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Eating disorders have a strangle hold on millions of people. Each year hundreds lose their lives to eating disorders commonly called anorexia‚ bulimia and extreme overeating also known as gluttony. I have never struggled with an eating disorder so I don't know what it is like. I do have friends who struggle in this area. Anorexia is when a person‚ especially women‚ will basically starve themselves and lose weight to the point of it being life threatening‚ just like the young woman I saw in the gym. They may count calories down to the gram. Controlling their food and body weight becomes their life. Bulimia is where a person‚ especially women‚ will eat to then throw it up later by sticking their fingers down their throat till they vomit. They get a release and relief after the food is thrown up. It is common for someone to be both anorexic and bulimic at the same time. Excessive eating‚ gluttony‚ is where a person uses food to sooth the pain of life. They eat when they feel good or bad. Eating food is their life and addiction. They think about it constantly like a heroin addict dreams of injecting the next needle. Being overweight also helps them avoid intimacy‚ as the opposite sex is not very likely to be attracted to someone who is extremely overweight. They hide behind their weight because it may be to scary and overwhelming to let someone get to know us. What are some possible causes of eating disorders?

Generally speaking emotional damage from childhood and traumatic experiences are common roots of eating disorders. Also‚ the pressure and idealistic body visions that society puts forth highly contributes to our obsession with body image‚ adding another component to eating disorders‚ even making it acceptable in order to succeed and be accepted. Statistics tell us that most if not all anorexic and bulimic people were sexually abused. Some will not even remember the abuse and this deeply adds to the pain of being anorexic or bulimic. Abuse helps explain eating disorders somewhat because the "out of control" sexual abuse done to a child or young person was literally done to their body. Later‚ after the abuse‚ they can never allow their bodies to feel out of control again so something must be done to guarantee "literal control" of their body-eating disorders are the guarantee. Eating disorders are the ultimate way to control our bodies and they are used to control and avoid the emotional pain that the sexual abuse and/or any emotional damage may have inflicted. Eating disorders like all other addictive compulsive behaviors are an attempt to survive and cope with our past and/or present pain‚ a way of escaping the wounds in our heart.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder I'm sure you are very tired and the emotions of confusion‚ guilt and depression are may be heavy. Please get help! Jesus loves you! We care about you and are sorry you were hurt and are now struggling with an eating disorder. Would you consider the following steps that can be taken to get help for eating disorders.

• Ask Jesus Christ to come into your anorexia‚ bulimia and/or excessive overeating. Christ will not only come into the eating disorder but will reveal the true source of it if we are willing. Pray for Him to help and guide you!
• Go see a Doctor. Schedule a time to soon visit a medical Doctor to have a thorough examination.
• Seek out a Professional Christian Counselor. Eating disorders have a complex emotional and psychological mixture. I suggest you pray and find a Counselor and Support Group to meet with immediately.
• Begin eating a balanced‚ healthy diet. This may be impossible unless you have the previous suggestions in place too. Having a well balanced‚ holistic spiritual‚ Biblical‚ emotional and psychological approach is the best way to work through and break free from an eating disorder.