Saturday, November 7, 2009

Eating Healthy versus Eating Disorder

Confidential to K.M
I hesitate to provide you with all the ways you can reduce your calorie intake, count your calories, monitor your weight, burn the most calories, etc. because I am concerned you may be flirting with disordered eating.

While I do not suspect you have a full blown eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, certain parts of your letter indicate you may benefit from counseling at this time instead of more information on dieting.  Being afraid to gain weight, focusing the majority of your morning planning what you'll be eating the rest of the day, and other thoughts concentrated on calorie-burning are a way of controlling things in your life when there are so many other issues over which we have little control.  Perhaps a trusted therapist will be able to help you deal with so many of the other aspects and one day your weight will not be something on which you focus 24/7.  Other options are eating disorder therapy specialists, outpatient eating disorder units, and local support groups.  Most hospitals can direct you to assistance in your area; I hope you'll take advantage of it and get your old happy self back!

1 comment:

  1. So true! I try to count NUTRITION instead of CALORIES, and encourage my friends to do the same. Great post!

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