Eating Disorders Help Guide

Welsh Study Reveals Pervasive Misunderstanding of Eating Disorders

2010-03-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

New research out of Wales has revealed that a shockingly high number of people still have gross misconceptions about eating disorders and their causes.

"A survey commissioned by the charity Beat reveals that one in five people in Wales do not believe that eating disorders are a serious mental health problem. And a quarter of people questioned in Wales believe that people only get eating disorders because they want to lose weight." [Source: Wales Online]

The study also found that many people think eating disorders are just a teenage “fad,” something kids will grow out of as they get older. The survey results are disappointing, and prove that there is still much work to be done to help people understand the true nature of eating disorders.

Eating Disorders Becoming More Common in Women Over 30

2010-03-02T09:42:00.000-08:00

Eating disorders are most common among teenagers and young adults. But the medical community is seeing more older adult women who are struggling with disordered eating and poor body image.

Moifa Thomas of Sun-Times Media reported on the phenomenon in a March 2 article:

Lynn Grefe, chief executive officer of the National Eating Disorders Association, said the group hasn't done formal research on the trend, but, "anecdotally, we are hearing more and more cases of women over 30" seeking treatment.

Nationally, one-fourth of hospital stays involving eating disorders in 2005-06 were for people 30 to 45 years old, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Fifteen percent of hospitalizations involved 45- to 64-year-olds.

Psychiatrists’ Group Calls on Media to Curb Use of Unrealistic Images

2010-02-26T03:40:00.000-08:00

A British psychiatrists' organization has announced a campaign to curtail media use of unrealistic body images, which have been accused of promoting disordered eating and undermining the self-image of many consumers.

A Feb. 23 Medical News Today article reported on the effort:

The Royal College of Psychiatrists' (RCPsychs') Eating Disorders Section said the media should be portraying images of more diverse body shapes and helping people feel positive about their bodies.

They also want a kite mark scheme to be introduced whereby a symbol appears on images that have been digitally enhanced to make a model's body appear more perfect.

The RCPsychs are urging the government to address the issue by establishing a new Forum with representatives from the media, advertisers, experts and organizations on eating disorders, regulatory bodies and politicians.

Dr Adrienne Key, a consultant psychiatrist and member of the RCPsych Eating Disorders Section told the press earlier today that the aim of the Forum should be to:

"Collaboratively develop an ethical editorial code that realistically addresses the damaging portrayal of eating disorders, raises awareness of unrealistic visual imagery created through airbrushing and digital enhancement, and also addresses the skewed and erroneous content of magazines."

British Department Store to Feature Plus-Size Mannequins

2010-02-24T05:05:00.000-08:00

British department store Debenham's is receiving praise from eating disorder groups in the wake of its announced intent to start using size 16 mannequins.

"Debenhams, which stocks women's clothing up to a British size 26 in its stores, says 42 percent of its sales are garments in sizes 14 and 16," UPI reported. "Susan Ringwood, who heads the charity Beat, which campaigns against eating disorders, applauds Debenham's announcement.”

Debenham's size-16 mannequins will be used in window displays promoting clothing by designers like Ben de Lisi, a favorite of actress Kate Winslet.

Many experts have criticized the fashion industry for promoting unachievable (and unhealthy) body images in advertising, claiming that such actions can lead to poor self-esteem, unhealthy body image, and the development of eating disorders among customers -- especially girls and young women.

Olympic Skater Overcame History of Disordered Eating

2010-02-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

Tanith Belbin is one of the foremost ice dancers in the world. She and her partner, Ben Agosto, won a silver medal in the 2006 Olympics, but Belbin looks back on those Olympics with something other than joy. She’s embarrassed by photographs that show spindly legs and a jutting chest bone.

Four years later, according to Juliet Macur's Feb. 16 New York Times article, Belbin has overcome a history of unhealthy eating practices, and she and her partner are hoping for an even more impressive result in the 2010 Olympic Games:

She can thank one of her coaches, Natalia Linichuk, for that. ...

