Are Eating Disorders "Contagious?"
When I had an eating disorder my behaviors and weight loss became noticeable to my loved ones. As an identical twin, I'm always instantly compared to my sister and vice versa. We're compared on essentially every level of life- profession, relationships, income, beauty and yes, weight. In 2007/2008 as I slowly and insidiously became ill, Katie (my twin) did too. She took on the same diet restrictions and purging habits. Eventually, one of our best friends started purging to loose weight too.
Over the years I cringe thinking about this, but was my disorder a catalyst for other known and potentially unknown disorders? I think about the lunch room in high school- was my 100 calorie yogurt and superhuman self control at lunch affecting the psyche and self esteem of my dear friends? *Shudder*. There could be a correlation here but of course there will always be other factors (genetics, demographics, other social aspects) involved.
The International Journal for Eating Disorders sites that symptoms of eating disorders can be found in clusters of different communities and social groups. Perhaps, my lunch table and social circle was heavily influenced by each other and my pressure to be thin. According to the journal, “These findings confirm the strong social influences on female adolescents in the U.S. to be thin, sometimes using unhealthy behaviors to achieve this goal.”
On a very serious note, I may be to blame for two (or more) amazing, beautiful women getting eating disorders. There's a lesson to learn from this- If you're aware of your problem, it is your social responsibility to seek help. If you are brave and really ready to heal, you might even want to disclose your awareness of your illness to your closest friends and family, so they can also make the distinction that your habits are not healthy. This will protect them from normalizing or takin on your negative habits.
Over the years I've gained an awareness to protect my loved ones from every being caught up in the pressure to be thin. Bare minimum, there are a few things you can do to minimize the "social contagion" of your own illness. Much of this involves being smart about your use of language and managing your behaviors.
In general, It is supremely important that everyone is aware that their language and behaviors around eating, food and body image.
As a teenager I knew I had a problem but I did not have the wisdom or ability to protect my friends from "catching" this illness. I do not know if it is possible to have this illness and this awareness at the same time. At the time I did not want to heal and did not want to change my habits.
This is obviously a difficult subject to take on. If you have any insight, opinions or any ideas on how to minimize the "social contagion" of eating disorders, please let me know at margaretjmccabe@gmail.com.
Over the years I cringe thinking about this, but was my disorder a catalyst for other known and potentially unknown disorders? I think about the lunch room in high school- was my 100 calorie yogurt and superhuman self control at lunch affecting the psyche and self esteem of my dear friends? *Shudder*. There could be a correlation here but of course there will always be other factors (genetics, demographics, other social aspects) involved.
The International Journal for Eating Disorders sites that symptoms of eating disorders can be found in clusters of different communities and social groups. Perhaps, my lunch table and social circle was heavily influenced by each other and my pressure to be thin. According to the journal, “These findings confirm the strong social influences on female adolescents in the U.S. to be thin, sometimes using unhealthy behaviors to achieve this goal.”
On a very serious note, I may be to blame for two (or more) amazing, beautiful women getting eating disorders. There's a lesson to learn from this- If you're aware of your problem, it is your social responsibility to seek help. If you are brave and really ready to heal, you might even want to disclose your awareness of your illness to your closest friends and family, so they can also make the distinction that your habits are not healthy. This will protect them from normalizing or takin on your negative habits.
Over the years I've gained an awareness to protect my loved ones from every being caught up in the pressure to be thin. Bare minimum, there are a few things you can do to minimize the "social contagion" of your own illness. Much of this involves being smart about your use of language and managing your behaviors.
In general, It is supremely important that everyone is aware that their language and behaviors around eating, food and body image.
How to minimize the "social contagion" with eating disorders and poor body image:
1) Do not talk about anyone's weight gain or weigh loss, including your own
2) Do not say negative or critical comments about other people's bodies or your own
3) Avoid expressing your guilt/shame for eating in front of your friends
4) Do not comment on how much (or how little) food you or your friend is eating
5) If your friend is engaging in negative eating habits, do not participate.
6) Do not obsessively talk about your food OR the food your friends choose to eat
As a teenager I knew I had a problem but I did not have the wisdom or ability to protect my friends from "catching" this illness. I do not know if it is possible to have this illness and this awareness at the same time. At the time I did not want to heal and did not want to change my habits.
This is obviously a difficult subject to take on. If you have any insight, opinions or any ideas on how to minimize the "social contagion" of eating disorders, please let me know at margaretjmccabe@gmail.com.
Thank you!
xx
Meggasus
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