Why do so many peoples struggle with weight loss? Food is supposed to be good for us. Nourish us. Fuel our bodies to work the way they’re supposed to. But food has also become our tempters, lovers and at times, even enemies. We live in a world where perfection is held in often unnatural esteem. We spend millions in pursuit of weight loss, striving for Marvel Hero bodies. There are social media filters galore putting out images few can truly attain. Our cultural obsession with thinness gives rise to all or nothing thinking. Which has given rise to what can only be considered an epidemic of eating disorders. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders are affected by an eating disorder of some type. In every case, it’s a world of secret suffering seeking even the smallest amount of weight loss.
ANOREXIA; A HATE AFFAIR WITH FOOD
You see someone who seems to be all skin and bones and think; “anorexia”. You’re probably right. The term “anorexia” is derived from two Greek words, usually translated as “without appetite” — but that is something of a misnomer. Patients do not lose their appetite; they struggle to subdue it. Anorexics tend to unfavorably compare themselves to others, label every food as fattening, and catastrophize about weight gain. If they gain a pound, it’s the end of the world and nobody will like them. As a result, they starve themselves and to the point that they put their lives at risk. In the most severe cases, patients develop life-threatening complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias, kidney failure, and liver failure…all for what? Weight loss?
BULIMIA; PURGING GOOD SENSE
Another food obsession; but unlike anorexia, bulimics tend to binge on large amounts of rich, calorie laden foods and then engage in behaviors to purge this food from their body. These behaviors can include self-induced vomiting or misuse of over the counter laxatives. Side effects of bulimia may include an inflamed and sore throat, swollen salivary glands, worn tooth enamel, tooth decay, acid reflux, irritation of the gut, severe dehydration, even strokes or heart attacks.
BINGE EATING; NO STOPPING THE DAMAGE
One of the primary signs of binge eating disorder is that the individual will consume an abnormally large amount of food within a short time, typically, a two-hour period. 10,000 to 20,000 calories of food may be consumed in one bout of bingeing. (And you worry about 1,800 calories.) People with binge eating disorder will frequently eat alone or in secret to avoid the embarrassment of others seeing how much they consume. It is also common for them to stockpile or hoard food to eat during these binge episodes.
WEIGHT LOSS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE
The eating disorders we’ve listed here are serious, without doubt. But when it comes to weight, everyone has their own emotional demons. Just feeling overweight is enough to make someone feel out of control, depressed and guilt ridden. As weight climbs, self-esteem plummets, and health deteriorates. People try everything for weight loss. Then try again. And again. And, well, you get the idea. You want real help with your weight loss? Instead of choosing a dozen designer donuts or gallon of rocky road, choose to see the medical weight loss professionals at Thrive Health Solutions. Thrive offers many individualized, highly successful and cutting-edge weight loss solutions. All medically developed and doctor guided. The experts at Thrive know how to help you safely and quickly lose excess weight, often from ½ to 1 lb. daily. Without feeling starved or deprived every waking hour. What you will feel, is energized, healthy, confident and happy beyond belief. Thrive helps you find the you you’re meant to be. Call Thrive for an appointment now. Eat to live. Don’t live to eat.