Linichuk and Gennadi Karponosov, who were the 1980 Olympic ice dancing champions, began coaching Belbin and Agosto in the summer of 2008, when Belbin and Agosto left suburban Detroit for a fresh start.

Linichuk took one look at the 5-foot-6, 105-pound Belbin and said, "You need to gain 10 pounds." She said more muscle would help Belbin skate faster and more fluidly. ...

As it turned out, Linichuk also ended up saving Belbin from a problem that has long plagued figure skaters: disordered eating. Often not as severe as eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, disordered eating involves irregular eating habits that can be fueled by a distorted body image. Belbin said she had struggled with those issues since puberty.

Penn Paper Addresses Eating Disorders Among College Students

2010-02-19T05:03:00.000-08:00

In a Feb. 15 article on the website of The Daily Pennsylvanian (the student newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania), writer Sarah Ryu addressed the problem of eating disorders among college students:

Whether the problem lies with the students themselves or their peers around them, eating concerns surround Penn students everyday, and they range from simple dietary regulations to clinical disorders.

“There’s a whole continuum from eating concerns and worries, which are milder, all the way to clinical levels of anorexia and bulimia,” Denise Lensky, the associate director of Counseling and Psychological Services, said.She added that eating disorders affect a “pretty sizeable portion of the population.”

For some, these concerns can be a continuation of attitudes or habits that existed prior to college, Lensky explained. For others, college can be the first encounter with such issues. ...

“College is challenging because for many, it’s the first time that they are completely on their own with regards to their eating,” Lensky said, explaining that the responsibility of doing their food shopping and providing their own meals can be a challenge for some students.

Will Orthorexia Be a Separate Disorder in Next Edition of DSM?

2010-02-17T04:50:00.000-08:00

To the uninformed, the terms "healthy eating" and "eating disorder" sound like opposites. But as those who are familiar with orthorexia nervosa are well aware, it is possible for a dedication to healthy eating to morph into an obsession -- and a form of disordered eating.

In a Feb. 12 article on the website of Time magazine, writer Bonnie Rochman explored the scourge of orthorexia, and the arguments in favor of its inclusion as a separate disorder in the upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

When [Kristie] Rutzel first sought help for anemia and osteopenia, a precursor of osteoporosis triggered by her avoidance of calcium, her doctor in upstate New York, where she attended college, had never heard of orthorexia.

"You should be trying to eat healthy," she remembers him telling her. He couldn't quite grasp that he was talking to a health nut who believed there were few truly healthy foods she felt were safe to eat.

Her condition was eventually identified as anorexia, a diagnosis that organizations like the Washington-based Eating Disorders Coalition think is a mistake.

The group, which represents more than 35 eating-disorder organizations in the U.S., wants orthorexia to have a separate entry in the bible of psychiatric illness, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

The American Psychiatric Association, which publishes the DSM, is currently accepting input on proposed changes to the manual. DSM-V is slated to be released in 2013.

DSM-V to Include Binge Eating as Separate Disorder

2010-02-15T03:58:00.000-08:00

In the run-up to the May 2013 publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the American Psychiatric Association has posted a draft of the new manual on the website www.DSM5.org., and is inviting feedback from the public.

Among the changes is one that will be of particular interest to those who treat or have been affected by eating disorders: Binge eating disorder is scheduled to be classified as a separate disorder in the DSM-V.

In the current edition (DSM-IV, which was published in 1994), eating disorders are represented in three categories:

Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

In the "rationale" section of the DSM5 website, APA notes that "Binge Eating Disorder is one of the disorders in the DSM-IV appendix. It is recommended that it be formally included as a disorder in DSM-5."

Eating Disorder Awareness Events in Orange County, N.Y.

