Eating Disorders Revisited

Sometimes I feel like writing an article, but I have nothing that I feel compelled to say.

The ARCHIVES here at DietHobby are full of long, and information filled, posts that cover almost every dieting subject that I can bring to mind.

Someday, I want to write more about the way that Diet ... (and "Non-Diet") ... Marketing Interests (including the medical profession) … have successfully labeled a large range of various eating behaviors with the term: "Eating Disorder".

 They are making millions of dollars with Ad Campaigns that are full of B.S., which serve to convince people to Hate themselves, in order to sell them "Help" to Change … or to use a more marketable term, "Recover".

There's an Eating Disorder Label for Every person of Every Size. If not an Anorexic, Bulimiac, or Binge Eater, fear not, there's a slot called EDNOS for those who don't fit elsewhere.

I could call this article: "You are Sick; Let us Change You; Your Insurance will pay."

Of course, Marketing is quick to take advantage of our Blame-happy, finger-pointing Culture, turning this into: "They are Sick, Help us Change Them." which, as is commonly seen in online diet forums, results in: … "I am SO concerned about YOU."

This type of finger-pointing behavior makes ME wish I had more middle fingers.                      

Marketing has been quite successful in blurring the line which draws a distinction between:

(1) A mental-health illness which INVOLVES specific eating behaviors,  and

(2) those Specific and individual Eating Behaviors themselves. 

WHY?  Because something needs to be defined as an Illness, before health Insurance will pay for medical "treatment".   Call me cynical, but to the Marketing Interests in our culture, the more Sickness around to be "Treated", the more money there is to be made.

During my lifetime, I've had over 20 years of professional Therapy, much of it involving my food behaviors.  Therapy did nothing to resolve any of my specific behaviors with food, but it DID teach me to LIKE MYSELF no matter what I ate; what amount I ate; or how and why I ate; irrespective of my body size.   I am grateful for that result. Thanks to my past Therapists, when I choose to eat in response to my feelings, I can now say:  

NOTE: Originally posted on 6/13/2014.  Bumped up for new viewers.