Eating Disorders Help Guide

Researchers Find Link Between Brain Chemistry, Anorexia

A team from the University of Pittsburgh has published a study which found a link between altered brain chemistry and the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. Brain scans in women with anorexia showed lower levels of serotonin than were found in women who never had the disorder.

The researchers say their work suggests that persistent disruption of serotonin levels may lead to increased anxiety, which may trigger anorexia. … "These data offer the promise of a new understanding of the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa and new drug and psychological treatment targets," [said lead researcher Dr. Ursula Bailer.]" (Source: BBC)

The team plans to study genetic factors that may increase a woman's risk of developing anorexia, the BBC reported.

Source: BBC

Labels: brain_chemistry, causes of eating disorders

Israel Considering Ban on Underweight, Photoshopped Models

A new bill submitted to the Knesset in Israel suggests that the use of underweight models and digitally altered images in advertising should be against the law.

In a Dec. 22 article on haaretz.com, writers Jonathan Lis and Shira Ben-Simon reported on the effort:

According to the bill, drafted by MK Rachel Adatto (Kadima) and MK Danny Danon (Likud), the chairman of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, advertising agencies would be banned from hiring underweight female and male models ...

The bill also stipulates that advertising agencies should not be able to use digital imaging software, such as the widely-used Photoshop software, to narrow the waists of models in advertising campaigns.

"Eating disorders, including anorexia, have been on the rise in Israeli society, especially among young girls," the introduction to the bill stated.

Labels: advertising, causes of eating disorders

Family Education as Risk Factor for Eating Disorders?

Girls whose parents and grandparents are highly educated may be at increased risk for developing eating disorders. A Swedish study of more than 13,000 girls found that, as parents' or grandparents’ education increased, so did the girls’ risk of being hospitalized for an eating disorder.

"It's possible, the researchers write, that these girls feel more pressure from family to succeed – which for some could translate into an obsession with controlling their eating and body weight. In addition, higher-achieving girls may be more likely to have certain personality traits, such as perfectionism, that make them relatively more vulnerable to eating disorders." (Source: Reuters, Sept. 18, 2009)

Overall, girls whose parents were college-educated were twice as likely to be treated for an eating disorder, Reuters reported, and the risk was six times as high for girls who maternal grandmother was also college-educated.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, education, risks

Research Finds Link Between Bullying, Eating Disorders

A study conducted by the British charity Beat has revealed that almost half of young people who have an eating disorder believe that being bullied played a role in their development of the disorder.

BBC Newsbeat reporter Maddy Savage provided the following details in a Nov. 19 article:

Researchers spoke to more than 600 16 to 25-year-olds suffering from anorexia, bulimia or overeating.

Of those, 91 percent said they had been bullied, while 46 percent said they believed that bullying had contributed to their eating disorder. …

The charity says there needs to be more urgent, detailed research into links between bullying and eating disorders.

The government insists it is cracking down on bullying and it understands the impact it can have on young people's confidence, self-esteem and mental health.

Labels: bullying, causes of eating disorders

Mom Sues School District Over Daughter's Eating Disorder

In what may be a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, the Pittsburgh Public School district is being sued by a mother who claims her daughter developed anorexia as the result of bullying that went unchecked by school administrators.

The Associated Press reported the following details:

The girl was in a program for gifted students, made straights A's and was active in community and volunteer programs, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit contends a guidance counselor did nothing to stop the bullying. The next year, in seventh grade, two other boys joined in the daily harassment.

Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, argues that people who struggle with eating disorder often have issues with anxiety and perfectionism or are obsessive-compulsive. While bullying may be a trigger for these people, she told the AP, it is not likely to be the primary cause.

Labels: bullying, causes of eating disorders, lawsuit

Study Identifies Eating Disorder Risk Factors in Overweight Youth

A study conducted through the University of Minnesota has identified several factors that increase the risk of eating disorders among overweight teenagers.

University of Minnesota researchers discovered overweight youth with certain socio-environmental, psychological, and behavioral tendencies, such as reading magazine articles about dieting, reporting a lack of family connectedness, placing a high importance on weight, and reporting having participated in unhealthy weight control behaviors, are more likely to suffer from eating disorders. (Source: PsychCentral)

Researchers also discovered that risk factors differed between boys and girls.

