Hi! I am a college student who is writing on the causes of eating disorders. My question is how does having an eating order give a person a sense on control of their lives and why it is so addicting?

Hi:

Sometimes people with an eating disorder have the need to create order and control in their lives when everything else appears to be out of control. The reasons behind this, are many and varied.

A number of research studies have determined a link between people who have suffered from physisical, sexual, or emotional abuse and abnormal eating behavior. This doesn't mean that abused people will automatically develop an eating disorder, but it does increase the possibility that they may be at risk. By compulsively controlling their weight or food intake,individuals with anorexia and bulimia hold on to something that they believe is theirs alone to control.

The sense of control experienced by a person with anorexia or bulimia is addicting as the individual uses food intake to block unbearable or unpleasant feelings in order to reduce their overwhelming stress and anxiety. This artificially impacts the reward centre of the brain, causing the person to develop an unhealthy pattern of disordered eating.

Unfortunately, eating disorders are ultimately destructive to a person's health and wellbeing, and do not heal the initial trauma from the abuse the person may have experienced.

Hope this helps.

Amy