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 illnesss 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.

McLendons father took her out of school and brought her home to be with her family.

Thats the best support, she said. The support of a family that loves you no matter what.

Labels: anorexia, family, recovery, eating disorders

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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.

Labels: men, eating disorders

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A Dec. 3 post by Jennifer Austin of EmpowHER.com discusses the under-reported but very real existence of eating disorders among older women:

In a recent study in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, researchers confirmed that the very same eating disorders that affect young teens and waify supermodels also exist well into adulthood.

The difference between the generation gap is that older women appear to present with significantly higher rates of depression and other psychiatric disorders. &

Anorexia surrounding menopause can be particularly troublesome. Estrogen, already lowered by the menopause itself, takes an even greater dive when fat cells (suppliers of estrogen) disappear. This double whammy puts women at greater risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures among other issues.

Labels: anorexia, women, adults, eating disorders, osteoporosis

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Tom and Doris Smeltzer lost their 19-year-old daughter, Andrea, ten years ago after a yearlong battle with bulimia nervosa. The couple now travels the country speaking to students about the dangers of bulimia and other eating disorders.

On Nov. 3, the Smeltzers spoke at Cabrini College in Philadelphia. A Nov. 5 article by Michelle Costa of The Loquitur (the college's newspaper) provided the following information about the event and the effort to identify and assist college students who are struggling with eating disorders:

"Their mission is to promote awareness and understanding of eating disorders and related issues," Lisa Stockton, vice president of the Body Image Coalition said.

Doris Smeltzer authored a book called "Andrea's Voice...Silenced by Bulimia." The book includes Andrea's poetry, letters and journal entries.

"I think it is important for students to attend this presentation, because they need to be aware of the prevalence of eating disorders among college students," Stockton said.

Statistics show that there is a large growth of these developing diseases and if education is not provided, young people will continue to fall into the trap of these harmful cycles.

Stockton said college campuses are a breeding ground for disordered eating habits.

Labels: college_students, eating disorders, death

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Five campus organizations have united to present Body Image and Eating Disorder Week at the University of Notre Dame. The weeklong campaign, which started Oct. 1, includes panel discussions, art exhibits and even movie screenings.

An Oct. 2 article by Nora Kenney of The Observer Online provided the following information about the awareness effort:

The event began on Thursday with the "Love Your Body, Love Thee Notre Dame" poster campaign as well as a guided tour of the "Thin" exhibit with Steve Moriarty, Curator of Photography at the Snite Museum.

"I'm just really excited about this week, and the reason I'm so excited is that there is unity in trying to get this message out," Mandy Lewis, president of Feminist Voice, said. Lewis said eating disorders and negative body images are both huge issues on campus as well as in society.

"The whole point of this week is to tell you that you're not alone. This is a huge problem," she said. "This is not just an individual problem. This is a reflection of societal problems."

Labels: awareness, body image, eating disorders

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Millions of men and women suffer from eating disorders. And despite the prevalence of such illnesses, myths and misinformation still surround them.

In an article on the website MyOptumHealth, writer Lila Havens attempted to dismiss some of those myths:

Myth: All people with eating disorders are stick-thin.

Fact: People who have anorexia become extremely thin. But not everyone who has an eating disorder is skinny. People who have bulimia or binge eating disorder may be thin, normal weight or even overweight. This can make it harder to spot the problem. Whatever they weigh, they still have an unhealthy relationship with food that can lead to serious health issues.

Myth: Only teenage girls have eating disorders.

Fact: They are more common among girls and women, but a significant number of boys and men have eating disorders too. Those involved in sports that restrict weight (such as wrestling, gymnastics and ballet) may be at special risk.

Eating disorders often begin in the teens and twenties, but they can start at any age. Children as young as 8 years old have been diagnosed with eating disorders.

Another common myth is that anorexia is more dangerous than bulimia or binge-eating. The truth of the matter is that anyone who is struggling with any type of disordered eating needs to access an effective eating disorder treatment program immediately.

Labels: eating disorders, myths

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Self-expression through dance and movement, or through painting or drawing, can help struggling teenagers in their recovery from a variety of issues, including eating disorders.

According to Kimberly Dennis, M.D., the medical director of Timberline Knolls, the use of experiential therapy, when combined with a clinical treatment program, can often make it possible for individuals to experience and express feelings that need to be dealt with in order to achieve recovery. (Source: PRWeb)

Dance or Movement Therapy can help eating disorder sufferers learn to enjoy their bodies by becoming more aware of the feelings that arise from sensations created through physical self-expression. This new awareness can help a patient begin remaking her self-image, and improving her self-esteem.

