A University of Minnesota study found that teenage girls who frequently read dieting articles were more likely to use unhealthy weight loss practices five years later. Middle school girls who read dieting articles were twice as likely to use fasting or cigarettes to try and lose weight five years later.

"It didn't seem to matter whether the girls were overweight when they started reading about weight loss, nor whether they considered their weight important. After taking those factors into account, researchers still found reading articles about dieting predicted later unhealthy weight loss behavior."

The study also found that the actual content of the articles was nearly irrelevant. Even articles that made healthy suggestions like cutting back on soda had the same adverse effects. Read more at MSNBC.com.

New Leaf Academy is a junior boarding school just for middle school girls.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, dieting, media_influences

Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from a binge-eating disorder. More people are affected by binge-eating than anorexia and bulimia combined, and about 40 percent of them are men.

"People who binge use food as an anesthetic for agitation, anxiety, anger or any uncomfortable feelings. When you binge, you're psychologically stuffing down negative emotions and swallowing them, before they can reach the surface."

Warning signs of binge-eating disorder include eating in secret/cutting off social contacts, eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, and eating so quickly that you don't taste anything you're eating. Read more at C-N.com.

Labels: binge eating, causes of eating disorders, emotions

The web referral database recoveryconnection.org has begun offering help for patients who are struggling with eating disorders.

"Previously only catering to those seeking treatment for drug addiction or alcohol detox, the referral database has been upgraded to include the latest information for those seeking treatment for anorexia, bulimia, compulsive/binge eating, and other eating-related disorders."

If left untreated, eating disorders can lead to serious health issues, and can even cause death. Read more online.

Labels: drugs, support, treatment

Pro-anorexic web sites have been in existence nearly as long as the Internet itself. But in the past they've been hard to find. Now, with the advent of social networking sites and web sites like YouTube, pro-anorexic information is getting easier to find.

"Eating disorder charities have called on social websites to look closely at their online material. Susan Ringwood, chief executive of the charity Beat, said: 'Pro-anorexic sites weren't easy to find and most responsible internet providers would cut them out. But on the networking sties there isn't the same control over them at the moment. Some of the more hardcore stuff does seem to be getting on to these sites. We are concerned that this is a trend.'"

Some disagree that the videos can trigger or support eating disorders and feel that if they're banned from YouTube, they'll simply show up again somewhere else. Read more at Technology.Timeslonline.co.uk.

Teens suffering from eating disorders or other issues can find help at a residential treatment center, like The Aspen Institute.

Labels: networking_websites, pro-ana, responsibility

Though it's not officially considered an eating disorder, a new type of obsession with anorexia is becoming increasingly popular. It's been labeled "wannarexia" and refers to girls who want to have an eating disorder because they believe it will make them popular.

"While some experts say these girls likely have body image issues or could develop a more serious eating disorder, wannarexics usually range between healthy and overweight. They are often rejected by those with eating disorders for minimizing a serious illness."

The danger is that the desire to have an eating disorder can easily trigger disordered eating habits, which could lead to diagnosable anorexia - and all the issues that come with it. Because wannarexia is not an actual diagnosis it can be difficult to determine if someone truly has an eating disorder, or is just pretending. One primary difference is that wannarexics will derive some pleasure from losing weight, while an anorexic is never satisfied, no matter how much weight he or she loses. Read more at KARE11.com.

Unfortunately, some teens believe that using drugs will also make them more popular. Learn about the dangers of drugs and teens and how to help your child at Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: body_image, influences, self-esteem

Professor Steven Thomsen, Ph.D., of Brigham Young University recently conducted a survey of health and beauty magazine readers that has some disturbing results.

"Among the nearly 500 students he surveyed, Thomsen found abundant evidence of unhealthy weight control practices in the previous year. Eleven percent of the participants reported that they had used laxatives, 15 percent had taken diet pills, 9 percent induced vomiting, and 52 percent said they had restricted their caloric intake to under 1,200 calories per day."

Thomsen found that women who read health and fitness magazines were much more likely to have used unhealthy methods to control their weight. More significantly, he found that women who read the magazines already had disordered thinking about weight and body image, and simply turned to the magazines for support. Read more at PsychologyToday.com.

Learn about teen drug and alcohol abuse at the TeenHelpDirectory.com.

Labels: dieting, healthy_eating, media_influences

Laxatives are common ammunition in the weight loss arsenals of people with eating disorders. The belief is that a stimulant laxative like Ex-Lax speeds up weight loss by purging food (and the accompanying calories) from the body quickly. Not only is that untrue, but the misuse of stimulant laxatives can severely damage one's body.

"Damage to nerve endings in the colon is also a very real concern because these nerve endings are what the body relies on to excrete waste from the body. If the stimulant laxatives render these nerve endings useless, then the result could be a total loss of control over bowel movements and even leaking of the rectum. Taking extra laxatives to try to resolve this problem could permanently damage nerve endings."

Because stimulant laxatives work on the colon, which is at the end of the digestive system, most calories have already been absorbed. So the use of laxatives not only increases, dramatically, a person's health risks, but the desired result (purging of food and calories before they're absorbed into the body) is medically impossible. Read more online.

