Dealing With Eating Disorders

Through the years, I have talked with several parents about their concern for a child or a friend who has a distorted view of food, life and themselves.  I want to approach a subject that seems to be rampant in our culture, but is also becoming a problem in Christian families. 

My husband and I have sought counsel from the Lord, His Word and other trusted Biblical counselors, in order to adequately help families in our own church who have a loved one with an eating disorder.

With the information gained from all these inputs, I'd like to share a few thoughts on this very delicate subject.

If you are the parent of a son or daughter with an eating disorder, there are some things you need to be aware of.  This problem is not just their problem…it's your problem too!

When we think of an eating disorder, we often think of anorexia , where the individual refuses to eat. They starve themselves.  Another disorder might be bulimia, where they may eat, but will use drastic means to purge the food from the body, either by vomiting or by using diuretics or laxatives.  Any of these things destroy the body and shorten life.  On the other extreme is overeating.  Food can be an escape in the same way starving one's self can be. Many people use food as a source of comfort.  We all know that it "feels" good when enjoying your favorite food, but you can also "feel" bad later when you have gone too far in eating what you so enjoy.

How to deal with these mind sets is where wisdom and Holy Spirit control comes in.  These disorders are not just physical problems…they are a spiritual problem too.   When anorexia and bulimia go too far and lives are in peril, the person is often sent to a rehabilitation hospital.  These places treat the victim physically, but usually not spiritually.  Outside of Christ and the power of the Word of God…you are still in bondage.

Let's take a closer look at the reasons why young people get into this kind of disorder?

1. Satan's deception.  Satan feeds the young person a lie about themselves.  Usually, they have spent too much time focusing on the world's standard for beauty or appearance.  You will find these individuals enthralled with models, athletes, fashions and the like.  Satan feeds them a lie and they become blinded to the truth.  Most all these young people are unsaved…even if they are living in a "Christian home".
   
2. They develop a self image problem.   This comes about through the demonic spirit of deceit and obsession with worldly ideals.  Sometimes, they have been teased or ridiculed for being fat by family or friends, and they believe it and begin to obsess about their own figure.  This whole problem is built on lies…Satan's lies.  He is the father of lies!
   

   John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there IS NO TRUTH IN HIM.  When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
   

   Teach your children from a young age, to take what God says in His Word very seriously, and to discern truth from lies…about others as well as themselves.  A good place to start in thinking on truth is found in Psalm 139:13-18.
   

3. Anger can be a root problem.  The abuse of their own body may be their way of getting back at authorities that they are angry against.  Anger can be seen in many ways besides this one.  An angry person can abuse themselves and others in their family by just being a compulsive workaholic.  It's not always about food.
   
4. It can then turn in to a control issue.  Family relationships may be unhappy or strained and eating (or not eating), can be an area where they get to have control and be in charge of their own life, all the while not realizing that "the disorder" is really in control, and it's destroying them--- one day at a time.  When they take this kind of control over their own body, they think no one can make them submit.  They may blame their problem on parents who they feel exercise too much control over their children.  They really have a rebellion problem…rooted in demonic lies and deception.  They are only pawns for the devil.  Is their problem real?  ABSOLUTELY it's real.  Knowing "who" is at the root of the problem, is extremely important for the victim.  Only Christ can set them truly free.
   

   I Timothy 4:1-3 speaks to this problem well… "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, (lying spirits) and doctrines of devils; Speaking  lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and COMMANDING TO ABSTAIN FROM MEATS, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."
   

Next month we will talk about the physical and spiritual dangers of eating disorders.   Share this information with others that you care about.