by Kellie Davis

In a December 2008 publication on eating disorders, doctors Merry N. Miller and A. Pumeriega suggest, “Culture has been identified as one of the etiological factors in leading to the development of eating disorders.” They go on to further suggest, “these behaviors flourished during affluent periods in more egalirian societies.”

More affluent societies often allow women to play a greater role within the culture, and also boast an ideal of beauty being that of a thin, elegant woman. However, eating disorders may not directly relate to affluence, but the role that women play within the culture.

Societies that restrict women’s rights tend to have extremely low rates of eating disorders. Likewise, cultures where women achieve greater equality among men are more likely to see a surge in ED.

Eating disorders in our society arise from an array of psychological, sociocultural, and interpersonal factors. Cultural pressures to be thin, along with several other factors, may trigger low self-esteem and tendency toward perfectionism. Eating eventually becomes a control mechanism, manifesting as the method to suppress deeply emotional feelings.

Therapy for Eating Disorders

With proper intervention, eating disorders can be treated.  Treatment methods may vary dependent upon how the patient reaches to different stimulus. If one method of treatment fails, do not give up hope.

Nutritional Therapy

Many rehabilitation and medical treatment centers offer nutritional therapy for those afflicted with eating disorders. Specially qualified dietitians and nutritionists work with patients in a supportive, non-judgmental, and safe environment. The initial goal of treatment is to stabilize your condition.

Nutrition therapy will also teach you to develop healthy eating patterns, and teach you to develop a healthy relationship with food. Therapists work with you and your family with unique goals and strategies that work for specifically with your needs and goals.

Please note that you may be required a hospital stay prior to entering a nutrition therapy program in order to restore your health and help return you to a healthy weight.

Dance/Movement Therapy

Dance/movement therapy, or DMT, is experienced in a group or individual setting with an instructor holding a Master’s degree, and who meets the requirements set forth by The American Dance Therapy Association. DMT is a therapy based on body movements that allow you to express feeling through movement and dance.

Studies show that many stricken with ED struggle with the inability to express themselves through words, a complication known as alexithymia, especially when dealing with feelings and fantasies. Often feelings that cannot be expressed through words are expressed through food obsessions.

Sessions with DMT allow individuals to find those feels and give a name to the pain they cause. The goal of DMT is to eventually take those feelings expressed through dance and movement into words.

Healing Touch Therapy

Healing touch is a form of energy therapy used by practitioners to support health through the use of their hands. Therapists use a non-invasive, heart-centered technique to clear, balance, and energize you. The focus of energy therapy is to remove congested energy that forms in your aura (energy field) and chakras (energy center) to promote mind and body healing.

Art Therapy

Deeply seated emotional issues are often found at the root of food obsessions. If you suffer from an eating disorder, you may find it difficult to express these emotions through words, either spoken or written. Art therapy is an excellent resource that provides you a different outlet for expressing your hidden emotions.

You may take group or individual therapy sessions to help you connect with issues that may have lead to your eating disorder.

The Feldenkrais Method

The Feldenkrais Method is a type of movement therapy that connects the mind and body, through reliance on attention and awareness to teach you to move beyond inhibited habitual patterns. This type of therapy works well if you are a long-term sufferer of ED, or have suffered through sexual or emotional trauma.

Many who suffer with ED feel uncomfortable in their own skin. The Feldenkrais method teaches you to access the brain in a unique way, creating new ways to perceive the self and find freedom in solving problems.

About Kellie

Kellie Davis is a graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University with a B.A. in English. She is now a freelance writer, contributor to the Olicious Life, and NPC figure competitor. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two young children.