anorexia: a fatal religion

According to the all-knowing Wikipedia, religion is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth. What Wikipedia does not know is that religion and anorexia are interchangeable in this definition.

• The narratives are the stories of martyrdom and unconditional devotion to one’s eating disorder – poet Anne Sexton (1974), musician Karen Carpenter (1983), gymnast Christy Henrich (1994), Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston (2006).
• The symbols are the “thinspiration”photos that serve as motivation to choose anorexia nervosa as a lifestyle rather than an eating disorder.
• The beliefs are the negative assumptions about the self that are laced with self-deprecation and isolation – “I’m gross.” “I’m worthless.” “I’m lazy.” “I’m a bad person.”
• The practices are the consuming rituals involving food and exercise that make living unbearable.
• The higher power or deity is Ed, the “god” of eating disorders, who serves as the source and stimulus behind these distorted narratives, symbols, beliefs, and practices.
• And finally, the ultimate truth is nonexistent. But the search for this “ultimate truth” is what eventually leads to spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical death.

This parallel between eating disorders and religion is not farfetched – it actually dates back to girls and women in the Middle Ages who would starve themselves “in the name of God,” which has become known as anorexia mirabilis. The link between eating disorders and religion is also commonly alluded to by both victims of eating disorders and psychotherapists today. The Renfrew Center for Women with Eating Disorders has recognized this religion-eating disorder connection and recently developed a customized treatment track for the Orthodox Jewish community. It incorporates all of the priorities and practices important to the Jewish community, including kosher dietary laws, observation of the Sabbath and holidays, prayer and religious study, and home life and family life traditions.

Spiritual Approaches in the Treatment of Women with Eating Disorders by P. Scott Richards, Randy K. Hardman, and Michael E. Berrett is an excellent resource for practitioners and family members of those with eating disorders. The book discusses the victim’s spirituality or religious background as both a source of the disorder and drive for recovery.

The book references numerous studies in which religious fanaticism and eating disordered behavior are correlated. One study found that many anorexic participants referred to anorexia as a “spiritual quest.” The book also asserts that people have “an inherent need for a source of ultimate meaning in their lives” and that anorexia is “a distorted form of spirituality and a misguided way of life.”

Tova Brody, a 22-year-old Orthodox Jew in recovery from EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), believes that her religion played a large role in the development of her eating disorder. “By birth, I am an Orthodox Jew. I am religious in my actions and appearance, but I lack spirituality, or meaning behind my intentions. That is what prevents me from internalizing my actions, and that is part of the reason for my eating disorder.” She talks about finding a spirituality within herself that is more personal and less rigid than institutional religions.

Tova’s experience is consistent with the theory behind Spiritual Approaches. The book does not merely condemn religiosity and devotion to religion. It also suggests that “spiritual transformation is needed to overcome an eating disorder” and that “attending to religious and spiritual issues may be important in treatment and recovery.” The book correlates spiritual well-being with psychological health and positive attitudes about food and body shape.

The connection between ascetic religiosity and eating disorders is real. The link between recovery and inner spirituality is also real. The distinction between religion and spirituality – the discovery of a personal, inner spirituality – is an important step in recovery from an eating disorder.