Posted July 20, 2006
Case Study: Father Joe
Taken From St. Luke's Institute
Ellen M. Griffiths, RD, MPH
Clinical Dietician at Saint Luke Institute
Fr Joe is a 42-year old parish priest who was in a residential treatment
program two years ago for alcohol abuse. While in treatment he also
addressed a spending addiction. He was grateful for his experience in
treatment and has maintained sobriety since his discharge. He recently
completed the continuing care program and now feels ready to "do it on his
own." In addition to his regular duties, he has begun several new endeavors
at the parish, including writing the history of the parish. He is also
managing the care of an elderly aunt in a nearby assisted living facility.
Within the parish he is the liaison for disseminating information about
community twelve step programs.
In the past year Fr. Joe began working more and more, sometimes 14 to 16
hours a day. He has stopped exercising and his eating habits are both
sporadic and excessive at times. He frequently skips lunch or grabs some
chips or other snacks that he can easily eat in the car. He likes pastry and
seems to rely on the sugar to give him a "lift" later in the day. He usually
eats dinner alone and often later in the evening in front of the television.
In the parish house little attention is given to the health dimensions of
food except to ensure that there is plenty of food available. The cook is
grateful to Fr. Joe for his pastoral care to her family and she shows her
appreciation by preparing rich foods in large quantities. Each evening he
finds it very difficult not to overeat, and he also does not want to hurt
the cook's feelings.
Two years ago, immediately after treatment, Fr. Joe had semiannual
physicals, exercised three times a week and was conscious of his health. In
the past year he has stopped exercising and skipped his physicals. Recently
he visited his primary care physician and he learned that he had gained 15
pounds since the last physical, 30 pounds since completing treatment, and
his blood pressure and triglyceride lipids were elevated. High blood
pressure runs in Fr. Joe's family and he knew that he should have checked it
more frequently. He suspected the weight gain since his clothes fit snugly
but he was shocked by how much he had gained. When he left the doctor's
office, Fr. Joe was depressed and felt like a failure because of his
unhealthy pattern of living. He is now concerned about the consequences of
his actions and he questions if he is addicted to food.
Consequences of Weight Gain
Significant weight gain (30 pounds or more) after the age of 25 is
compromising Fr. Joe's health. Being overweight puts him at high risk for
three common, chronic conditions: diabetes, high blood pressure and abnormal
blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Fr. Joe's risk for major heart disease
is increased by the presence of high blood pressure and elevated blood
triglycerides. His blood triglyceride levels are influenced by the quality
of his diet. Rich fatty foods and sugars are significantly impacting his
weight and health.
In addition to the physical consequences, Fr. Joe's weight gain has
psychological implications as well. He feels depressed and demoralized as he
sees himself as a failure. He seems to be unaware of the circumstances that
have led to this lack of balance in his life and unconscious of how he may
be using food as a mood changing substance as he once had used alcohol and
spending.
Weight Gain -- A Wake Up Call
Fr. Joe's weight gain can be used as an opportunity for learning and need
not signal defeat. Learning how to handle mistakes in judgment and lapses in
self-awareness are important parts of maintaining a healthy life. Fr. Joe
needs to remember that he is vulnerable to anything that gives an emotional
uplift (the "high") as a temporary escape ('the fix") from everyday reality.
By examining how he is using food in a similar way to how he used alcohol
and spending, he may come to see more fully that he can easily become
habituated to the emotional experience ('the rush") of any behavior offering
such experience. Fr. Joe's weight gain can help him to look at what he is
trying to escape and what is missing in his life. A change in eating habits
will depend on increasing awareness of what underlies his behavior.
Fr. Joe needs to remember that prioritizing physical health is not a luxury
but appropriate behavior for him as a person who values life. And, time
spent invested in good health practices generally means a longer, higher
quality of life in later years. The twelve step model shows that Serenity
(Balance) is a result of Spiritual, Emotional and Physical Health. The
serenity we seek is gained when all aspects of recovery are addressed in a
balanced manner.
Fr. Joe also needs to take some responsible and adaptive action. Annual
check-ups with his health care professional will help ensure that
preventable conditions have not festered. Investment of time educating the
cook or having her talk with a dietitian about careful food selection and
preparation is nominal compared to the expenditure of resources once disease
is present. Finally a commitment to regular exercise can benefit Fr. Joe in
countless ways. Learning to take time for his physical health is a critical
aspect of self-care, another step in maintaining balance.
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