Abuse and Eating Disorders

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The development of an eating disorder, in some instances, can almost be viewed as a survival mechanism to attempt to shield the individual from further harm. For Compulsive Overeaters, they may unconsciously make themselves larger to separate and protect themselves from others. Anorexics may unconsciously make themselves smaller, losing their secondary sexual characteristics (breasts, hips, and buttocks) to avoid a sexual identity, almost achieving a prepubescent state. Some survivors of abuse even act out sexually to unconsciously conquer their abusive experience. For victims of abuse, the obsessions and compulsions about weight and body image may be an attempt to regain control of their bodies. This unconscious drive to achieve a "perfect " body may be a response to the feeling of having their control stripped from them through the abuse experience.

Both survivors of abuse and individuals with eating disorders often exhibit discomfort and dissatisfaction with the parts of their body usually associated with body shape change or increased "fatness" at puberty, i.e., hips, thighs, buttocks and breasts. Survivors of abuse may be dissatisfied with these aspects of their bodies because they represent sexuality. They often express a desire to return to the prepubescent stage which occurred before the painful confusion of sexuality. Feelings of distrust, inadequacy, insecurity, disconnection, and worthlessness are common.
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