2010-02-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

According to a Feb. 3 post on the website of the Times Herald-Record newspaper, the following organizations in Orange County, New York, will be sponsoring eating disorder-themed events during February:

An educational workshop, "One Size Doesn't Fit All," presented by Susan Piowaty, social worker, 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 24 at the Orange County Emergency Services Center, 22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen. Registration is required; call 342-2400.
The office of Dr. Michelle Winchester Vega & Associates at 339 Blooming Grove Turnpike, New Windsor, will have a literature table available for the month. Additionally, Dianna Chillo will provide a question-and-answer session from noon-1 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 23.
The next meeting of the Eating Disorders Coalition will take place at 9 a.m. April 13 at the Mental Health Association office. Anyone who would like to join the prevention and education effort is invited. The coalition meets the second Tuesday of every month. For more information, call 342-2400.

With Help, College Student Overcomes Anorexia

2010-02-10T06:31:00.000-08:00

As a student at the University of Georgia (UGA), Jilian McLendon's desire to stay slim devolved from a focus on health to the development of anorexia.

But unlike many students who are unable or unwilling to get the treatment they need, McLendon found the help that enabled her to overcome her eating disorder.

Julia Carpenter wrote about McLendon's experience in a Feb. 2 article on redandblack.com (a website that addresses issues of interest to UGA students):

Now healthy, happy and armed with a greater understanding of her past illness’s long-lasting effects, McLendon stressed that the disorder operates on two levels -- the mental and the physical.

"You have to gain the weight and get healthy again, but also mentally, you have to be ready for it," she said. "You have to be willing to get better." ...

University students suffering from an eating disorder can pursue three different avenues of treatment in Athens: [University Health Center Counseling and Psychiatric Services] , an outside psychology clinic or outpatient therapy.

McLendon’s father took her out of school and brought her home to be with her family.

“That’s the best support,” she said. “The support of a family that loves you no matter what.”

German Magazine Bans Professional Models

2010-02-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

In a move that has received widespread and diverse reactions, German magazine Brigitte has stopped using ultra-thin professional models. It has turned, instead, to "ordinary" women like Anja, who was a recent cover girl.

"The glossy cover featured a beaming model [Anja] standing defiantly, hands on hips, with one of her red high-heeled shoes clasped between her teeth," Canada's Canwest News Service reported. "The first two issues have sold out on most newsstands, says Brigitte Online fashion editor Susanne Gundlach."

Brigitte editors say they aren't surprised by the warm reception. A recent survey found that its readers openly dislike fashion models they described as "skinny and lifeless." Media critic Shari Graydon has written that she believes there is a growing backlash among women who are tired of the airbrushed images and unattainable body types featured in many fashion magazines.

Many experts have identified exposure to unrealistic media images as a possible risk factor for low self-esteem, unhealthy body image and eating disorders.

After Daughter's Death, Dad Works to Raise Eating Disorder Awareness

2010-02-05T03:06:00.000-08:00

After Vince Withers lost his daughter to an eating disorder, he started the Newfoundland and Labrador Eating Disorders Foundation. This week, the foundation is hosting numerous events aimed at raising awareness about -- and de-stigmatizing -- eating disorders.

"Having gone through this personally, I would suggest to families that they be very aware to changes in personality of their adolescents," Withers told CBC News. "People with an eating disorder will have noticeable changes in terms of mood, self esteem, school, in terms of having their friends around them."

Withers estimates that there are about 8,000 families in the Newfoundland/Labrador area with families members who are struggling with eating disorders. He hopes to bring the issue out in the open so people who need help can get it.

Documentary Explores Unhealthy Influence of Fashion, Beauty Industries

2010-02-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

In his eye-opening documentary "America the Beautiful," director Darryl Roberts exposes the unhealthy influence of the fashion industry, and also reveals some unpleasant truths about the health & beauty industry and the use of sex to sell magazines.

Kathy Flanagan of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel wrote the following in her Nov. 20, 2008, review of the film:

[Roberts] weaves a convincing story in his behind-the-scenes look at the beauty and fashion industry and threads the movie with the story of Gerren Taylor, a striking 12-year-old African-American girl.