Young girls whose physical activity was at moderate to extreme levels, and who also had lower self-esteem, were a greater risk.
For young men, risk factors included depressive symptoms and poor eating patterns.
One common risk factor in both male and female subjects was a lack of family connectedness, leading researchers to encourage parents toward having the whole family spend time together – sharing a meal, a movie or even just a walk outside.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, overweight, risks, youth

Poor Diet May Raise Risk of Developing Eating Disorder

"Eating disorders" is a phrase with which most people are familiar. We know about anorexia and bulimia, and the dangers they pose. But a person's eating habits can put her at risk long before she develops an eating disorder:

According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), disordered eating is a catchall phrase that describes a person who exhibits negative attitudes about body size, weight, and food that lead to obsessively rigid eating and exercise routines.
The attitudes and behaviors are so practiced, the person’s health and well-being can be significantly compromised.
A person who obsessively counts calories or weighs herself, regularly skips meals, abuses laxatives or diuretics, or feels guilty or ashamed after she eats may be developing disordered eating habits.

Habits that lead to disordered eating can be just as dangerous as a diagnosed eating disorder, and anyone who struggles with this problem should seek help right away.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, eating_habits

Swedish Experts Re-evaluate Relationship Between Eating Disodrers, Psychological Problems

Even after decades of study, eating disorders remain difficult to understand and hard to treat.

Writing in the June 1 edition of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Joannie Dobbs and Alan Titchenal of the University of Hawaii-Manoa described a Swedish effort to treat eating disorders based upon the belief that disordered eating causes (rather than results from) psychological problems.

To date, the most well-studied successful treatment approach was developed in Sweden. Dr. Per Soedersten at the Karolinska Institute claims that the psychological problems are a result of the anorexic condition, not the cause.

Based on about 500 patients treated in their clinics, 75 percent went into full remission and 90 percent of these have remained free from symptoms of an eating disorder for five years or longer. No other treatments have documented such excellent results.

The institute treats anorexia by normalizing nutrition rather than using psychological therapies. Patients are gradually trained to eat normally again.

To do this, Soedersten's group uses a device called a Mandometer. This device is a computerized plate scale that monitors how fast and how much the patient is consuming. As they eat, the Mandometer provides feedback to help the patients learn to eat at a normal pace and to become more sensitive to their satiety cues.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, psychology

Relationship Coach Blames Family Dysfunction for Some Eating Disorders

In a May 29 article that was posted on the website of the Gloucester Daily Times, relationship coach Susan Britt wrote that certain types of family dysfunction can put children at increased risk for developing an eating disorder:

In the perfectionistic family, there is constant pressure to be the best at everything -- an impossible order for any person to fill. You are not valued as an individual but for what you can contribute to the family's public reputation. The messages you grow up with are "Measure up!," "Be good!" and "Please people."

Food-focused families are another source of dysfunctional eating behavior. Parents who constantly count calories and fat or who exercise compulsively send their children the message that food is a negative thing and that eating is bad.

Equally unhealthy are families that use food to reward or punish behavior or to express love or consolation. People who grow up in these kinds of families don't understand that food isn't good or bad, it's just sustenance.

Near the end of her article, Britt noted that, with effective treatment, "destructive eating patterns can be unlearned and replaced with healthy eating behaviors."

For more information about eating disorder treatment for you or someone you love, visit the Something Fishy website.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, family

Poor Body Image Linked to Several Disorders Among College Students

The Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health at Pennsylvania State University recently conducted a national survey of college campuses, which found that body image concerns weigh heavily on the minds of college students.

[Body image concerns] are often linked to depression, anxiety, hostility, social anxiety and family issues ...

Away from their families for the first time ... college students often feel [isolation that] may prompt the dangerous dieting that many times leads to an eating disorder. (Source: The University of Oregon Daily Emerald)

The line between dieting and an eating disorder can be a fine one, and concern over weight or eating habits are not necessarily "red flags." However, adolescents, teens, and young adults who worry about fitting in with a particular group, or who obsess over a certain body type, may be at greater risk for developing an eating disorder.

