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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-10-14, Page 3CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1987—Page 3 Cultural stress is responsible for eating disorders By Shelley McPhee-Haist CLINTON - The lean figure of a girl, slender, small, almost "boyish" in ap- pearance. The figure of a pre -adolescent female, small breasts, small hips, flat ab- domen, few curves - such is the notion of a beautiful woman's figure today. Gone are the times when the full figured woman was thought to be sensuous and physically attractive. No longer are large breasts, rounded hips or shapely legs seen as signs of physical beauty in the trendy world of women's fashions. The age of the well rounded, well endowed Renaissance - woman is now considered obsolete. Today women strive for a look that calls for a thin, angular body of a young girl. It's a "tubular shaped" body, according to Dr. Kathy Berg and women's preoccupation to have such a figure is a major factor related to eating disorders. Dr. Berg, a London psychologist, was the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Huron -Perth Centres for Children and Youth. The September 23 meeting attracted a large audience who came to hear her speak on the topical subject of eating disorders, in particular Anorexia and Bulimia. Dr. Berg is widely known as a specialist in the research and treatment of eating disorders. She has concentrated her studies on eating disorders for some five years and .works as a clinical psychologist at the University of Western Ontario, as well as maintains a private practice in London. Cultural stress in the '80s Dr. Berg says that eating disorders, in part, are magnified by cultural stress. Over the past 20 years there has been a shift to the' revering of a thin body. It is promoted and glorified in magazines, in fashion, in films, on television. Great emphasis is placed on being thin, on being fit. Thinness is associated with being a more successful woman, a more attractive woman, more popular, more intelligent. Thin women are admired for their self- control, for their ability to govern their bodies, both with diet restrictions and through physical fitness. They are seen as perfectionists, as strong individuals with a keen sense of discipline ' and responsibility. Such is the mystic of a thin, beautiful woman. Dr. Berg says, "The glorification of youth and the beautiful body does not fit in with the aging female, particularly those who have had children." Despite the dictates of fashion trends, most women have a difficult task making their bodies conform to the rigid re- quirements of "beauty" in the 1980s. "It's hard to find a woman that is satisfied with her body," Dr. Berg says. Over the last 20 years, she notes, the average female under the age Of 30 has gain- ed more weight because of better nutrition. The fat phobia Most women think they are too fat. Most women dilat,:Mostwomen face the torments of a society that has a prejudice against obesity. "There's a stigma about being Dr. Kathy Berg, Ileft) a clinical psychologist from London was the guest speaker at the Huron -Perth Centres for Children and Youth annual meeting. She spoke on eating disorders. A large crowd heard her topical discussion on anorexia and bulimia. Meeting for further discussion were Pat Lane of the Community Psychiatric Service in Wingham, Dr. Lesley Rourke of Goderich and Dr. Mario Cauchi of Goderich. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) overweight. 'There's a fat phobia in our society," says Dr. Berg. To be overweight is considered to be less successful, less intelligent, less attractive. Still, inspite of the prejudices and exag- geration placed on physical beauty and thin- ness, only a small percentage of the popula- tion fits the mold. Only three to five per cent of the population falls into the ideal range of body image. The rest of us struggle. Eating disorders cut across all age and socip-cultural boundaries. It affects young people, it affects old people, from teenaged girls to octogenarians. Eating disorders most commonly trouble females to the tune of 90 to 95 per cent. Eating disorders become a way of life, an obsession. 'Thinness becomes a major source of self-esteem and fills an area of personal inadequacy. Women with eating disorders live with the notion that thinness will make their lives happier. "She losses five pounds and her life is no different. She tries to lose another five pounds, and on, and on," Dr. Bergs explains. There are assumptions associated with anorexia, notions that thinness will bring greater admiration from others, more power and control over their lives, greater self-confidence and lessened feelings of pressure. They believe that while overweight people are second class citizens, a thin person has more rights, greater choices. Dr. Berg ex- plains, "It gives me the right to choose men, to choose clothes, to be in sports, to choose foods." Thursday, October 15th is CREDIT UNION DAY A time to take pride! Credit Union memebers can be justifiably proud of the suc- cess achieved through co-operation. Together, a thriving financial organization has been built — one that has the best interests of the members at heart. By sharing in the owner- ship of their Credit Union, members enjoy first rate finan- cial services, security and a whole lot more. If you're not yet a member, Credit Union Day is the perfect time to drop by and find out just how easy it is to join and share in the success. Come Join us for complimentary COFFEE & DONUTS ALL DAY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 all carill, NIP. Clinton Community CREDIT UNION Credit Union 70 Ontario St. Clinton 482-3467 Personal conflicts People who have eating disorders often suffer with great internal conflict and