Roberts follows Gerren and her stage mother on her zenith ascent to New York runway model. One moment she's a middle-school student, the next she's touted by designer Marc Jacobs as a beautiful new face. Almost as quickly as she makes it to the top, Gerren is pushed back to the bottom and implodes.

This beautiful tall, thin girl with the beguiling smile says she's fat and ugly. ...

Too bad "American Beauty" is rated R. Impressionable young girls should see this.

Wisconsin Student Calls for Better On-Campus Support for Eating Disorders

2010-02-03T21:51:00.000-08:00

It's well-known that college can either trigger or exacerbate eating disorders in those who are prone to the condition. Despite this, many universities fail to offer adequate support. In the Feb. 2 edition of The Daily Cardinal, University of Wisconsin-Madison student Emily Sutter took the school to task for its lack of support.

If you enter UHS [University Health Services] counseling services meeting the criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or eating disorder not otherwise specified, they will very kindly show you the door letting you know that they do not treat eating disorders while giving you a list of therapists in the area that do.

For someone who is unsure about treatment, that is typically the end of the road. Seeking help for an eating disorder is a terrifying experience, and having a door shut in your face provides little motivation to take that step again. ...

Living with an eating disorder is very lonely, and for the longest time I felt ashamed. It is so comforting to finally be surrounded by people who relate to what I am feeling. In group, I do not have to hide anything or fear that I will be judged.

I do not ever have to worry that my support group will shut a door in my face and say, "sorry, we won’t help you," like UHS has done to so many suffering with eating disorders. We are fed up (yes, pun intended) with this type of response to our outreach for help. A change needs to happen now before someone loses his or her life to an eating disorder.

Diagnosing Eating Disorders in Young Children

2010-01-29T04:06:00.000-08:00

A woman recently wrote into CNN’s “Expert Q&A” column, asking about eating disorders in small children. CNN’s Living Well Expert, Dr. Jennifer Shu, provided a response that included the following information:

[Sari Fine Shepphird, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of "100 Questions and Answers about Anorexia Nervosa"] reports that although the majority of new cases of anorexia are diagnosed between the ages of 13 and 18, about 10 percent of patients with eating disorders show an onset of their symptoms before age 10, and eating disorders have been reported in children as young as 5.

Recent studies show that it is increasingly common for young children to be on a diet and to express a fear of gaining weight and that even young kids may engage in unhealthy and potentially harmful diet behaviors.”

While an otherwise healthy child's "picky eating" is likely just a phase that will go away, there are many signs that can signal a potential concern. These include the unhealthy behaviors listed above as well as unexpected changes in weight, a preoccupation with one's weight and "feeling fat," hoarding food and persistent refusal of all but a few types of food.

Study Says Food Allergies Suprisingly Uncommon

2010-01-27T05:04:00.000-08:00

Although 20 percent of people in Great Britain believe they have food allergies, fewer than 2 percent actually do, according to a new study from Portsmouth University.

Dr. Carina Venter and her colleagues studied 1000 babies and found that half of their caretakers had cut out at least one food because of a perceived allergy
Sophisticated allergy tests, however, found that the true rate was one in 25.
Parents most commonly believe their children are allergic to milk, wheat, or peanuts.

"[Mothers] tend to put down every rash, tummy ache, diarrhea and cry to food allergy or intolerance," said Dr. Venter. "I sympathize with them. It seems reasonable to blame the food when an infant screams or turns red in the face after being fed it the first time."

The research team expressed concern that millions of people are unnecessarily restricting their diets and losing key nutrients. They may also be overlooking real medical problems that can look like allergies.

After 33 Years, Woman Finally Gets Help for Eating Disorders

2010-01-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

After suffering from eating disorders over the past three decades, a 43-year-old Canadian woman has gone public with her struggle and her decision to finally get help.

A Jan. 11 Abbotsford (British Columbia) News article by Vikki Hopes provided the following glimpse into the life of Carla Bartlett-Hitchings:

Carla’s self-worth had been eroded by an abusive environment. She thought she was fat and ugly, and she wanted to look like that model.