Though often thought of as a condition that affects only girls, eating disorders among young people can have devastating effects on boys, girls, young men, and young women.

Labels: body image, causes of eating disorders, college_students, eating disorders

Film Star Blogs about Unhealthy Body Image

Actress Scarlett Johansson, whose resume includes the renowned films The Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation, and Vicky Christina Barcelona, made a recent appearance on one of the Internet's most influential political blogs to take the media to task for promoting unhealthy attitudes that she believes can lead to disordered eating.

In an April 13 Huffington Post article entitled "The Skinny," Johansson decried the intrusive attention that she believes may prompt film fans to undertake dangerous weight-management practices:

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), as many as 10 million females and 1 million males living in the US are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia.

I'm someone who has always publicly advocated for a healthy body image and the idea that the media would maintain that I have lost an impossible amount of weight by some sort of "crash diet" or miracle workout is ludicrous. I believe it's reckless and dangerous for these publications to sell the story that these are acceptable ways to looking like a "movie star."

It's great to get tips on how to lead a healthier lifestyle, but I don't want some imaginary account of "How She Did It!" I get into and stay in shape by eating a proper diet and maintaining a healthy amount of exercise. The press should be held accountable for the false ideals they sell to their readers regarding body image -- that's the real weight of the issue.

Many health experts have noted an association between unhealthy body image and the onset of an eating disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder.

Labels: body image, causes of eating disorders, celebrities, pressures

Vegetarianism may Indicate Eating Disorder

Researchers at Saint John's University in Minnesota have found that teenagers may use vegetarianism as a cover for eating disorders. The study appears in the latest edition of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

In a research venture called Project EAT-II: Eating Among Teens, [nutritionist Ramona] Robinson-O'Brien and her team surveyed 2,516 young Minnesotans, ages 15 to 23. ... Approximately 20 percent of the vegetarians turned out to be binge eaters, compared with only five percent of those who had always eaten meat.

The survey also found that 25 percent of the vegetarians admitted to engaging in extreme weight-control measures like taking diet pills or forcing themselves to vomit. Though some teenagers do become vegetarians in an effort to eat better or to protect animals, parents should be attentive to symptoms that may indicate an eating disorder.

Source: Dallas Morning News

Labels: causes of eating disorders, eating_habits, eating_problems, teenagers, teens, vegetarians

Are You at Risk for an Eating Disorder?

Often, eating disorders are only diagnosed after a person is very thin and very sick. Assessing your eating habits, or the habits of someone you love, early can encourage early intervention.

"People with eating disorders need to seek professional help. Early diagnosis and intervention significantly improves the chance of recovery. If not identified or treated in the early stages, eating disorders can become chronic, debilitating and even life-threatening conditions."

Ask yourself these questions: Do you wish parts of your body looked different? Are you unhappy with your reflection in the mirror? Do you skip meals or obsess about counting calories? Do you exercise to the point of fatigue or injury? If you or someone you know can answer "yes" to these questions, seek help. Source: Akron (OH) Beacon Journal

Labels: causes of eating disorders, eating_habits, risks

Researchers Link Eating Disorders with Stressful Events

Stressful life events such as car accidents or a parent's death can mark the beginning of an eating disorder in young adults.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that 32 percent of young women and 20 percent of young men in their study who report three or more stressful life events also suffer from eating disorders. The study is the first phase of a three-part project from the University's Epidemiology and Community Heath division.

Katie Loth, lead author, hopes the study will raise awareness among parents and counselors who work with young people. "People are aware of these life events," she said, "but they are not always aware of how people are coping with them.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, stress, trauma

Eating Disorders Rampant on College Campuses

The stress of college is causing thousands of students - most of them female - to develop unhealthy eating patterns that could become eating disorders. Studies show that about one in five college students is bulimic, while about one in ten is anorexic - numbers that are dramatically higher than the general population.

"College is a time when many eating disorders can reappear or develop due to a variety of reasons. Some of them include fear of the 'freshman 15,' close living conditions where pressure to be thin is intensified, coping with more stress and living in a new environment, unlimited access to food in the dining hall, and sports, where they feel the need to be a certain weight to be successful."

