Every woman has a different relationship with food. For some, it is a source of comfort, pleasure, or nourishment. However,  for others it can be harmful and damaging leading to a diagnosable eating disorder. Eating disorders afflict women of all ages. According to UNC Chapel Hill, 75% of women across all races, ethnicities and ages report disordered eating behaviors. Questions arise about how eating disorders affect married women and mothers.

Dr. Sheila H. Forman is a Psychologist, Mindful Eating Instructor, and the founder of TAME Your Appetite: The Art of Mindful Eating. She is an expert in helping people cope with their emotions without eating and using a non-diet approach to lose weight and make peace with food. She is also the author of several self-help books, including Do You Use Food to Cope? A Comprehensive 15-Week Program for Overcoming Emotional Overeating, and The Best Diet Begins in Your Mind - Eliminating the Eight Obstacles to Permanent Weight Loss, and her newest book TAME Your Appetite: The Art of Mindful Eating, available now.

What are Eating Disorders?

·         Eating disorders are diagnosable mental health illnesses with symptoms including excessive thoughts of food, body weight or shape, and efforts to control food intake

·         The most common eating disorders are: 

•                      Anorexia nervosa which is characterized by weight loss, extreme dieting, starvation, and/or too much exercise.

•                      Bulimia nervosa which includes purging, taking laxatives, exercising, or fasting to avoid weight gain after excessive eating.

•                      Binge eating disorder which is the frequent consumption of an unusually large amount of food in one sitting. 

How Eating Disorders Affect Marriages:

·         Within a relationship, the woman may withdraw and disconnect from her partner. This can lead to intimacy issues, both emotional and physical.

·         Because eating disorders are often misunderstood, tension can arise between the spouses which can lead to a breakdown in communication and/or conflict.

·         Some women with eating disorders struggle with trust issues and may come across as being needy or insecure. Their need for reassurance can cause their partner to feel smothered and/or irritated. 

·         This insecurity can drive competition and power-struggles in a couple leading to more discontent and friction.

·         Marital discord can also play an important role in the development and/or maintenance of eating disorders in married women. 

Moms and Eating Disorder:

·         The transition from being a single, independent woman to a mother can be difficult and cause a woman to find comfort in the familiarity of her eating disorder.

·         The struggles of parenting and managing a household can be triggers for emotional distress and disorganized eating.

·         Mothers with eating disorders are also concerned with passing along their unhealthy relationship with food to their children, and can feel like “failures.”

Treatment for Eating Disorders:

·         With treatment, approximately 60% of patients make a full recovery. 

·         However, only 1 in 10 people with an eating disorder will seek and receive treatment. 

·         Most treatment combines psychotherapy, nutritional counselling and medication

·         It is important to take the time to recover from an eating disorder if a woman wants to heal the challenges in her marriage. 

·         Just like we need to put our oxygen mask on first during an inflight emergency, so does a woman need to take care of herself and her unique needs first if she is to be there for her family. 

Helping Your Partner:

·         Here are some tips to help an eating disordered spouse:

•          Leave out the judgment, believe her when she says she is struggling, be patient and understanding.

•          Don’t comment on her eating or not eating, be supportive instead of critical

•          Allow her to lean on her. Over time, her trust and confidence in you and the relationship will build as they see that there is nothing to be afraid of.

For more information on Dr. Sheila Forman or to book her for an appearance, please go to www.TAMEYourAppetite.com or call 310-828-8004. 

Contact info: 

2708 Wilshire Blvd., #423

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-828-8004

(cell) 310-995-2529

Email:              DrSheilaForman@msn.com

Websites:         www.DrSheilaForman.com

www.TAMEYourAppetite.com