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Eating Disorders
Eating disorders plague millions, making this a must learn topic for any Christian
Counselor. These disorders present differently, and it appears to affect women more than man,
however some men do suffer from eating disorders. There are some practitioners who are not
educated about how to recognize eating disorders and because of that many people go untreated
and suffer in silence. There is a sense of hopelessness when individuals suffer through their own
attempts to get well. Learning some of the ways these disorders present and some of the
treatments, can help practitioners become equipped to help the hurting in this area.
Anorexia Nervosa
Many sufferers of this disorder suffer in silence and find ways to hide their condition
from their families and friends. It is very important for frontline medical staff to have the
necessary tools to be able to identify the individual that suffers with this condition. When one is
looking for the signs of this condition, they will find a person who restricts their food intake and
is underweight. This person will also have an intense fear of looking or being fat, they will have
a distorted view of their body. They may binge eat and purge or just restrict their calories and
use food rituals to maintain control. (Klein et al., 2021).
Bulimia Nervosa
This disorder presents with Binge eating and use of vomiting and laxatives and exercise
in extremes to avoid the weight gain from the extra calorie intake. The individual suffering with
this condition has based their self-worth on how they are shaped and on what they weigh. They
often engage in behaviors that help to limit the weight gain that ensues from overeating (Klein et
al., 2021).
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Binge-eating Disorder
The individual suffering with this disorder has many episodes of eating excessive
amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. The difference between the
other disorders and binge disorder is the person suffering does not engage in any behaviors to
lose weight. This person also suffers with low self-worth (Klein et al., 2021).
Diagnostic Tools
When a provider needs to be certain an individual is suffering with a disorder, they have
some tools to make a proper diagnosis. The Scoff Questionnaire helps to determine if an
individual is suffering with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. This test has five questions that
the patient answers with a yes or no, if they answer yes point is tabulated. If the overall score is
2 or more the patient is diagnosed with an eating disorder. (Klein et al., 2021)
The role of Culture and Family
It only takes an hour of television time to see the mixed messages society is sending.
Television viewers are shown one commercial laden with high calorie food displayed and ‘all
you can eat’ restaurants using their bigger portions as a key selling point. In contrast, another
commercial is touting a new diet program. People with thin bodies are appreciated publicly and
admired for losing extra weight. Each year there is a new fad diet that encourages people to gain
that perfect image. The truth is not many people are able to eat all the things advertised and
maintain a healthy weight. In a society that stresses using food for pleasure and how people
appear, it's no wonder eating disorders are plaguing our nation.
Research has shown that there is a certain type of parenting that contributes to eating
disorders. The parental behaviors that show conducive to creating an individual who struggles
with body image are noted as critical, coercive or un-loving and controlling (Haworth-Hoeppner,
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S. 2000). Pressure created from outside the home and pressures from inside the home has been a
seemingly perfect environment for eating disorders to flourish in.
Proven Therapy for ED
Individuals suffering with eating disorders have turned to food to comfort them when
they are experiencing stress. The use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy along with Cognitive
Processing Therapy has proven useful in assisting individuals with ways to handle emotional
distress without using food or ritualistic behavior surrounding food. In this therapy negative
thinking is identified and the patient is provided with alternatives coping mechanisms.
Reasearch has shown this has proven effective in helping patients return to a safe body weight
(Balkchyan et al.,2022).
Christian Counseling Techniques
The knowledge of God’s love and acceptance help to treat the person suffering with an
eating disorder. When faulty beliefs are uncovered through therapy and replaced with truth the
individual can begin to walk in freedom. (Grant,2018) The benefits of involving the Holy Spirit
and prayer in the care of the individual coupled with Cognitive behavior therapy cannot be
understated. A person suffering with an eating disorder will need to confront their fear. The
bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7” For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of
love, and of a sound mind” (King James Bible, 1769/2017) In Christian therapy the individual
can find their identity in Christ and who he says they are. When a person is rooted in their
Christ- based identity they will not be easily moved (Clinton et al.,2005).
Conclusion
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References
Clinton, T., Hart, A. D., & Ohlschlager, G. (Eds.). (2005). Caring for people
God’s way: A new guide for Christian counseling. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Grant, C. (2018). Christian Spirituality in Eating Disorder Recovery. Religions,
9(2), 61. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel9020061
Haworth-Hoeppner, S. (2000). The critical shapes of body image: The role of
culture and family in the production of eating disorders. Journal of Marriage and the
Family, 62(1), 212-227. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.00212.x
Klein, D. A., Sylvester, J. E., & Schvey, N. A. (2021). Eating Disorders in Primary Car
Diagnosis and Management. American Family Physician, 103(1), 22-32.
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-
journals/eating-disorders-primary-care-diagnosis/docview/2476628543/se-2
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published 1769)
Trottier, & Monson, C. M. (2021). Integrating cognitive processing therapy for
posttraumatic stress disorder with cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders in
PROJECT RECOVER. Eating DisordersN: the Journal of Treatment and Prevention.,
29(3), 307–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2021.1891372
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