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Food for ThoughtFood for ThoughtEating Disorders Are Eating Disorders Are

Complex, SeriousComplex, Serious

By Paul AsayPosted: Aug. 28, 2009

What Happened:What Happened:

A woman recently A woman recently filed suit against filed suit against the Pittsburgh the Pittsburgh Public School Public School District, saying that District, saying that her sixth-grade her sixth-grade daughter daughter developed anorexia developed anorexia after some boys in after some boys in her class told her her class told her she was fat.she was fat.

What Happened:What Happened:

The girl, whose The girl, whose name was not name was not mentioned in the mentioned in the lawsuit, eventually lawsuit, eventually enrolled in a enrolled in a treatment program treatment program because her weight because her weight was “dangerously was “dangerously low” and now low” and now attends another attends another school.school.

What Happened:What Happened:

Eating experts say, however, that Eating experts say, however, that while bullying may have helped spark while bullying may have helped spark the girl’s anorexia, eating disorders the girl’s anorexia, eating disorders are far more complex.are far more complex.

““With eating disorders, we say you’re With eating disorders, we say you’re born with a gun and life pulls the born with a gun and life pulls the trigger,” says Lynn Grefe, CEO of the trigger,” says Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association.National Eating Disorders Association.

What Happened:What Happened:

According to Grefe, According to Grefe, people prone to people prone to eating disorders eating disorders tend already to be: tend already to be:

Perfectionists;Perfectionists; Anxious; and/orAnxious; and/or Obsessive-Obsessive-

compulsive.compulsive.

What Happened:What Happened:

““The person’s often The person’s often a real high achiever, a real high achiever, and if you put those and if you put those people in a situation people in a situation and then their world and then their world comes crashing comes crashing down, they get down, they get triggered,” Grefe triggered,” Grefe says. says.

Talk About It:Talk About It:

We all know that it’s not We all know that it’s not healthy to be too heavy, but healthy to be too heavy, but being too thin can be a big being too thin can be a big problem, too. problem, too.

Do you know anyone who Do you know anyone who thinks he or she needs to lose thinks he or she needs to lose weight when, in fact, gaining weight when, in fact, gaining weight would be beneficial?weight would be beneficial?

Talk About It:Talk About It:

Just because someone’s thin doesn’t mean he Just because someone’s thin doesn’t mean he or she is anorexic, but some common warning or she is anorexic, but some common warning signs can include:signs can include:

Dieting constantly, even when without need;Dieting constantly, even when without need; Complaining about feeling bloated or nauseated Complaining about feeling bloated or nauseated

after eating a normal amount of food;after eating a normal amount of food; Weighing themselves a lot; andWeighing themselves a lot; and Thinning hair.Thinning hair.

Do you know anyone with these warning signs?Do you know anyone with these warning signs?Source: The Renfrew CenterSource: The Renfrew Center

Talk About It:Talk About It:

Eating disorders Eating disorders such as anorexia such as anorexia often are often are classified as a classified as a disease. Do you disease. Do you think people who think people who aren’t anorexic aren’t anorexic worry too much worry too much about their about their weight? Why? weight? Why?

What theWhat theBible Says:Bible Says:

““Then God said, ‘I gave you every seed-bearing Then God said, ‘I gave you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”yours for food.’”

Gen. 1:29Gen. 1:29

““And put a knife to your throat if you are given And put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.”to gluttony.”

Prov. 23:2Prov. 23:2

What the Bible Says:What the Bible Says:

““Why do you spend your money for that Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?which does not satisfy?

““Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”and delight yourselves in rich food.”

Isaiah 55:2Isaiah 55:2

““You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

and praise the name of the Lord your God…”and praise the name of the Lord your God…”

Joel 2:26Joel 2:26

What the Bible Says:What the Bible Says:

“‘“‘Please test your servant for ten days: Please test your servant for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.’water to drink.’

““At the end of ten days they looked At the end of ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who are the royal food.”the young men who are the royal food.”

Dan. 1:12, 15Dan. 1:12, 15