Holly Grishkat, psychological director at the Renfrew Center, says that eating issues for many college students are not about weight, but about coping - with stress, loneliness or anxiety. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating habits, get help right away before the behavior becomes a life-threatening illness. Source: The Cabrini College Loquitur

Labels: causes of eating disorders, colleges, stress

Eating Disorder Risk Factors Vary with Gender and Age

A study conducted by Children's Hospital of Boston found that the risk factors of developing eating disorders are different for boys and girls, and - in girls - these factors change with age. The study followed more than 6,500 girls and 5,500 boys for seven years.

"Binge eating was observed in 4.3 percent of females and 2.1 percent of males, while 5.3 percent of females and 0.8 percent of males began to purge... Having a mother with a history of an eating disorder almost tripled the risk for girls, but only up to the age of 14."

The study also found that negative comments about weight from fathers were strong predictors of binge eating. Source: RN Web

Labels: causes of eating disorders, influences, risks

Childhood Anxiety May Make Anorexia Worse

It's well-known that anxiety disorders are more common among people with anorexia. But a team of researchers has found that childhood anxiety is not only a precursor to eating disorders, but may determine a disorder's severity.

"In general, the researchers found, women with a history of childhood anxiety exhibited 'more extreme personality traits' and attitudes - like perfectionism and obsessive tendencies related to food - than women without a history of early anxiety disorders."

The research team believes this newly discovered link emphasizes the importance of discovering and treating anxiety disorders early. Source: Parent Center

Labels: anorexia, anxiety, causes of eating disorders

Bulimia Linked to Sexual Abuse

Bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by binging and purging food, is five times more common among girls who have been sexually abused, according to a new study from Australia. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found no connection between sexual abuse and anorexia nervosa, another common eating disorder.

Dr. George Patton and his colleagues looked at the records of 999 girls over a three-year period, beginning when the girls were about 15 years old. Within that group, 121 reported being sexually abused at least once before age 16, and 82 reported two or more such incidents. The girls in the latter group had a 4.9 times higher risk for bulimia.

American studies from 2000 and 2004 found no clear link between childhood sexual abuse and eating disorders.

Dr. Patton said that sexual abuse might start up a pattern of dealing with emotional distress that results in bulimia.

This study appears in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Labels: abuse, causes of eating disorders, emotions

Facts about Eating Disorders

There's much that's still misunderstood about eating disorders. The most common misunderstanding is that it's a choice. Still another is that it only affects high school and college students.

"...the doctor told us that while it's uncommon, eating disorders have been found in girls as young as 7 and 8 years old. Yes, 7 and 8 years old. That's barely elementary school. And what is perfectly common is to find them in girls of ages 13, 14, 15, 16."

More and more studies are finding that there are biological/genetic factors that contribute to the development of eating disorders. Another fact few people know is that eating disorders have a higher mortality rate than any other mental illness. Read more at PittNews.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, genes, myths

Causes and Treatments

The reasons someone develops an eating disorder are varied and complicated. The myth that anorexia or bulimia is a "choice" is just that - a myth. It's vital for someone with an eating disorder to get treatment as quickly as possible, but choosing a treatment can be tough; it seems there are as many treatment options as causes for eating disorders.

"To be most effective, treatment for an eating disorder must address both the physical and psychological aspects of the problem. The goal is to treat any medical or nutritional needs, promote a healthy relationship with food, and teach constructive ways to cope with life and its challenges."

Psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and support groups are different facets of treatment that can all work together. Residential treatment also is a viable treatment option as it gets the person out of her normal environment and into a place where new habits can be formed. Read more at AmericanChronicle.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, treatment

Understanding Genetics May Reduce Stigma

A study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that the more someone understands the genetics behind anorexia, the less likely he or she is to blame an anorexic patient for their illness.

"'This is a potentially important finding because it suggests that wide dissemination of information about the biological and genetic underpinnings of anorexia nervosa could help decrease the blame-based stigma that is associated with the disorder,' study author Michele A. Crisafulli said in a prepared statement."

The study was conducted with 115 undergraduate nursing students who were given information either about the genetic and biological factors or the environmental factors of eating disorders, and were then asked to rate factors that might contribute to anorexia. Students who read about the genetics and biology were less likely to blame the patient for his or her condition.

