Does this website feed an eating disorder and the obsession?

Therapy says yes, I'm still thinkin' about it.

I spoke with my E.D. therapy group last night and they all agreed that if you're someone who has ever struggled with an E.D., whether it be, Anorexia, Bulima, Binge Eating Disorder, etc. you should not be using calorie websites. The therapist that leads the group fully agreed. Trust me, I was discouraged by this news, because I enjoy this site, and being part of it, but I'm beginning to think it may feed the eating disorder and the obsession with food, calories, body image, eating, etc. What do you all think?

It's an interesting question - and one we struggle with everyday.  Can a site that's helpful to so many be destructive to others?

I do believe sites like ours can fuel the obsession, but I've also received email from those that have used the site on the road to recovery to ensure they're eating enough.

We're constantly thinking of ways to tackle our treatment and discussion of EDs on this site, so please let us know your thoughts.

finally someone who sounds like me :)  I have OCD, had bulemia when a teen and grew out of it, but never got over the binging.  ?Hence, 70 lbs overweight.  I could easily slip into purge mode (not literal purging, but obsessive non-eating) so I'm here to make sure I get enough calories during the day.  I'm finding it hard to be on that line of 1,200 per day.  The compulsive in me wants to go either way, but not stay steady.  I here for you!

In general I think that this site can be as useful to some as it is harmful to others with ED.  A person once said to my child and it has always stuck with me - You can always find what you are looking for - question is...what are you looking for?  When you answer that question in regards to this site - you will know if you should be here or not and making good choices is probably a big part of recovery.  Much luck to you and anyone else struggling with this horrible disease - my heart goes out to you!! 

I don't know, I've never struggled with an eating disorder, but I have relatives that do, so I'll just chime in.  I think it depends on the plan of action for overcoming the disorder.  It seems that this site could be a really good tool for making sure you get enough food and stay at a healthy weight.  This site offers great tools for finding your personal expenditure/weight maintenance calorie level.  This information could be used to make sure that you're getting enough.  I wouldn't think that someone struggling with an eating disorder could just *snap* eat normally without thinking about the calories, etc., so in that case it might be a good tool.  I haven't found this site to be really into body image that much - I mean, some of the posts could be read that way, but I just don't continue reading those.  Perhaps if you just don't hang out too much in the Community, and use your therapy group for that, then this site could be helpful, as stated above.  I wish you much luck and healing. twinmama

I think it depends on your level of recovery and the individual. I, personally feel that this site is beneficial to me in many ways beyond counting calories alone. I struggle with guilt about my body and food daily and I love to come into the site and have my thoughts about body image redefined. I feel like some of the people support me no matter what and that is encouraging.

You feed your own obsession, the website does not.

I am a fully covered bulimic/compulsive overeater/restricter, and this site only helped me get a reality check.

Your recovery is up to you. It is completely and 100% in your own head. You can decide to feed your obsessions, or you can decide to get over it.

People still engaging in their disorders always tell me, 'it's not that simple...you can't just get better.'

OF COURSE if you think that way it won't be that simple, because you won't let it be. I never said it was easy. But it IS simple. We overanalyze, overthink and over ponder it...Just do it! Help yourself! Set a goal to be better and prove to yourself that you can meet that goal!

Don't ever let someone else tell you what is and isn't destructive to you.

I think this sight is like anything else in this world...You will use what you need from it and you don't have to participate in what you don't want to...But I do feel the information is better then I have found on sights that you pay for..the recipe calculatioins,  the logs...you don't have to participate in the community..I really enjoy the opportunity to read and hear what other people are thinking..doesn't mean I have to agree or make judgements..just more information to think about...use or discard...but like shill it is nice to go someplace and know that people support you no matter what and encourage you to reach your goal...cp

"You can always find what you are looking for - question is...what are you looking for?"

I find this very true

If your dedicated to changing your life, and are ready to take that step once and for all, this is a GREAT place for you, but you have to be true to yourself. You have to learn to accept yourself before you can get to work on fixing your eating habbits, otherwise anything you do could be feeding your disorder =)

This website definately feeds my OCD, but only because I allow it to. I don't have to log on every day, but I do. In some ways, it even gives me relief because I know I have control of this area of my life. I love it!

We do need to count calories- at least I do- why do you think I became close to weighing 300 pounds! It's because I wasn't watching what I was eating and eating out too much.  I think finally I have realized that I really can't just do "mindless eating."  And I also need to exercise daily- I have at least 90 more pounds to go- but I know it will go! I also belong to the Slimfast website and they too count calories- I think most weight sites count calories- Even the tv. show contestants on Biggest Loser counted calories- it is life.  I know it would be easy to become obsessed but you just  have to realize this and not let yourself slip over the edge. We all need help and support.  This is a great support place...

