Just watch @DocResilience. The correlation between obesity/disordered eating and childhood sexual abuse is heartbreaking. @suzannezeedyk https://twitter.com/suzannezeedyk/status/1289246416410304512

I have been pondering this overnight. @suzannezeedyk’s tweet and this @guardian article by Eleanor Campbell raise such important points. Yes, Boris, you might view shaming people and putting calories into menus is a good way of tackling the very real health risks of obesity. 1/8 https://twitter.com/lenabellina/status/1289342219585912832

But you might also consider that what has shamed people into using food as a distraction from unbearable feelings is often child abuse. Nourishing ourselves and taking care of ourselves are only possible when we feel worthy of nurture and care. 2/8

If the actions of an adult have made a child feel that (s)he is disgusting and shameful, food can be a useful weapon in the war against those feelings. Sometimes eating too much and gaining weight is the weapon of choice. By “comfort” eating, we attempt to feel better. 3/8

By putting a layer of “protection” between ourselves and a world that feels unsafe and untrustworthy, we try make sure that we aren’t exposed and hurt again. Except of course that then we are attacked and shamed because of the way we look. 4/8

Or maybe our weapon of choice in the battle against unbearable feelings of shame is to starve ourselves and make ourselves so sharp, angular and spikey that no-one will attack us. Except of course that on the whole starving yourself to death isn’t a great solution. 5/8

Maybe a better solution would be to address the systemic refusal in much of society to tackle child abuse. To call out the tolerance of abusers in the highest echelons of society. To stop victim blaming and shaming. To offer support and therapy and love to victims. 6/8

I wrote a book about this a while back. Don’t buy it but please read it for free on amazon download for the next five days 7/8 https://read.amazon.co.uk/kp/embed?asin=B01KP8XT86&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_yNodyb2G7M8DZ&reshareId=S96S2FVGPR31Z0WGK48Q&reshareChannel=system

I also recorded a podcast version at the start of lockdown in case people are struggling to concentrate on reading. Please share? https://open.spotify.com/show/6fYtR94Xjo2HdrK0f2wDIu?si=rxjN6BcIT9WYO2kuW3fo-g 8/8