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Licensed clinical social worker, specializing in family therapy and eating disorders
Author of 10 books
Former adjunct graduate psychology professor, Wheaton College, Regent University
Ph.D., Old Dominion, Norfolk, VA; B.A., MSW, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Married to Norm; 2 children: Matthew and Kaitlyn
CBN.com – A Rising Epidemic
According to the American Heart Association, obesity (defined as higher than 30 on the Body Mass Index) is an epidemic and is threatening to overtake tobacco as the number one cause of preventable death. More than 300,000 adults will die in the United States this year due to obesity-related illnesses. Despite the billions spent on diet and health products, Americans are more overweight than ever. Some authorities insist that much of our society’s obesity comes from one source: carbonated sodas.
For more than 20 years, Linda has helped people with weight problems and eating disorders. She has worked with hundreds of people who have tried all kinds of diets, felt the agony of defeat, endured shame due to their size, and felt hopeless in terms of overcoming the compulsion to overeat.
Linda reminds us that physical hunger is rarely the trigger for overeating. She used food to cope with her brother’s death that happened during the summer before she left for college. Between the trauma of losing her brother and her first year in school, Linda used food to soothe her emotional pain. As a college freshman, Linda gained 15 pounds on her “cottage cheese diet” despite her active lifestyle as a cheerleader. Her diet consisted of bowls of cottage cheese and fruit. Then late at night, she would ingest fruit pies, chips, and chocolate from the vending machines in her dorm. Those extra calories added up to a shocking number and Linda failed to lose weight.
At the time, Linda had no idea that her eating was connected to her emotional pain. Her training as a therapist and her faith in God helped her understand her own personal situation. Gradually, as Linda came to grips with the connection between her grief and her eating habits, her need to eat for emotional reasons diminished. Linda lost 30 pounds and has kept it off for 20 years.
Emotional Eating
“This is not an easy topic,” says Linda. “But it is imperative to get to the root of why you are eating.” When you stop eating depends on why you are eating. Children often use food in response to physical or sexual abuse or in response to a number of other difficult circumstances. More people eat for emotional reasons than for physical reasons. Then once emotional eating becomes habitual, people overeat without understanding why. The connection between emotions and food needs to be brought to the forefront.
When you have the urge to eat, try to identify what you feel. Linda says that once these feelings are identified and dealt with openly, then they will no longer control any part of your life. Keep a prayer journal to document emotional swings, prayer requests, and answers to prayer. Make a list of 20 behaviors you can substitute for eating. Then choose these alternatives to eating when tempted. Get to the root of your overeating and resolve it. This may require counseling or additional support to make changes.
Making Wise Choices
In a culture of choices, we need to take responsibility for our actions and make good eating choices. “Our culture is immersed in abundance and indulgence. It’s all around us,” she says. “Our environment is not setting you up for success.” For some it may be confusing to be surrounded by so much love for food, yet our society focuses on the thin and beautiful.
While most weight-loss programs are designed to help people drop
pounds, many rebound to their old weight and even gain more. Linda
says it is important to incorporate healthy eating and exercise
along with fulfilling spiritual hunger. Be sensible. Develop good
eating habits and understand what triggers unhealthy eating.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
