Relax, Enjoy, Love your body
 this Holiday Season

Newswise — Do your body and your mind a favor this holiday season. Stop trying to fit into that skin-tight dress and wear something that fits.

If only more women would follow that advice, they might enjoy the holidays more, says Dr. Carolyn Cochrane, director of the Eating Disorders Program at The Menninger Clinic and assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine.

“There is such an emphasis on food at this time of year, while at the same time women feel an increased pressure to look their best,” Dr. Cochrane says. Many women diet to fit into form-fitting holiday clothing, she adds. “They tell themselves, everything will be fine if I can just fit into that dress.”

But the victory of fitting into that dress isn’t so sweet, if you feel too guilty to enjoy any sweets. Holiday parties present potential landmines for women who are self-conscious about their weight and appearance. Food is everywhere. Weight, diets and appearance are common cocktail chatter topics. To make matters worse, long-lost relatives or friends may comment on your appearance as a conversation starter.

“They might say, ‘Oh you look like you have lost weight,’ or even, ‘You look like you put on a few pounds.’” Dr. Cochrane says. “For someone who is concerned about their weight or has an eating disorder, the comments can be devastating.”

You could ignore those well-meaning, but misguided friends and relatives or address the issue head on.

“I would say something like, ‘Oh, do you worry about that kind of thing (weight)?’” Dr. Cochrane says. “But if they talk about weight and food on a regular basis, tell them ahead of time not to talk about these subjects in front of you. I tell my eating disorder patients to explain to people that when they talk about food and weight, it makes them sick. That usually does the trick.”

Dr. Cochrane offers additional strategies to help women not obsess about weight or appearance during the holidays.

· Find an outfit that fits. Wear something you are going to be comfortable in, so you don’t feel self-conscious about your body.
· Quit checking yourself out. “Avoid looking in every mirror you see,” Dr. Cochrane says.
· Focus on fun. “Remember that the holiday season is about creating memories with your family and friends, not about how you look in your holiday outfit. Try to enjoy it.”

Being a little self conscious about weight and appearance is normal in this age of skin-and-bones celebrities. But constantly thinking about how you look and what you should or shouldn’t eat could be a sign of a bigger problem.

“Anyone who talks or thinks about food more than five to 10 times a day may have an eating disorder,” Dr. Cochrane says. “They may need professional help.”