Monitoring weight and body shape, often in the name of health and feeling better, is so pervasive in our culture that is rarely questioned. It is now the norm, and those who don’t monitor their bodies' are suspected of not caring for themselves. I am concerned that the opposite may be true. That monitoring weight and body shape may not always be a sign that people care for themselves.

Eating disorders are ways of coping that involve an extreme focus on food, eating and weight, and are experienced by both men and women. They include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. These eating disorders are not choices one makes. They literally hijack a person until they have no control over their behaviors, and can have serious emotional and physical problems with life-threatening consequences.