Sexual violence affects survivors in many ways, including a poor body image. Some survivors may use food in an attempt to cope with trauma or compensate for feelings and emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming. Controlling behaviors around food and exercise may suppress difficult emotions and provide a temporary sense of control. These coping mechanisms can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia nervosa.
Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses and, although they directly impact behaviors around eating and perceptions of body, they are most often not directly about food or the desire to appear thinner. Rather, these behaviors serve as coping mechanisms and ways to manage difficult feelings and experiences. Understanding this connection enables all of us to be compassionate and supportive of those in our lives. A successful recovery will require strong and consistent support from family and friends.
Similar to sexual violence, eating disorders can affect anyone, at any age. While the disorders can be very complex and there is no one factor that leads to their development, trauma can be found to be a common thread. Treatment of individuals suffering from an eating disorder should involve care for both their eating disorder as well as their traumatic experiences.
Those at high risk for eating disorders because of trauma include:
- Victims of sexual abuse, particularly those who suffered at a younger age
- Victims or observers of domestic violence
- Those who suffer from PTSD
- Warning signs of an eating disorder:
Dramatic weight loss/gain
- Preoccupation with food, calories, and dieting
- Creating rules and categories for foods they will and won’t eat
- Wearing excessively baggy clothing
- Yellowing teeth or bad breath
- Frequent trips to the bathroom around meal time
- Cold hands or lowered body temperature
- Refusing to go out to eat or visit during meal times
- Rituals during mealtime such as chewing excessively, cutting up small bites, pushing food around a plate
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to know treatment is available and recovery is possible. Please click the links below for more information on eating disorders and additional resources for support.
Connection
between eating disorders and sexual violence
Building
Bridges Between Eating Disorders and Sexual Violence
National
Eating Disorders Association