Preschool children can learn to eat healthy foods, especially if their parents become good role models for eating correctly, according to a new study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Professor Debra Haire-Joshu divided parents and preschoolers into two groups. In the first group, children learned songs and games that promoted healthy eating. The second group received educational materials aimed at parents.

Parents in the second group changed their own eating habits to include more fruits and vegetables, which in turn influenced their children to do the same. However, overweight children in the study did not learn to eat in a more healthy way, even if their parents participated.

"Overweight children have already been exposed to salty sweet foods and learned to like them," said Dr. Debra Haire-Joshu, author of the study.

This study appears in Preventive Medicine.

Labels: healthy_eating, influences, parents

The latest dieting craze is called "Alternate Day Fasting," or ADF. Advocates say that the ADF regime is less dangerous than the fad it replaced - liquid detoxification diets - and two new studies seem to demonstrate that ADFs may produce some benefits.

A study from the University of California found that when mice eat only every other day, their fat cells shrink by 35 percent and they lose weight. Even if they eat only half as much every other day, their fat cells shrink 35 percent and they lose weight, although not as much as the first group. Another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who fasted every other day for 21 days lost 2.5 percent of their body weight and 4 percent of body fat.

Scientists believe that an ADF regime may stress the human body in a positive way, activating SIRT1, a gene that helps the body use fats in the bloodstream for energy.

Liquid detox diets usually last between three and 21 days, and involve drinking dandelion tea or special lemonades made with maple syrup, or eating only raw vegetables and fruits. The idea is to rid of the body of environmental pollutants and "cleanse" the organs. However, several people have died from water intoxication or suffered permanent brain damage after following such regimes.

Labels: death, dieting, fasting

In a move that is being praised by the Quebec Health Ministry and others, clothing chain La Maison Simons removed from distribution and destroyed catalogs that featured "stick-thin" models.

"Peter Simons... took full responsibility for the offending catalog, which the Montreal Gazette described as featuring 'twig-thin' models who looked like 'strange stick-insect humans.' Simons said he had failed to 'exercise proper attention, empathy and especially sensitivity and social responsibility.'"

La Maison president Peter Simons received about 200 e-mail complaints about the catalog, which was distributed in newspapers and stores throughout Quebec. Source: The Toronto Star

Labels: media_influences, modeling, role_models

A team of researchers from McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts, has discovered that the Alzheimer's drug Memantine may help curb binge eating episodes in people who suffer from the disorder.

"In their study, [study chief Dr. Brian] Brennan's team had 16 binge eaters take Memantine for 12 weeks. With treatment, the average number of binges per week fell significantly from 5.5 to 1.2 and the number of binge days per week dropped from 4.4 to 1.1, which was also significant."

The study also found that although binge episodes were reduced, the drug did not have an effect on body weight, depressive mood, or anxiety. Source: Reuters Health

Labels: binge_eating, drugs, medications

Becca's sister had suspected something was wrong. When she heard Becca throwing up in the bathroom, her suspicions were confirmed - Becca was struggling with bulimia. She immediately told her mom, and the two tried to get Becca some help.

"After months, the counselor told her family that the message just wasn't getting through and Becca was doing a lot of harm to her body. She has kidney problems, an ulcerated esophagus, bouts with chest pain, low blood pressure and is at risk of having a heart attack."

Becca is now in an inpatient program where her mom and sister are hoping she'll finally get the help she needs. Becca's family is sharing her story not only to raise awareness about bulimia but to bring attention to insurance companies who rarely cover eating disorder treatment. Source: The Daily Journal (MO)

Labels: awareness, family, support

An opinion piece in the DeKalb County (IL) Daily Chronicle asks for the state's governor to sign recently passed legislation which would require insurance companies to provide coverage for eating disorder treatment.

"Treatment often requires inpatient care. That can be expensive. The average cost for a month of inpatient treatment for an eating disorder is $30,000. It is estimated that individuals with eating disorders need anywhere from three to six months of inpatient care."

If the legislation is signed into law, Illinois would become the 17th state to mandate coverage for eating disorder treatment. Source: The Daily Chronicle (IL)

Labels: legislation, support, treatment

Organizers for London Fashion Week no longer plan to bar size zero models and will not require international health certificates proving the models are in good physical condition. The decision was made after industry executives refused to cooperate.

"Hilary Riva of the British Fashion Council said her international counterparts complained that proposals to make catwalk models pass a medical exam were expensive and intrusive. 'From our conversations with our international counterparts... it has become clear that they do not recognize the need for an international health certificate,' Riva said in an open letter posted on the council's Web site on Wednesday."

The medical exams would have cost $500, and many believed that models would have simply sought work in fashion shows where the certificates weren't required. Source: Associated Press

Labels: fashion, health, modeling

Author Marcia Herrin has released the second edition of her Parent's Guide to Eating Disorders. In it, she calls on her experience as an eating disorder survivor, a registered dietician, and a mother to advise and guide other parents whose children are struggling with eating disorders.

"The book focuses on using the Maudsley approach as an essential resource and on what parents may be able to do at home, with or without the use of a Maudsley-trained professional, to treat their child who has eating issues or an eating disorder."

The book includes step-by-step instructions for the Maudsley approach, a relatively new treatment that centers around family therapy and greater involvement by the parents in their child's treatment and recovery. Source: NursingCenter.com

Labels: parents, support, treatment

Nicole Roberge's struggle with anorexia nearly killed her. Her experience, combined with her concerns about eating disorders in young people, compelled her to speak to a group of middle school students in Connecticut.

"She emphasized healthy eating habits and shared her near-death experience with anorexia. Later, when a group of five students sat down to talk about their body image, most said they think life is easier for thin girls."

One young girl said that before hearing Nicole's story, she was considering not eating for a week, but Nicole helped her see how unhealthy and dangerous it was. Source: GateHouse News Service

Labels: death, health, support

Kelly was 30 years old and her life was consumed by her eating disorder, which had started 15 years earlier. Eating disorders are becoming more common among women 30 and older, and many of them have had the disorder since they were teenagers.

"When Kelly started going to group therapy, she was with younger girls. It made her feel bad to be reminded of how at that age, she felt invincible to the effects of eating disorders. 'I was like "Look what happens. Do you want it to follow you?"', she said."

Women in their 30s are more likely to take responsibility for their eating disorder, and many in the medical community hope younger sufferers will follow their lead. The sooner responsibility is taken, the sooner treatment and recovery can begin. Source: Charlotte (NC) Observer

Labels: adults, recovery, therapy

Our culture is obsessed with appearance, and it can affect a kid's self-esteem. Summertime (and the clothing that goes with it) can be especially difficult.

"So how can parents help their kids get over a poor sense of their physical selves? 'Compliment children's abilities and personal qualities, not just their looks,' [psychologist Laura Mills] says. Beyond calling them cute, note their ingenuity, bravery, co-ordination, curiosity or sunny disposition."

Parental affection also helps kids develop healthy self-esteem. The attention is soothing and can reinforce a child's positive feelings about his or her body. Source: Edmonton Journal

Labels: apperances, influences, media_influences

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have put out a call for local families that have a child between the ages of 12 and 18 suffering from anorexia and are willing to be part of a 16-week study. The study will compare two types of family therapy.

"One will teach families 're-feeding.' It will include a session where a counselor observes a family meal to determine how its dynamics have changed and how effective parents can be at encouraging their children to eat adequate amounts of food."

The second method will focus more on family counseling and dealing with adolescent issues that may trigger eating disorders. The study is being funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and will take place at six locations across the United States. Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Labels: family, research, study