Recently I received a letter from a woman who said she was in a lonely minority of women who developed full blown bulimia after becoming 40 years old. (I hope she posts her letter on this blog so you can read her story in her words.) (She did. Please see her post and my response in the comment section below).
Elusive numbers and false beliefs Numbers are elusive in eating disorder statistics. Many people with eating disorders never let themselves be seen or known in a way that will allow their presence to be counted. Every woman over forty who has ever been in my practice for eating disorder recovery believed she was a shameful exception. This belief is not true.
Here you will find articles discussing the various ways culture and media can affect both the development of an eating disorder and eating disorder recovery.
Links to various articles in the news and other websites and blogs representing cultural voices will be posted here along with commentary.
- Details
- Category: Culture and Media
Mindless Munching is the topic of a Wall Street Journal May 13, 2008 article by Melinda Beck.
Mindful Eating Her article, "Put a End to Mindless Munching," is a credible piece on mindful eating. I’m glad to see this perspective on eating move into greater public awareness via this well respected news publication. My gladness has several aspects. One, information about paying attention to the specific details of your eating experience may help you develop a valuable exercise that can bring you to a normal and healthy way of being present for your genuine experience and genuine body need for nourishment. When you practice mindful eating you can discover what food can offer you. The other deep yearnings you have that are not satisfied by food are then exposed so you can learn to address those needs in a more life enhancing way.
- Details
- Category: Culture and Media
Recovery from an eating disorder is difficult and arduous and requires commitment as well as time and resources.
Add to that the challenge of rising up from under the barrage of cultural forces that encourage eating disorder symptoms. Then, you get a glimpse of the courage and stability required to make healthy choices regardless of cultural messages.
- Details
- Category: Culture and Media
Can you turn off media messages about your shape and size? Can you use health and vitality as your criteria for what you eat and how you look?
A recent Hubpages blog raised the question: Does advertising affect eating disorders? In my opinion, much of current advertising promotes both tiny size fashion in clothes and huge portion size in food. It's an impossible combination many people strive to integrate.
