Abuse and Eating Problems
This study revealed that “national
surveys suggest that more than a third of girls in the US experience some
degree of physical or sexual abuse before they reach adulthood.” It also widened the range of abuse-related eating
problems to include bingeing and food obsessions, rather than only obesity,
anorexia, and bulimia.
Wondering what constitutes abuse? Here
are the study’s criteria: Sexual abuse was characterized as “sexual touching”
or “forced sexual activity.” Physical abuse was described as “mild (being
pushed, grabbed, or shoved at any frequency or being kicked, bitten, or punched
once or hit with something once), moderate (being hit with something more than
once or physically attacked once), and severe (being kicked, bitten, or punched
or physically attacked more than once or ever choked or burned).”
Those of you who already have recognized
and acknowledge the abuse you suffered as a child, may be surprised at what behaviors
fall into the moderate or severe categories. Those of you who never considered
yourselves survivors of abuse may be shocked at the above descriptions. The
effects of abuse do no go away on their own. I encourage any of you who have been abused to seek counseling—the sooner the
better—not only to help you de-toxify what happened to you and put the blame
squarely on the perpetrators, but also to help you resolve your current
eating problems.
Best,
Karen
http://www.eatingnormal.com/
http://www.n...
Source: Normal Eating - Category: Eating Disorders Authors: eatnormalnow Source Type: blogs