As parents who've had gastric bypass we face many challenges raising a family. Perhaps an unexpected challenge is when a child develops an eating disorder that may be exacerbated by the parents dieting habits. It turns out as our children observe us diet and fail (repeatedly) before having gastric bypass, then they watch us lose weight in an almost obsessive excitement after weight loss surgery (WLS), some panic and vow "this will not happen to me." A descent into an eating disorder may follow.
According to AnorexiaBulimaHelp "Dieting or restriction of certain foods, or excessive dieting from parents" is a contributing factor in teen and pre-teen eating disorders. In addition "The appearance obsessed society most people live in can contribute to eating disorders . . . When combined with a low self-esteem, feelings of depression or anxiety or isolation, the effects can be devastating. Eating disorders commonly erupt as a coping mechanism, as a way for people to feel more "normal" and in control in a society that isn't really normal to begin with."
Wow. Are you worried? Growing up I watched my mother work her way up and down the scale many times. No need to name the diets she tried: we all tried them. I believe I learned from her that diet equals failure. It seems like every time she'd get to the benchmark, "this is the lowest weight I've been since having my first child" suddenly her weight loss would stop and back up the scale she'd climb at a rapid rate. She is morbidly obese today and no longer attempts dieting. Who can blame her?
Did she know that was the lesson she was teaching me? That eventually I'd "diet" myself into morbid obesity? I don't think so, and I don't blame her. She didn't know any better.
We know better today. It is our stewardship to our children to do the best we can to protect them, raise them healthy, and teach them healthy habits of nutrition and exercise. We owe it to our children to keep them off the operating table and out of eating disorder treatment centers.
But how to do that? By example and by being informed.
AnorexiaBulimaHelp.com is a comprehensive resource on eating disorders ? if you fear someone in your family is suffering from an eating disorder please visit this site. The site includes many links to several other resources about eating disorders.
Copyright ? 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
affordable house cleaning Park Ridge ..Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More
Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
A calorie is the unit used to measure the energy... Read More
That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More
You've heard the popular advice on weight loss diets. Cut... Read More
Lean turkeyLean ground beefChicken breastFish, halibut, orange roughy,More fish, shark,... Read More
Just the facts on bodybuilding weightloss strategies that work. No... Read More
CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
It comes as a surprise to many consumers that the... Read More
A new survey has found that heel pain caused by... Read More
Why have I allowed myself to get into this shape?... Read More
If you find this article helpful, please forward it to... Read More
There are tons of fad diets and weight loss schemes... Read More
Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More
The government, nutritionists, doctors, and dietitians implore us to eat... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
Do a little people-watching, next time you're in the grocery... Read More
Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines;... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
(Ailsa's Apple Crumble Diet)I'm Scottish, so it's not a big... Read More
We hear it all the time?lose weight for your health.... Read More
*Do you truly believe that not eating or cutting back... Read More
No matter what the reason, successful weight loss and healthy... Read More
affordable house cleaning Mundelein ..Control that sweet tooth. Remember that sweet things generally mean... Read More
People always ask me " how it is that your... Read More
In our never ending search for the illusive "Fountain of... Read More
Dieting and Exercising ? Results all the time!To be successful... Read More
Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
A fill is nothing to be worried about. The actual... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
With all the excitement regarding high protein diets, one area... Read More
Ephedra and Ephedrine consumers are still under the assumption that... Read More
It comes as a surprise to many consumers that the... Read More
I recently received the following email:Q. Five weeks ago, I... Read More
Are you sick of the hype? Wondering what diet products... Read More
Make sure that no more than a quarter of your... Read More
Infrared Radiant Heat (IRRH) is a form of radiation that... Read More
Are you ready to lose some weight? Perhaps you're surfing... Read More
What's a Low Carb Diet Really Mean?When I hear low... Read More
I've talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
Can You Lose Weight Where You Want?If you have excess... Read More
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More
This Article was originally Published in The July 2004 Issue... Read More
If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More
The Secrets have been in our family recipes, some even... Read More
Debunking The Ab MythAb training has been done to death... Read More
Weight Loss |