Teen drug and alcohol abuse can be symtoms of a larger issue. Find out more at DrugRehabTreatment.com.

Labels: dangers_of_eating_disorders, health_care, long_term_effects

Women's magazine Redbook can be added to the ever-growing list of women's magazines that have been 'caught' re-touching celebrity photographs. The original, untouched photo of country singer Faith Hill appeared on the web site Jezebel.com, alongside the re-touched version that was used for Redbook's cover. It has reignited heated discussions and outcries about the unrealistic images portrayed in women's magazines.

"...experts say the Hill photo has struck a particular chord because the singer is already a beautiful, thin woman - calling into question the beauty industry's idea of 'perfection.' 'Do you know anyone who is female who wouldn't want to look like the real Faith Hill?' asks Michael Levine, professor of psychology at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. 'And yet looking like Faith Hill isn't enough for the [beauty] business.'"

Boston family therapist Carleton Kendrick says the biggest problem with these deceptive photos is the toll it takes on women and young girls, affecting their self-esteem and body image. Redbook explains away its actions by stating that a magazine cover is a 'beautiful image' much like an album cover or movie poster and that it's not supposed to be a real or accurate picture. But critics feel the statement is simply an excuse for continuing with business as usual. Read more online.

Adolescent substance abuse can often hide other, deeper emotional problems. Learn how to help your child at the Teen-Help-Directory.com.

Labels: body_image, media_influences, self-esteem

The Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia has so many new anorexia cases - amid a decrease in funding - that it's been forced to close its doors to new patients. Admissions among 10- to 13-year-olds alone have increased from three in 2003 to 43 last year.

"State Government funding has not increased to meet demand and despite pleas for help the hospital, which does not have the staff to deal with so many cases, has been forced to reduce its eating disorder beds from twelve to six, and limit new admissions."

The hospital recently admitted a 13-year-old girl who was so sick that she went immediately to intensive care. Exacerbating the situation is a lack of outpatient resources such as counseling. Read more at TheAge.com.

Luckily, here in the US, we have private residential treatment centers, like Island View in Utah, which can help children with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Visit www.islandview-rtc.com for more information.

Labels: children, hospitals, treatment

When Debbie was rushed to hospital after a suicide attempt, she weighed just 86 pounds. Her secret goal was 81 pounds. She spent six weeks in the hospital, re-gaining weight and talking with a psychiatrist about her eating disorder and what might be causing it.

"Over a period of weeks, Debbie began to feel physically stronger and more hopeful. After the first week of hospital care she no longer required tube feedings... But as closely as she was watched, at times, if she got a chance, she still was able to vomit. Nonetheless, the urge somehow had seemed to weaken. Sometimes, although she had the opportunity, she didn't even think about it."

When she left the hospital, she weighed 96 pounds and was beginning to think more about her future. She refers to her time in the hospital as a "nightmare" and though she'd rather not think about it, she knows she needs to remember how she ended up there if she wants to ensure that she never ends up there again. Read more at American-Reporter.com.

Eating disorders can be just one of the issues facing a troubled teen. Often teenagers struggling with uncontrollable emotions turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their problems. Learn more about troubled teens and the ways you can help at www.4troubledteens.com.

Labels: cures, surviving, treatment

When people talk about eating disorders, they most often talk about women and young girls. But people are beginning to recognize that many young men also struggle with eating and body image issues.

"[Francesca] Maresca said women focus on having smaller frames, but there is a reverse body dysmorphia for men. The difference between men and women with negative body-image issues, Maresca said, is that 'men believe they're not muscular enough, they want to bulk up and get bigger.'"

Psychiatrist Dr. Steven Dyckman said he's seen an increase in the number of male patients who have eating disorders and body image issues. He believes the pressure for men to look a certain way is becoming equal to the pressure women face. Read more at THNT.com.

Equine Therapy is a form of treatment that works when traditional talk therapy fails. Aspen Ranch offers one of the best equine therapy programs for troubled teens.

Labels: body_image, boys, manorexia

Eating Disorder clinics are seeing more and more older women seeking treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Few of those women are battling eating disorders for the first time.

"Of [The Renfrew Center]'s patients over age 30 in 2005, about 60 percent first suffered from an eating disorder at 18 or younger."

Some speculate that an increase in stress or a traumatic event like a death or divorce may be what triggers the disordered eating to resurface. Read more at MentalHopeNews.blogspot.com.

A residential treatment center can help teens or young adults get to the root of their emotional or behavioral issues and set up a treatment plan. Learn more at AspenAssessment.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, cures, treatment

A recent study by Harvard Medical school found a higher than expected prevalence of binge eating disorders among Latinos. The study consisted of over 2,500 people - 1,127 males and 1,447 females.

"'This was the first really national study of this issue,' [Margarita Alegria] said. 'And while we thought the rates would be what we found for anorexia, we didn't expect binge eating to be so high and the access to treatment so low.'"

Alegria, the principal investigator in the study, said binge eating may be partially attributed to the Latino lifestyle. The study also found that the prevalence of eating disorders increased the longer someone has been living in the United States. Read more at TheCrimson.com.

Residential boarding schools can offer a structured environment that can benefit many teenagers. Find one at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: research, study, treatment