It’s not about the food YET IT IS

If one were trying to describe the relationship between psychology, biology, sociocultural factors and food in the development of an eating disorder,it could best be described as....

.

.

Relationship status: its complicated

.

Eating disorders are NEUROBIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. This means they develop within the brain and affect all body functioning. Referring to these conditions as neurobiological underscores the neurological origins and biological components, including predispositions and genetic heritability. There are also strong psychological components that perpetuate the condition resulting in necessary psychological treatment

.

Eating disorders are highly complex. There is no “cause” but rather a complex cascade of events triggering this illness in a vulnerable brain

.

This includes environmental and cultural factors. We know that dieting is the number ONE factor that leads to the development of an eating disorder due to how dieting affects the brain and biology of the individual. THIS IS THE REASON I FEEL SO STRONGLY ABOUT REJECTING AND DISMANTLING DIET CULTURE. IT IS PROBLEMATIC. IT IS MAKING US ALL DISTRUST OUR BODIES AND VALUE PARTS OF LIFE THAT DONT MAKE US OR OUR WORLD BETTER.

All this being said, eating disorders ARE about the food. Without healing ones relationship with food it is impossible to recover. This is the reason, I work alongside incredible dietitians who directly help clients heal their relationship with food. This means eating enough to nourish their bodies, not feeling deprived, increasing variety, learning what hunger/fullness/satisfaction feels like, and experiencing food as PLEASURABLE AGAIN! Its so exciting to see someone go from having an anxious, fear-based, distressing relationship with food to one of peace, pleasure, and satisfaction

.

Recovery is hard. It’s complex. It feels worse before it feels better. But goodness, IT IS WORTH IT

.

.

.