in- securities. They often harbor fears of rejec- tion, and fears about sexuality. They talk about the fight for independence in their lives, and, on the contrary they also deal with fears of becoming too powerful. They fear rejection if they are seen as being overweight, and they fear rejection if they become too thin. ."People with eating disorders face a great Ileal of conflict about what they should and should not do." Dr. Berg says that treatment is a slow and delicate process. She works to have her clients challenge the facts and correct their misconceptions about dieting and weight. She aims to promote a positive self-image. She also spends a part of her treatment time focussing on the family background of her client. Family factors vary greatly in the per- sona of a someone who suffers from an eating disorder. Debbie grew up in a family where only her father was allowed to eat dessert. Karen's brothers teased her about being overweight. Jennifer's family went on the Scarsdale Diet for lengthy periods. Sandra's mother was always on a diet. Sandra helped record her daily food charts. Gwen was a good gymnast at school. Her parents controlled her food intake in an ef- fort to keep their daughtef:s body slim and trim for her gymnasticA. Variety of influences Dr. Berg sees a wide range of familial in- fluences in her work with those people who suffer from eating disorders. Some come from closely knit families. Such individuals have never really developed a support system outside the family. They are primarily dependent on their immediate families. Others come from rigid families, where the parents set firm rules of discipline that are the same for their 10 year old child as their 17 year old child. There is no room for flexibility. Their children do not have the freedom to make their own choices or their own mistakes. ' There are overprotective families, where parents become too greatly involved in their children's lives. They become so preoc- cupied with their children, that the child feels pressured to constantly seek parental approval. Others come from families that put em- phasis on emotional constraints, where children are not allowed to vent feelings of anger, discouragement or depression. Children learn to silence their feelings, to keep emotions bottled inside. The typical anorexia sufferer is "the good little girl who is fighting for independence," Dr. Berg suggests. Some anorexics see themselves as the children who must work to make their parents happy, to save the family. They feel a great burden of guilt for all the things that their parents have done for them over the years. Anorexics aim to be perfect. Some aim to have control over their lives. Dr. Berg says, "The desire for self-control is central to anorexia. They have control over what they eat." Early treatment Early diagnosis and careful treatment of eating disorders is crucial to hopes of suc- cessfully combating the problem, Dr. Berg says. It is not an easy task. "The family of an anorexic often vacillate between two poles, by trying to get their daughter to eat more or at other times giv- ing up on her. This causes more anger, more conflict. The whole family needs counsell- ing. Sometimes the family also maintains the disorder. Well meaning parents accuse their daughter if they attempt to force feed an anorexic child." Dr. Berg says that force feeding an anorexic person should only be used as a last resort, life saving measure for those who are close to death. "Force feeding under estimates a per- son's self esteem. You take away their last vestige"of self control." Dr. Berg stresses the early treatment of eating disorders to prevent a chronic pro- blem or before it becomes an addiction. She stresses that families, teachers, doctors should be made knowledgable of eating disorders and should be able to recognize early symptoms. She notes, "It's the wrong attitude to think that the child will grow out of the problem." Dr.. Berg says that people with eating disorders can be fully recovered, but in this day and age, society pressure and ideals will continue to be tough obstacles to counteract. "Yes there can be full recovery," she says, "but a female living in this culture will always come up against food and weight concerns as long as the culture remains the same." ii £. $ Produce Ontario 5 Fresh Dug, Ontario RED or WHITE POTATOES 10 �a. BAG ... LB. BAG ... BOSC or ANJOU PEARS 50 LB. BAGS AVAILABLE Fresh From The Tropics BANANAS Fresh From Our Own Bakery DUTCH APPLE PIE 2.89 Ib. 37, CLINTON FARM MARKET 212 Victoria St. (Hwy. 4 South) Clinton MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY 9 A.M. 7 P.M. THURSDAY & FRIDAY 9 AM - 9 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9 AM 6 P' 0 0f Ck 1.3 V s;x �f�t 0 r� z PROCLAMATION . WHEREAS Town and Country Homemakers is a member of the On- tario Association of Visiting Homemaker Services, a non-profit association dedicated to increasing awareness of the positive con- tribution that homemakers have made and continue to make, THEREFORE: I, Mayor John A. Balfour, by the powers vested in me do declare October 18 to 24, 1987 as "Visiting Homemakers Week", and encourage community members to join in commen- ding the thousands of Homemakers whose valuable services con- tribute greatly to the health and welfare of our Huron County and Province. John A. Balfour MAYOR TOWN OF CLINTON ii £. $ Produce Ontario 5 Fresh Dug, Ontario RED or WHITE POTATOES 10 �a. BAG ... LB. BAG ... BOSC or ANJOU PEARS 50 LB. BAGS AVAILABLE Fresh From The Tropics BANANAS Fresh From Our Own Bakery DUTCH APPLE PIE 2.89 Ib. 37, CLINTON FARM MARKET 212 Victoria St. (Hwy. 4 South) Clinton MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY 9 A.M. 7 P.M. THURSDAY & FRIDAY 9 AM - 9 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 9 AM 6 P'