"Eating disorders become the person's primary focus, and interest in real relationships fades into the background," said Kari Anderson, program director at Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia. "The main reason for the isolation is to practice the eating disorder without interruption."

Women with eating disorders become uncomfortable in social situations and many times opt for solitude. Many choose to isolate themselves because of interpersonal difficulties such as social anxiety disorder, problems knowing how to relate to others and conflicted relationships.

Women suffering from anorexia isolate themselves more and more as their anorexia becomes visually apparent and they look more emaciated. They avoid social interaction because it no longer fosters positive feedback.

"In the early stages of anorexia, the woman often receives positive comments about her weight loss and thin appearance," adds Anderson. "Then at some point as the disorder progresses, comments turn negative as friends and relatives begin to tell her she should eat more and that the dieting has gone too far. Because of the need to protect her eating disorder, these words are unwelcome."

Many avoid social gatherings because they involve food when certain self-imposed food rituals, rules and guidelines can't be practiced in front of others.

Women suffering from bulimia require a great deal of time alone. A lot of time is spent acquiring tremendous amounts of food, ingesting it, purging it through vomiting or exercise, and then getting rid of the evidence such as wrappers, food containers and bags. Additionally, women with bulimia may avoid social gatherings because they fear negative comments about their weight, since they often believe they are overweight even when they are not.

"Isolation intensifies the eating disorder," adds Anderson. "Alone in the world of her eating disorder, a woman can become consumed with her obsessive thoughts about food, calories, weight, fat grams and self-hatred."

About Remuda Ranch Programs for Anorexia and Bulimia

Remuda Ranch is a caring place for women and girls who are suffering from ever-increasing levels of anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorder related issues. Remuda Treatment Centers offer professional, Biblically based programs exclusively dedicated to the professional treatment of females suffering from eating disorders. Each resident is treated by a team of six professionals including a psychiatric and primary care provider, registered dietitian, Masters-trained therapist, psychologist and registered nurse. The professional staff equips each resident with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life. For more information, call 1-800-445-1900 or visit http://www.remudaranch.com/ .