All girls schools like Copper Canyon Academy help remove the pressures that many girls face when they attend a public school. Copper Canyon Academy boarding schools for troubled girls offer excellent academics and therapy.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, genes, study

Silence Leads to Death

Many victims of eating disorders still suffer in silence. Even if parents and siblings know about a child's struggle, the family itself often fights the disease alone. There's still too much of a stigma surrounding eating disorders, and the stigma causes too many to keep quiet.

"The latest research on eating disorders clearly shows that genetics and biology are the biggest risk factor for an eating disorder. But we as a society haven't caught up to scientific reality yet. We still blame families, the way we used to blame them for autism and schizophrenia and homosexuality."

Our society and our communities can do better. We can rally around victims of eating disorders and their families. We can, and we should; because the ones who suffer in silence are the least likely to recover. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder - don't be afraid to ask for help.

An adolescent residential treatment, like Youth Care in Draper, Utah, can help teens by offering a solid treatment plan and course of action to get them back on the right track.

Labels: awareness, causes of eating disorders, treatment

Girls More Likely to Have Eating Disorders

Though eating disorders affects both girls and boys, girls are about 10 times more likely to be affected. And studies show that the younger a girl is when she begins to "diet", the more likely she is to develop an eating disorder.

"It's not uncommon for parents to make crude remarks about weight to their young daughters (but rarely to their sons). This is extremely unwise. A University of Minnesota study suggests that girls with parents who make comments about their daughters' weight are more likely to become depressed and go on extreme diets."

Many point to the extreme social pressures placed on girls, to look a certain way and have a certain body type, as a main cause of eating disorders. But the disorders are complex and caused by many factors working together. If you suspect someone of having an eating disorder, talk to him or her right away. If left untreated, eating disorders can cause serious health problems and can even be life threatening.

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Labels: causes of eating disorders, girls, influences

Understanding Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders. It's characterized by binge-eating followed by purging. Purging can take the form of excessive exercise, the use of laxatives, vomiting or the inappropriate use of other medication.

"The reasons why you binge eat and then purge may not be easy to explain. Part of the problem may be due to a fear of getting fat, but it is often not just as simple as that. All sorts of emotions, feelings, and attitudes may contribute. The physical act of bingeing and purging may be a way of dealing with your emotions in some way."

The risk factors of bulimia are extensive. They include, but are not limited to, severe health issues due to extreme weight loss, tooth decay caused by vomiting, and health issues caused by the misuse of laxatives and other medications.

Labels: bulimia, causes of eating disorders, emotions

Watch for Changing Eating Habits

Anorexia, bulimia, purging and binge-eating are all different forms of eating disorders that can affect people at any time. Adolescents and pre-teens are often more susceptible to eating disorders because emotions are heightened and peer pressure increases.

"If your teenager is gaining or losing weight rapidly, it is worth taking note of their eating habits when you are in their company at meal and snack times. Take note of persistent refusals to eat or of quantities that seem voracious even for an already voracious eater."

If you're concerned, express your concern to your teen - but don't panic. Avoid talking about appearance, and instead discuss health concerns, and the benefits of taking care of the body.

Find a boarding school or private school for your child at Boarding Schools Info.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, habits, healthy_eating

Diet Articles Linked to Eating Disorders

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

Are You At Risk for Binge Eating?

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

Eating Disorders may Resurface Later in Life

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

Pre-teens More Likely to Diet than Purge

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto recently conducted a survey to determine the accuracy of the Children's Eating Attitudes Test in identifying preteens who are at risk of eating disorders. The test was given to 409 girls who were then interviewed.

"The questionnaire, which the girls filled out themselves, overestimated the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors, which included dieting. Colton explained that this is likely because at this young age it was difficult for them to distinguish on their own between actually going on a diet and thinking about doing so."

Girls who reported being on diets were, on average, heavier than their peers who weren't dieting. Dr. Patricia Colton called the finding "troubling" because dieting has not been shown to be an effective way for young girls to lose weight. Read more at Reuters.com.

