Interesting article at the Science Blog discusses how the philosophy of mindfulness is being used to treat women with eating disorders in Australia. Here’s a couple of interesting pieces:
Unlike many therapies for eating disorders, there is less focus on food and controlling eating and more on providing freedom from negative thoughts and emotions.“Binge eating is largely a distraction – a temporary escape from events and emotions that nevertheless can cause long-term physical problems including electrolyte imbalances. Instead, women need to learn how to react in a different way.”
Mindfulness involves exercises similar to meditation that could help people live more in the moment, develop a healthy acceptance of self and become aware of potentially destructive habitual responses.
“Women who have been through the program report less dissatisfaction with their bodies, increased self-esteem and improved personal relationships,” Ms Morgan said.
“They learn that thoughts and emotions don’t have any power over us as they are just passing phenomena and aren’t permanent.”
I completely agree with this aproach. So long as I focus on being mindful of what I put in my mouth, be it a condiment, a drink or a food, I recognize it’s a choice to chomp that morsel, not a reaction to an emotion or an addiction. Mindfulness leads to choice, which leads to empowerment, which leads to lifestyle change.
Wow that is an very informative article . I like your wordpress blog. Maybe you should write more articles of these type.