helps calm their feelings of stress. The strongest factor in the onset of eating disorders of any kind is the beginning of dieting. This focus on body image is often the trigger for a downward spiral into bad eating habits. Any child who has dieted before the age of 14, has behavioural problems, lacks self-esteem, has a family overly concerned with body image, or who has a bad relationship with parents is prone to eating disorders. Where eating disorders already exist in a family, there is an enhanced risk of a child developing a similar disturbance. If food is used as a control mechanism, as a means of reward/punishment, or in making the child feel guilty (“Don’t leave anything – think of all those starving children in Africa”) then the child is more likely to develop a distorted view of eating. Parents who automatically feed a child to relieve its distress are contributing to the likelihood of an eating disorder.

Effective treatment
Diet should mean a holistic approach to sensible eating. Instead it has largely become a multi-billion pound scam preying on a gullible public. Only by guiding sufferers to an understanding of the underlying psychological causes of their eating disorder, can we stand any real chance of lasting improvement.

In hypnotherapy, we help clients gain valuable insights into what has brought them to their current state. We use gentle, non-judgemental therapies to effect lasting, fundamental changes in attitude and behaviour. Only in this way can we regain a guilt-free, balanced approach to healthy eating.

Copyright: Adrian Walker 2008