Labels: treatment, eating disorders, art, dance

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One of Singapore's most popular websites this year is that of a 20-year-old who flaunts his extraordinarily thin body and laments about needing to lose more weight. It has experts worried, especially as they see a dramatic increase in the number of people developing eating disorders.

Medical studies show anorexia has become an endemic problem in Asian countries, whether in industrial powerhouses such as Japan and South Korea or emerging economies like India. Singapore is no exception, with the Eating Disorders Programme [sic] of Singapore General Hospital reporting five new cases a month. (Source: Independent Online)

Psychiatrist Ken Ung notes that eating disorders are relatively new to Singapore, and curiosity about the disease may also fuel its rising popularity. Currently, 13.4 percent of Singapores population is between the ages of 15 and 24 -- the demographic most susceptible to eating disorders.

Labels: eating disorders, internet, asia

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A June 23 article in the Ilford Recorder has warned parents to be on the lookout for symptoms of eating disorders among their children. The problem, the paper reported, is affecting children as young as eight, and is threatening to overwhelm the area's new effort to provide treatment for disordered eaters:

The Community Eating Disorder service at North East London Foundation Trust was officially established in March and bosses have told the Recorder of the high demand already being placed on the service.

Figures show the team, which is not yet fully staffed, had 50 referrals in that time -- 28 for anorexia, 13 for binge eating, eight for bulimia and one overweight person being assessed before having a gastric band fitted.

Ages range from 16 to 51.

Stuart Marks, who manages the Community Eating Disorder service, advised parents to be aware of any changes in their children's diets or attitudes toward eating -- even if those changes appear to be for the better.

"Normally a parent would be delighted to hear their child is developing an interest in healthy eating and taking part in more physical exercise," Mr. Marks told the Reporter."But coupled together with reducing food portions and perhaps skipping lunch, this could develop into an eating disorder."

Labels: eating disorders, prevention

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In a July 5 article on the website True/Slant, former world junior ice staking champion Jennifer Kirk revealed the degree to which she and others within the skating community were affected by eating disorders and unhealthy weight control measures:

Looking back on it now, I am able to understand that a lack of control over various aspects of my life manifested itself in what I ate.

At the time, the pain in my hip and the struggles I was having on my jumps, coupled with the anxiety of living alone for the first time and the pressure I was putting on myself to never "mess up" both on and off the ice, was too much for me to handle.

I felt that by controlling the number on the scale, I would be in control of all the things in my life that I felt were completely out of my control: the judges, whether or not I would skate well on a particular day, my mom not being around, pleasing my coach, etc.

However by doing this, I was entering into some very deep waters, which would take many years to learn to swim away from.

"Now that I'm on the other side of this disease, I worry when I see skaters who I know are struggling with what I worked so hard to get rid of," Kirk wrote. "It makes me angry that there is no one speaking out against what is so common in figure skating."

Labels: eating disorders, sports, athletes

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In 1980s, researchers noticed that binge eating disorders often clustered within college sororities. A more recent study has found that fasting and diet pill use cluster within certain groups as well -- especially groups comprised of females.

According to Reuters Health, researchers writing in the International Journal of Eating Disorders noted that "these findings confirm the strong social influences on female adolescents in the U.S. to be thin, sometimes using unhealthy behaviors to achieve this goal."

The clustering occurred in varied settings, including rural, suburban, and urban areas. Though the causes for these clusters have yet to be determined, researchers assume that peer pressure and information sharing are both factors.

Labels: eating disorders, clusters

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A nationwide survey in Canada will attempt to paint a clearer picture of eating disorders among young people. It will be the first-ever attempt to measure rates of bulimia in children ages five to eighteen:

The study is driven by a recent trend noticed by doctors who see eating disorders appear at earlier ages among children.

Researchers at [a] Toronto [hospital] were recently surprised to find binging and purging in children much younger than 12, an age previously believed to be about the lowest threshold for such behaviors. (Source: Canada.com)

Dr. Leora Pinhas, psychiatric director of the eating disorders program at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, told Canada.com that he hopes the study will help doctors better understand how widespread the issue of bulimia is, and which children are most susceptible.

Labels: eating disorders, youth, canda, study

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Monitoring one's weight and body shape can be part of a healthy diet and exercise plan -- but excessive self-monitoring may indicate the presence of a problem such as an eating disorder. The link between excessive self-checking and eating disorders was explored in a June 5 article on the Medical News Today website:

"Sometimes body and weight checking becomes second nature and many individuals with eating disorders don't even realize they're doing it," said Dena Cabrera, PsyD, psychologist at Remuda Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders. "Commonly, they check to feel for fatness, bones and any physical change in their body to subconsciously or consciously motivate their eating disorder behavior."

