Living With Food: The Science Supporting Eating Disorder Treatment

By Dr. Mark Warren

Given that there are eleven million people in America who struggle with anorexia or bulimia, why is it so unusual for people to talk about these issues in public (or even with loved ones) with honesty and clairty? We have recently seen Portia de Rossi on Oprah and the cover of People magazine speaking about her eating disorder. While we are profoundly impacted and praise her for her willingness to share her story in its complexity, one also asks what makes this so hard and why does this happen to rarely? It seems the answers to this are complex and multi-layered. For many, one of the issues is shame. The illness itself speaks with a loud, negative voice and almost always tells you there is something wrong with you, that you’re not perfect, and that you’re not achieving your goals. For many, this persistent negative self-talk reiterates that others will see you in the same negative light in which you see yourself and often produces much shame and guilt.

Layered into this is that society at large may also hold a stigma of people with eating disorders. Society often minimizes the pain of those with eating disorders, telling people just to snap out of it, eat, and stop having behaviors, as if it were an easy thing to do. The stigma exists that those with these illnesses are weak and are choosing to have an eating disorder. Additionally, for many people, particularly women who have eating disorders, by letting their truth be revealed they are opening themselves up to a lifetime of others doubting that they are in recovery. This belief may also lead to doubt that they are able to be healthy and to lead full and happy lives. We do not yet have the structures in place to provide the support, validation, and praise for people who have made the journey from illness to recovery. Until we do it will continue to be difficult for people to be open about their illness and get the help they need. As a society we must examine the stigma that exists and recognize that these are highly misunderstood, biologically based illnesses, which require evidence-based treatment and ongoing care.

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Contributions by Sarah Emerman