Churches in particular foster eating disorders with endless potlucks, ice cream socials, etc. I came to the church, someone said I was a mature Christian and should be able to eat a piece of cake. Eating is guaranteed to provide a RUSH which will temporarily relieve anxiety. Some people make the assumption that eating disorders basically affect only women. This is simply not true.
People react differently to women than they do to men who are obviously obese.
They feel they must protect their ego by being in the best humor possible. Inside, they secretly die. Mother may have used sugar cookies or a slice of chocolate cake to placate a whiney moment or reward good behavior. For others, overeating problems develop later on, perhaps following childbirth or during the physiological changes that take place during midlife. Even our Lord's birthday celebration of Christmas brings with it too many temptations to indulge ourselves, and we become totally overwhelmed.