Wayne Callaway, M.D., an endocrinologist in private practice in Washington, DC, often treats survivors who use food to pad themselves as a defense against future assault. The typical characteristic of that person is that she diets and loses weight, but as the pounds begin to disappear, she becomes more and more anxious. Although food may be entangled in the complex emotional effects of abuse, the result ultimately may be serious damage to the body. If she is able to continue on her semi-starvation diet, her metabolic rate gets slower and slower, so she burns fewer calories and feels tired and cold. The news is equally bad about yo-yo dieting, in which a few pounds come off, only to be put right back on.
Researchers now believe yo-yo dieting can have a detrimental effect on the heart.
Kenler's clients participate in a multidisciplinary program that includes group and individual therapy. In her nutritional counseling sessions, she works with them on changing small aspects of their behaviors and attitudes about foods. As people who were subjected to egregious violation of their internal limits, they may see life as extremes. For some, any restrictions may feel like they are being controlled by another's idea of what's good for them. Learning To Hood Our Hungers Learning to eat when we're hungry, stop when we're not, and pay reasonable attention to the kinds of foods we eat is not easy.