THE world is obsessed by weight at the moment. We have an obesity crisis. We know many cancers are now caused by being fat. We know the obese people with type 2 diabetes can be cured if they lose a significant amount of weight. That your blood pressure may come down if you lose weight. The obesity problem is everywhere. The advice? Lose weight, be thinner, diet, exercise.
But what about those who have a problem with eating? Those who control everything they eat and get thinner and thinner, or those who can't control what they eatbut force themselves to be sick or take laxatives to empty themselves out again? Those with an eating disorder.
As significant as the obesity crisis is the current mental crisis. This is affecting all ages, but especially our young. Self harm and anxiety, depression and suicide are all increasing, but so are eating disorders. Why? Perhaps social media, perhaps peer pressure. We don't know for sure but what we do know is that it is increasing and it is not just girls. Male eating disorders are also on the increase but are often not talked about. Eating disorders in men are real and under diagnosed.
I was privileged to recently be involved in an arts project raising awareness about eating disorders. Real stories routed in poetry from those who have struggled, and those who have watched the struggle from the ringside, helplessly observing their loved ones getting closer to death. The following poem, (written by a relative of a real patient with a severe eating disorder), I read aloud at a national conference this month:.
My brother won’t eat
sugar or fat,
meat or flour.
He runs 18 miles
on a cup of
oatmeal.
His eyes are black
and his fingers
like bone.
I hear his shoes
slapping the pavement
at midnight.
He flies like
a hummingbird
who can't find nectar
For as long
as he can.
If you or a loved one is struggling with any form of eating disorder please come and see your GP. We are here to listen and to help.