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Managing your relationship with food: Situations, conditions and factors to consider
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As humans, we are programmed to behave in response to our internal feelings or external env
ironment. A variety of situations, conditions and factors can influence our behavior:
• Physical factors (such as feeling sick or well)
• Psychological factors (such as being depressed or anxious)
• Social factors (such as the way our friends or family members treat us)
Many people use food or the control of food as a way of coping with their painful situations or emotions. Dieting, binge eating, excessive exercising or purging are some of the more common behaviors used to cope with these painful situations. Situations, conditions and factors that are most commonly linked to these behaviors include:
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy
• Lack of control
• Depression, anxiety or loneliness
• Troubled family or personal relationships
• Difficulty expressing feelings or emotions
• Being teased or criticized because of size or weight
• A history of physical or sexual abuse
• The media’s acceptance of a very thin female body type
• Living in a society that values people for their physical appearance, not inner qualities or strengths
Eating disorders are complex conditions that can arise from a variety of different situations. Most people begin disordered eating behaviors to fix other, more complex problems, or because they feel their lives have become terribly out of control. However, these disordered eating behaviors can create self-perpetuating cycles of physical and emotional destruction.
All eating disorders require professional help. If you think you have an eating disorder, there is hope for recovery.
Click here for more information about the factors that contribute to disordered eating behaviors.
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