Question:
Links between abuse and obesity

Where can I find documented evidence that can prove obesity is connected to childhood sexual abuse. Id be grateful to hear from anyone    — Sharyn B. (posted on September 13, 2003)

September 12, 2003
For any kind of research I love http://www.google.com/advanced_search
   — Chris T.

September 12, 2003
I can't give you evidence about obesity being in connection with childhood sexual abuse, other than from my own experience. Since, I've seen a therapist for this exact subject...I can relate. I was abused along with 18 of my 1st cousins (girls)as young children from our grandfather. Out of 19 that were sexually abused...16 are obese! All of us have /had or still fighting the demons with this issue!Self worth and self respect were always a battle for me, even when i was a size 7, because I felt dirty inside. It certainly wasn't my fault or the others...we were only 4-7 years of age or younger, but the memory of him still burns in my mind as it was yesterday and I'm 53. My husband was told several years after we were married and I seeked help after I began gaining weight several years ago. I finally decided to call my cousins and one by one as soon as I mentioned I was seeing a therapist for something from the past as a child, they said "OH No, not you too! THis was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders. All these years I kept this inside thinking I was the only one and there are 17 others just like me! Yes, this is connected to my obesity! No Longer will it get the best of me. BY me telling you this I'm healing. It will take time, but I will make it. Please seek help.... Just as loosing weight and feeling better .... being honest with yourself and opening up to what is the cause of the problems to begin with will only let you move on. Thank You Lord....I am free! Good Luck and God Bless! Lap RNY...2/11/03...-95 pounds/70 inches
   — Hazel S.

September 13, 2003
Try Pub Med. You don't want secondary or third hand accounts, you want primary literature. <p> Here is a summary of an article I found on Pub Med that was originally published in the Southern Medical Journal in July 1993: <p> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8322078 <p> You can search for more articles in their database.
   — Ali M

September 13, 2003
This is for Hazel, if she ever comes back to read this question: <p> After I posted my reply to the OP, I realized it sounded pretty insensitive to your story and I wanted to let you know I did not intend that. When I read the original question it sounded like she wanted some kind of documented study to help her with an insurance appeal or something along those lines. If that is what she needs, I just wanted to let her know that the dr.s that decide to authorize the surgery for insurance companies are going to want studies conducted by their peers that appear in recognized medical journals. <p> I really and truly was not trying to say your experience didn't count. I hate to think that something that awful happened to you and I am glad that you are getting the help you need.
   — Ali M

September 13, 2003
I will say that yes it does have a link. I learned this after I went into a 7 week intense in patient therapy 10 years ago to deal with the demons that I held from being sexually abused as a child. I was always a thin happy child until the abuse startted. After that I battled with bulimia and then just became a compulsive eater. I know alot of people say Dr Phil is an ass for his ideas on how to deal with being overweight, but I believe he is right on when he says until you deal with your underlying issues you will never be truly successful. I believe that is true even with WLS, you will lose the weight but never truly be happy until you resolve these issues. Good luck in your research~~~From victim, to survivor and now a thriver~~StephiAZ~~Open DS 08/12/02 335/191/160
   — Stephanie B.

September 13, 2003
http://www.weight.com/causes/abuse.html
   — MF

September 13, 2003
For me, solace was found in food. You've heard of stuffing your feelings down with a fork. But more so I believe it was a way to make myself 'unattractive' to my father. Putting up walls of fat protection probably made the little girl I used to be feel more secure.
   — Kimberley E.

September 13, 2003
I think that there is a definite connection. I was sexually abused as a child, which led to stuffing... the abuse started when I was really little and by the time I started kindergarten I was a compulsive overeater. As I grew up I went through years of self hate and abusive relationships. then i was raped when I was 27 and went through the whole hospital and court thing and gained more weight. The weight is like a protection for me. I have had years of counseling to deal with the things that have happened in my past. I don't want to abuse myself any longer because someone else chose to. i know that I still have issues with my weight being protection because I am a little anxious about being vulnerable and exposed to men once I lose the weight. I am looking for another therapist because my lap/rny is on 10-10-03. anyway, I think a good source would be to contact a local abuse crisis center that offers counseling. I think that they would be able to offer information and statistics and probably published studies. I would contact your local W.A.R. (Women organized Against Rape). I hope this helps. Lisa
   — Lisa H.