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Eating Disorders

Healthy eating

11/14/2007

Question:

im a 31 year old female with anorexia how can i get back to healthy eating. if i have a piece of toast and a packet of crisps in a day i feel as if i have eaten lots.how can i overcome my fear of food.

Answer:

If you have AN, there are factors in your brain and body that work against you trying to eat.  It has now been identified that there are identified pathways in the brain that create a significant disturbance.  It might be interpreted similar to a person who has a major negative side effect to a medicine. You have a negative side effect neurobiologically and physically when you eat.  Also, as you have experienced increased disturbance in the brain, the body then begins to panic over the thought of eating and the stomach tightens making you feel much fuller than the body really is.

Getting specialized treatment to learn more details and tools is very important.  Specialzied ED treatment can help you better understand how to cope with this pervasive illness on a daily basis.It is very difficult and comlex.

In Central Ohio, the only specialized treatment for ED is The Center for Balanced Living at 614-293-9550.

For more information:

Go to the Eating Disorders health topic, where you can:

Response by:

Laura  L Hill, PhD Laura L Hill, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
College of Medicine
The Ohio State University