Eating Disorders resulting from society imposed Ideal Body Image

Most compulsive eaters relate to themselves from the neck up. Their bodies are disowned, alienated, foreign - but not a part of the real self. But even though the body is despised, women are obsessed with perfecting its shape and size. The alienation of the fat body from the self is reflected in the aphorism, "Trapped inside every fat person is a thin person trying to get out." The body is a source of pleasure only in the act of doing the very thing, eating, that creates the alienation.

Compulsive overeaters are also not in touch with their body messages of hunger and satisfaction. Dieting has taught them deprivation and when they're deprived for prolonged periods of time, they naturally rebel and binge. Within a short period of time this becomes a way of life.

A woman's self-image is the very foundation of her personality, and hence, she acts like the sort of person she thinks and believes she is. We are all products of our thoughts. The choices we make are in accordance with those thoughts and our current self-image. If we believe that we need to be punished because we are somehow had, unworthy, imperfect, we will continue to do so. We oppress ourselves.

One of the greatest gifts that a woman can give herself, if she has not already done so, is to accept herself unconditionally for who and what she is. This gives her a place to start her process of change if she so desires. If she negates who and what she is, or what she looks like, what resources does she have to work with? We must have a starting place, and that is exactly where we are right now.

It is important to love ourselves, our bodies just because they exist. We deserve all of the good things life has to offer, without having to perform for any of them. We are deserving individuals by our very existence.

An extract from The Psychology of Ideal Body Image as an Oppressive Force in the Lives of Women

by Barbara A. Cohen, Ph.D.