I think jen32966..is very close to how I think..I am trying to learn to be more aware so I don't have to follow or write down and count but once I start shoving it in...I loose count...being aware is part of the solution and if counting calories is the metric then so be it....but the availability of this conversation does help make you feel that your not alone...weigh in on wednesday..I guess competition and somebody keeping track does help me...We all need help and support...this is a great support place..I am working on getting the exercise back into my schedule to jen32966..crossing my fingers for both of us...have a good day..cp

O.K....The member who posed the initial question has an eating disorder and is being guided through the psychology of the recovery process by a professional.  I would have to believe a therapist knows what's in the best interest of the member as it relates to the pros and cons of participating in forums/sites such as these with a diagnosed eating disorder.  It seems the advice of the therapist should be followed without question...

I think that this website can definitely fuel eating disorders. For some, yes, it may aide in realizing the negative things you're doing to your body. But on the reverse side of that, it can also make you realize how many calories are in something and make you want to restrict even more. I think it depends on your personality... I know a few people on this site whose eating disorders flared up worse because of this site.

"You can always find what you are looking for - question is...what are you looking for?"

I agree.

I came to this site because I was looking for a calorie database to enhance the food counts book I had just purchased.  I am so pleased with the resources that I have found on this site!   I didn't enter the community until recently and as a person who gew up with an anorexic mother and has struggled with disordered eating patterns I wasn't surprised to see some of the posts.  Yes, some of them make me want to cry as they bring up memories.  Some of these young women are suffering so much, and I've noticed that the ones that are posting extremely low caloric intake or disordered thinking are quickly corrected by other members.  Are they posting these things to fuel their own disorder?  Maybe.  Can they get the support that they are obviously lacking?  Absolutely.

This site has enhanced my own journey to better health and nutrition, and I can see how it can become an obsession to those who do not have EDs. Someone who is prone to obsessive behavior may misuse it, but can it be used for examples of proper eating behaviors.  I guess it depends on the individual.

I think that it can, there are few posters here that clearly have an eating disorder and I'm willing to bet pizza that they are using the database and information as an excuse to slide further into their depressions.  I'm sure there are even MORE members that don't post that use this site for the same purpose.

Which leads me to the question, how many of those elephants we lost are from people who shouldn't even be here at all?

to twinsdad and others, therapists are not God. For that matter, neither are doctors. The ONLY person who knows how to cure me, for example, is myself. Therapists can guide me to that point, and doctors can put my cells into alignment to facilitate healing, but when it comes down to it, I'm healing MYSELF.

I can't tell you how many times a 'professional' has wanted to do something that in retrospect would have had terrible consequences for me, but I followed my gut.

They've wanted to put me on Ritilin, Adderol, anti-seizure medication, anti-depressants, asthma medication, and more. I've declined each one because it just didn't feel right, and I'm fine. Better than fine, I've HEALED. And I've lost a lot of faith in the medical and psychiatric profession in general.

Therapists? Great. Honestly they can teach you a lot about yourself but very few will actually help you get over your problem. ESPECIALLY if you're not ready.

Truth is, there are probably a lot of anorexics and whatnot that log on every day.

So what?? They'd be doing it manual anyway...is that the website's fault??

I think the site's creators thought people would be able to discern for themselves as to whether or not using something like this is harmful.

Should we take nutrition labels off of things now because anorexics can find out the calorie content of what they eat and that's harmful for some of them? No! Deal with the issue itself.

Sure, this site can definitely feed into people's obsessions which may lead to an eating disorder, but the site itself is not to blame.  It's the mentality of the user and how he/she uses its tools.

Hmmmmm.....Would a person who has an eating disorder necessarily be able to discern what was best for them.  I'd respectfully opine NO. 

I don't think anyone for a second has 100% faith in doctors, psychologists or the like....at least I certainly do not.  I however put much more faith in a professional who is moderating a group in a more personally structured forum than an on line forum.  Remember, we're not talking about simply shedding pounds for these folks. 

That's does not mean I'm saying this site is not a good thing.  Keeping within the context of the discussion, it's probably not a good thing for someone who has all ready made the wrong choices on their own and fallen victim to an eating disorder to begin with.  There are MANY different opinions on a wide array of subjects.  Someone with a medical condition with the psychological aspects of an eating disorder is served better by a trained individual that knows of their circumstances more intimately than an on line chat forum could ever serve them.