Purging made her feel good; like she was in control in a world that was otherwise supremely chaotic. Subconsciously, it was a form of self-abuse: She didn’t deserve better because she was so unloveable. …

Carla’s eating disorder – bulimia for most of her life, turning to anorexia in the last year – stems from a childhood riddled with abuse: emotional, physical, verbal and sexual.

Her parents were both alcoholic, and her mom suffered from what was later diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Carla would often hide in her closet, the only place she felt safe from the insanity of her home.

Once the eating disorder took hold, Carla couldn’t let go. It made her feel strong and empowered: “I finally have control. Look what I can do.”

“I don’t know why I’m not dead,” Bartlett-Hitchings said in the article. “Maybe it’s to encourage people.”

Certain Types of Talk Therapy Beneficial to Individuals with Binge Eating Disorder

2010-01-22T04:47:00.000-08:00

A new study from Rutgers University in New Jersey found that certain kinds of talk therapy works better than behavioral weight-loss treatment to help people with binge eating disorder.

Binge eating disorder includes episodes of out-of-control eating. A person might consume, for example, 10,000 calories or more at one sitting. In order to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, the person must feel that he has no control over his eating episodes, and he must experience shame and regret after such an event.

In the new study, Dr. Terrence Wilson assigned 205 men and women with binge eating disorders to either 20 sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy, 20 sessions of behavioral weight-loss treatment, or 10 sessions of guided self-help and cognitive behavioral therapy.
There were no differences among the three groups in terms of improvements in the rates of binge eating episodes after treatment or six months later.
However, two years later, the interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy/guided self-help groups were significantly better in terms of their remission from binge eating.

The study appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Positive Body Image Important Part of Achieving Healthy Weight, Nutrition Goals

2010-01-20T12:51:00.000-08:00

Positive body image -- the degree to which a person accepts and appreciates his or her shape and size -- is an important predictor of whether that person will achieve healthy weight and nutrition goals.

A recent study from University of New South Wales and Syracuse University found that young women who conform to popular body images and ideals are more likely to have a negative image of their own bodies, and are at greater risk of eating disorders. "Conformity can be seen as an attempt to gain security in a social network," the study concluded. [Source: Long Island Group Exercise Examiner]

Rather than trying to conform to societal images, young women are encouraged to learn about their own bodies and what's normal or healthy for them. The super-thin super-model look isn't normal for most people, and trying to attain it can cause serious health problems.

Binge Eating Moves Toward "Official" Disorder Status

2010-01-18T21:51:00.000-08:00

Historically, binge eating has been considered a symptom of psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety. It is not always considered to be an illness by itself. But that may soon change, as doctors begin seeing more instances of binge eating in their patients.

"If it gains official recognition in the APA’s manual, binge eating disorder would become distinct from depression and anxiety. But that will not change the fact that binge eaters often suffer from other psychiatric disorders. Binge eaters also cross the line to and from anorexia and bulimia at times in their lives." [Source: The Morning Call]

In The Morning Call article, psychiatrist B. Timothy Walsh says that distinguishing binge eating disorder would not only help people define their illness, but also guide their treatment.

Body Image: Not Just a Women’s Issue

2010-01-17T22:44:00.000-08:00

When it comes to issues of distorted body image and eating disorders, studies and stories of how women are affected abound. Not so with men. Yet, men comprise at least ten percent of all eating disorder cases.

"Males struggle with eating concerns and, like their female counterparts, these disorders can take a tremendous toll on their lives …

Competition in sports that emphasize lean body shapes (cross country, diving, gymnastics) or larger body builds (football) may also influence the development of an eating disorder in males. Certainly, magazine ads of men with six-packs and arms the size of tree trunks can make any male feel inadequate. [Source: The Daily Vidette (Illinois State University)]

Men, like women, need to remember that bodies come in all shapes and sizes – not everyone looks like the guy in the magazine (and not everyone is supposed to). A focus on health, rather than size, weight, or muscle tone, can help both men and women stave off insecurity and body dissatisfaction.