Outdoor education therapy programs are especially effective with preteens struggling with emotional and behavioral issues. Learn more about outdoor education programs at WildernessProgramsInfo.com and about outdoor therapy at BootCampsInfo.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, dieting, mental_health

Author of Gaining Shares Her Story

Aimee Liu was in 8th grade when she developed signs of anorexia. As an adolescent in the 1960s, her culture was influenced by women like fashion icon Twiggy and movie star Audrey Hepburn, who were considered "ideal". Though she never exhibited life-threatening symptoms, the psychological effects of the disorder ran deep.

"We tend to focus on the physical when people talk about eating disorders. This is problematic because it's really a psychological problem. The misunderstanding occurs when a person appears to come back to normal weight; the anorexia is a distress signal or an expression of an under-lying emotional problem. If not addressed, the symptoms or eating disorder, will recur later in life."

To keep this from happening in her own life, Aimee focuses on developing a diverse identity; focusing on hobbies and other interests that can help shape her identity. Aimee Liu"s book, Gaining – the Truth about Life after Eating Disorders, is published through Warner Books. Read more at Cleveland.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, signs_of_eating_disorders, support

Eating Disorders Can Start in Pre-Teen Years

Rexanne Mancini, freelance writer and mother of two, says that she's concerned about the number of pre-teen girls she knows who think they're fat or need to be on a diet. Oftentimes, this mindset comes from mom and or dad telling a child as young as 8 that she's overweight.

"Eating disorders are almost as common as acne in teenagers today. These can create many health problems, not the least of which is potential death. Try telling a 15-year old girl that she's not fat after her mother or both parents have been urging her to diet from the time she was old enough to dress herself."

Mancini reminds parents that pre-teen girls may be short and plump, because they haven’t had any growth spurts yet - which is perfectly normal. She also reminds parents that attitudes about food, dieting and body image are learned when children are very young, and will be with them for the rest of their lives. Read more at ParentingIdeas.org.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, dieting, pre-teens

Australians See Dramatic Increase in Eating Disorders

A study released today shows that eating disorders among Australians have increased from two percent ten years ago to almost five perfect today. Though extreme disorders like anorexia remained fairly stable, there was a sharp rise in so-called "minor" eating disorders.

"The study showed the number of people with regular eating disordered behavior - those who binged or displayed other extreme weight control problems at least weekly - had ballooned from 4.7 percent to 11 percent. And the people considered to have a full-blown eating disorder grew from two percent to 4.6 percent over the decade."

Unspecified eating disorders like fasting, purging and the use of laxatives were of special concern. Read more at News.com.au.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, diagnosis, research

"Orthorexia"

Though it's not officially recognized as an eating disorder, orthorexia involves the same obsession thinking and behavior patterns as other eating disorders. Orthorexia is an obsession with "healthy or righteous eating" and often involves highly restrictive eating habits in the name of "eating healthy".

"As with anorexia, many people with orthorexia can become pathologically fixated with food, although in this case, it is with eating 'proper food'. The insidious part is that it is all done in the guise of health…As it is with some of the officially recognized eating disorders, this type of approach to nutrition begins to take over, and you find yourself spending inordinate amounts of your mental energy, time and, in many cases, resources to meet the needs and expectations of the approach."

One of the dangers of orthorexia is that a person's diet can become so restricted that, in the name of "being healthy", the restricted diet becomes unhealthy and potentially dangerous. Read more at StateNews.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders, mental_health, orthorexia

True Causes of Eating Disorders

In recent months, there has been a tremendous amount of collective finger-pointing at the fashion industry as a cause of eating disorders among young people. Organizations like the National Eating Disorders Association have been calling for regulations and restrictions on the size and weight of fashion models. Though fashion images may sometimes reinforce an eating disorder, it's important that we remember that the true causes run much deeper.

"People with eating disorders share certain personality traits: low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and a fear of becoming fat. In anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, eating behaviors seem to develop as a way of handling stress."

Forcing the fashion industry to stop using models that are too thing and/or unhealthy may eliminate images that reinforce eating disorders, but we cannot forget that the fashion industry isn’t the root cause of them. Read more at SelfHelpMagazine.com.

Labels: causes of eating disorders

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