60% of women have some sort of eating disorder

King 5 News: “Health Link” reported a University of North Carolina survey finds 60 percent of women have some sort of eating disorder, and it can take many forms.

Secret eating can be just a guilty pleasure or a serious eating disorder. It all depends.
"Eating a large amount of food in a certain discreet period of time, feeling a sense of loss of control, as if you can't control your eating or stop and then a host of criteria - that several have to be met - such as eating in secret, eating until uncomfortably full, and feeling negative about it during or after the eating episode," said Dr. Jay Ashmore, clinical psychologist.

Then there are calorie prisoners, consumed with counting every morsel. The career dieter's weight is like a yo-yo: going up and down. Ashmore says it can lead to more serious disorders. [This personally was my downfall into a dungeon of bulimia!]

"Anger, stress, anxiety - and that in and of itself or in combination without eating can trigger a binge or overeating or eating when not hungry. Why? Because it just feels good, and you're going to do something that feels good to help you manage that negative mood," said Ashmore.

When food takes over your life, it's time to take control. First, find another more constructive way to make yourself feel good. "Pleasant activity scheduling, whatever that is—taking a job, going shopping, something you like to do, calling a friend," said Ashmore.

Second, cognitive therapy can help women find their core issue that's driving them to medicate with food.

Doctors say if you don't tackle the problem early on, harmless eating disorders can turn into obesity, heart disease and even diabetes. Doctors say just remember you are in control of the food, not the food controlling your moods.

[end of article]

The only thing missing from this article was the fact we need God. . For many of us, our hopes have been shattered. There is no more happiness or joy. The kind of hope and joy we need now is a solid trust in God. It is a sense of absolute certainty that God loves us, cares for us, and will do everything He has promised in the Bible, His Word. Like an anchor, hope in God gives us the strength, joy, and security to heal, one day at a time.

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Article title: “Survey: Majority of women have an eating disorder”

Link: http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_091809HEK-eating-disorder-LJ.192584a83.html