Specific Symptoms, Risk Factors Indicate Binge Eating

2010-01-13T03:52:00.000-08:00

According to a new report in the journal Eating Disorders, a binge eating diagnosis is dependent upon the following factors:

Episodes of binge eating must occur on a regular basis
The binges mush involve large amounts of food, such as the consumption of 10,000 to 20,000 calories at one sitting
People with the disorder feel that they have no control over their eating habits
The eating binges should be "shrouded in shame and secrecy"

Risk factors for binge eating disorder include being between 40 and 60 years old; having other eating disorders; having psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and anger; a history of sexual abuse; and certain genetic attributes.

Symptoms include weight gain, cravings for sugar, headaches, sensitivity to temperature, low self-esteem, and despair about being caught up in a cycle of overeating followed by shame and guilt.

The article's authors suggest that treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapy, self-help support groups, weight control, eating low-sugar foods, and avoiding sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.

Teen Girls Say Parental Pressure Contributes to Poor Body Image

2010-01-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

In a Feb. 5, 2009, Calgary Herald article, reporter Michelle Magnan recounted conversations with five teens about pressures related to body image. As this excerpt indicates, the teens identified family pressures as among the more prevalent and destructive stresses they face:

Lisa: With my friend, her mom really gets her down. She'll say, "What do you want for your birthday? Maybe we should get you a gym membership." I'm seriously surprised she hasn't had an eating disorder yet, because her mom puts so much pressure on her. And the more I talk about it, I know that a lot of people's moms say, "You should look a certain way," and they don't.

Candace: I get it a lot from my mom all the time, like, "You should do this, you should go to the gym."And I say, "You know what? It's not my thing."And a lot of peers at school are really bad. They don't necessarily come out and say anything, but you can tell just by the way they look at you--the up and down glances.

Alison: My mom goes between. She doesn't want to overdo anything, so she'll say, "Are you going to eat all that ice cream?" But then she'll say, "You didn't have a snack today. Why didn't you have a snack?" So it's walking a very fine line. Parents have a really hard time, I'm sure.

Many teenagers feel most pressured from family members to have a certain body shape. According to the teens who were interviewed by Magnan, family pressure outweighed any pressure they felt from seeing unrealistic images in the media and fashion industry.

Effort Underway to Fight Post-Holiday Diet Crush

2010-01-08T21:57:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is over -- and now begins the post-holiday, diet-crazed season. For the next several weeks, we will all be bombarded with advertisements via TV, radio, billboards, newspapers, etc all promising to help us shed those unwanted holiday pounds.

A considerable effort is underway to minimize the impact that these media entreaties can have on adults and young people:

The Boston Globe has reported that a 2007 study by the University of Missouri found that all women, regardless of weight, had a lower satisfaction with their own bodies after viewing fashion magazines for just three minutes.
In France, legislation has been introduced that would require magazines to carry warning labels stating that they use digitally altered images.
In the United States, the Dove company has launched its Campaign for Real Beauty which aims to help women and girls redefine "beauty."

Size Zero Diets Associated with Long-Term Damage in Teen Girls

2010-01-07T07:22:00.000-08:00

Researchers from Britain’s Bristol University found that teenage girls who diet in attempts to reach size zero may be at risk of developing long-term bone problems.

"Findings revealed Wednesday from the Children of the 90s Project, which followed a group of children for nearly two decades, shows that fat mass plays an important role in building bone, particularly in girls… an 11lb increase in fat mass was associated with an 8 percent increase in the circumference of the tibia (lower leg bone)." [Source: The Times of London]

The researchers used scanning techniques to look at the bone structures of more than 4,000 young people, and also measured their body fat. The influence body fat has over bone development was found to be 70 percent greater in girls than boys, revealing yet another potentially debilitating health threat associated with eating disorders.