Christmas hype adds to misery for eating disorder sufferers

Dec. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- At least 1.1 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder*, either anorexia, bulimia or complusive overeating, and as many as one in 20 women have eating habits which cause concern. **
For these people the pressure to ‘let go’ over Christmas and to eat meals with family and friends can be too much, leading to feelings of anxiety, shame and remorse, family arguments or the sufferer avoiding social occasions altogether.  
A recent survey by eating disorder support group Overeaters Anonymous GB (OA GB) also found that more than half of respondants cited family issues as the trigger for their illness, adding to the anxiety of sufferers at Christmas during family get togethers.
Maureen F, Public Information Officer for OA GB, said: “Christmas traditionally revolves around food. Families get together for large meals and for many of our members it’s a very distressing time.”
One OA member who struggled with bulimia for more than 10 years and is now in recovery, says her problems got worse over Christmas: “I’d have every intention of eating as little as possible but with all the food around me I’d end up bingeing, then throw up and be miserable. Or if I did successfully restrict what I ate, I’d be really pleased with myself but my family would get upset. Either way Christmas was always a horrible time.”
Maureen F continues: “Many of our members find that OA offers them practical means to stop the cycle of obsessive eating and shame during the holidays, and to have a happier Christmas, free from these compulsions.”
Overeaters Anonymous GB offers a programme of recovery for anyone suffering from compulsive overeating, anorexia or bulimia, through its network of support meetings across the country. Based around the ‘Twelve Steps’ pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous, OA uses the same principles to help members improve their disordered relationship with food.
Ends
Ref: OA 001

Notes to editors:
1. ‘One of the primary guidelines – or ‘Traditions’ – in Overeaters Anonymous states that members “need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television and other public media of communication.’  This means that the personal identity of OA members cannot be revealed in photographs, but they can be photographed if their identities are concealed, i.e. from behind, in shadow, etc.  OA members can give interviews, so long as their surnames are not used  in any subsequent article or programme.’
2. There are more than 175 organised Overeaters Anonymous groups across Great Britain which hold regular support meetings. Details can be found on the OA website www.oagb.org.uk and new members are welcome at any time.
3. The first OA meeting was held in 1960 in Los Angeles, California. OA now holds approximately 6,500 meetings in over 75 countries.  
4. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organisation, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine and takes no position on outside issues.  No membership dues or fees are required.
5. *http://www.disordered-eating.co.uk/eating-disorders-stati...
6.** Source: MIND

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