Eating disorder recovery can be a long and exhausting road to walk. When challenges in recovery arise, we often find ourselves in a place of needing to draw on a strength that seems it must come from outside of ourselves. Recent census reports indicate that about two-thirds of Americans and more than 75% of Texans report being of the Christian faith. So it seems that for many, this strength may come from Christian faith.

A growing body of research points to the value of integrating faith and spirituality in working through disordered eating and eating disorder recovery. As a company founded on Christian principles, this makes sense to us! Faith provides security of worth, purpose amid tumult, and tools for coping with challenging seasons. A recent review of available literature on faith and religion in recovery found that strong internalized religious beliefs and a secure relationship with God were associated with decreased disordered eating and body image concerns. Another study found that women reading faith-based body affirmations compared to similar affirmations without reference to God, felt better about their appearance. A 2010 study examined whether a secure relationship with God protected women from the impact of several risk factors for disordered eating including: body dissatisfaction, dieting, desire to be thin, and internalization of the thin ideal. The results of this study indicated that those who feel loved by God may be buffered from eating disordered risk factors. This is great news!

For those who identify as Christian believers and want faith to play a role in their recovery, we feel passionately about providing a place that allows you to do exactly that. We have recently launched our EDIC (Eating Disorder Recovery in Christ) program that combines evidence-based nutrition guidance with faith-based, Biblical nutrition counseling. Many of our dietitians are trained to use faith and Biblical truth to help you navigate recovery and building a relationship with food that is built on a firm foundation. If you are interested in our EDIC program, ask our scheduling team to add Christian integrated services to your session. You will then be placed with an eating disorder dietitian that is ready and excited to work through faith-based recovery with you. We can’t wait to walk with you on this journey!

References:

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/state/texas/

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/#:~:text=The%20Center%20estimates%20that%20in,Buddhists%20%E2%80%93%20totaled%20about%206%25.

Akrawi, D., Bartrop, R., Potter, U. et al. Religiosity, spirituality in relation to disordered eating and body image concerns: A systematic review. J Eat Disord 3, 29 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-015-0064-0

Boyatzis C., Kline S, et. Al. Experimental evidence that theistic-religious body affirmations improve women’s body image. Journal for the Scientific Study or Religion. Volume 46, issue 4. Page 552-564. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5906.2007.00377.x

Homan K., Boyatzik C. The protective role of attachment to God against eating disorder risk factors: concurrent and prospective evidence. The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. Volume 18, issue 3 (2010).