Comments on: Force feeding?

By: Steave

Steave — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:47:06 +0000

Interesting blog you got here. It would be great to read something more concerning that topic. Thnx for posting this info.

By: Zeri

Zeri — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:30:48 +0000

The word ‘force’ by at least one definition implies ‘violence’. ‘Required’ feeding might be a more accurate description….certainly more palatable to the semantically queasy?

By: KristineM

KristineM — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:14:54 +0000

Reading your blog, Dr. Ravin, makes me feel so hopeful for the future of treatment and family support for ED sufferers. The more clinicians like you who keep publicizing these truths, the sooner effective relief can come to all who have these grave disorders.

Regarding “force feeding”, I completely agree with your comments, including the wonderful sentence “But allowing the patient to engage in eating disorder symptoms is far more inhumane than force-feeding a patient to save her life, improve her health, and propel her towards full recovery.” Food is essential to life, as are fluids, air and warmth. When ill, there are medications and treatment that can be life saving. Why something so essential as complete nutrition can be considered optional in an eating disorder victim is incomprehensible. And, as many of us parents of these victims have discovered, a united front of parents and health care professionals that allows for no restriction of food, is often all that is needed to get the sufferer to start eating. The alternative is way too horrible for a patient to endure or for a parent to observe.

By: Haydée Foreman

Haydée Foreman — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:10:21 +0000

At first when I heard about this approach I thought parents were physically holding the child down and/or lifting the spoon to their mouths. This is the vision that “force feeding” brings to mind. I have never read about anyone on “Around The Dinner Table” parent’s forum doing that. Of course we are all (ideally) insisting on full nutrition and never waivering. My child’s eating the right ammount is absolutely non-negotiable.

Language is powerful and can be used for or against us. But we can also take charge of it the way homosexuals took back the term”queer”. Unlike Laura, it may be too soon for me to put on a bumper sticker that says “force feeder and proud of it!”

By: Laura Collins

Laura Collins — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:54:45 +0000

You are right, of course. We need not be afraid of the word “force,” but I am frightened by those who use it as a condescending epithet. The best use of the term “force-feeding” is really to distinguish the user’s perspective. No one in the FBT camp calls what they are doing “force feeding.” The only ones using the term are those who are disparaging the parent role in refeeding or buying into the idea that “it isn’t about the food.”

When I attend eating disorder events I always carry my metal sheriff’s badge, pinned to my belt. I wait for the term “food police” to come up, or “force feeding” so I can own and and be proud of it.