Many individuals with eating disorders weigh themselves at frequent intervals, sometimes many times a day. As a result they become obsessed with the daily weight fluctuations that are a normal part of the body and would otherwise pass unnoticed. The movements on the scale then determine their mood and eating patterns.

Body checking is influential in maintaining dissatisfaction with shape and appearance. Other common behaviors associated with body checking include: looking in the mirror (or at reflective surfaces); measuring body parts with tape measures or hands; pinching or touching body parts; assessing the tightness of particular items of clothing or accessories; looking down at one's body and touching collar bones to check for boniness.

Parents who notice that their children are engaging in excessive self-monitoring -- or who are showing other eating disorder symptoms -- should intervene immediately and make arrangements for their child to be evaluated by a health care professional.

Labels: signs_of_eating_disorders, self-image_issues, eating disorders

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Research that was presented at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggests that health care professionals need to be more aware of the likelihood that people with anxiety disorders may also have eating disorders.

Dr. Lynne Drummond, a consultant psychiatrist at South West London and St. Georges NHS Mental Health Trust, collected data from a sample of patients with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) who were referred to a specialist unit for treatment.

A control group of patients with other anxiety disorders referred for treatment to the same unit was also studied. The study found that a fifth of patients with OCD also had signs of disordered eating. The prevalence for those with other anxiety disorders was a one in three. (Source: Medical News Today)

Dr. Drummond concluded that the connection between OCD and disordered eating is often overlooked, and could endanger patients.

Labels: anxiety, eating disorders, ocd

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Research that was presented June 7 during the annual meeting of Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists indicates that individuals with anxiety disorders may be at increased risk of also suffering from an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.

A June 7 article on the Medical News Today website provided the following details about the connection between anxiety and eating disorders:

Dr Lynne Drummond, a consultant psychiatrist at South West London and St George's NHS Mental Health Trust, collected data from a sample of patients with severe OCD who were referred to a specialist unit for treatment. A control group of patients with other anxiety disorders referred for treatment to the same unit was also studied.

The study found that a fifth of the patients with OCD also had signs of disordered eating. The prevalance for those with other anxiety disorders was one in three.

The Medical News Today article reported that Dr. Drummond's presentation included a call for additional research into the prevalence of eating disorders among patients with OCD and other anxiety disorders.

"Although there have been several studies examining the prevalence of OCD and obsessive symptoms in patients with eating disorders," Dr. Drummond said, "there is a dearth of studies where patients with OCD and other anxiety disorders are examined for eating disorders."

Labels: anxiety, research, eating disorders

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Beauty pageants are often criticized for promoting unrealistic beauty standards that may prompt young girls to engage in dangerous weight-control measures.

But as Micholyn Fajen reported in the June 5 edition of the Des Moines Register, Katie Petersen's efforts to win the Mrs. Iowa crown may help to overcome the unfortunate association between beauty pageants and eating disorders:

Petersen's platform is building awareness and education of eating disorders, a condition she battled and overcame after seven years. Her mission is to provide a stopgap for women who are overcome by obsessions about size and perfection. ...

"I suffered emotionally and physically," Petersen said. "I'm preparing to turn something negative into a positive by sharing my story with others."

Petersen told the Register that winning the Mrs. Iowa title would allow her to expand her efforts on behalf of women who are suffering from poor self-image and eating disorders. "I want women to know it's OK to stay true to who you are on the inside," she said.

Labels: eating disorders, beauty, prevention

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Susan Barry's son was thoughtful, kind and inclusive. He was also a perfectionist who died of anorexia nervosa. To honor the memory of her son, and raise awareness of the prevalence of eating disorders among teenage males, Barry is hosting a 5K race June 6 in Okemos, Michigan.

Barry said T.J. started out just wanting a six-pack of abdominal muscles. However, she said it got to a point where he couldn't stop obsessing over his weight. ... Her son, she noted, performed 1,000 sit-ups every morning and another 1,000 at night. (Source: Lansing State Journal)

The race is named after her son -- 5K4TJ -- and is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 10 a.m., starting at Kinawa Middle School in Okemos. The fee is $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the race.

Though many people mistakenly believe that eating disorders only affect girls and women, cases of eating disorders among boys and men are becoming much more common.

Labels: boys, men, eating disorders

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A surprising report from the Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders indicates that eating disorders may be prevalent -- and on the increase -- among elderly individuals.

Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and other eating disorders are usually associated with teen girls and young women, but a June 2 article by Stephen Baetge of the website Spectrum Online notes that these disorders are limited neither to women nor to the young:

The new Remuda report has found that eating disorders in elderly women have increased, and the majority of deaths from anorexia nervosa occur in people over the age of 65.

"Because few health professionals think of screening for eating disorders in the elderly, many elderly eating disorder patients have frequently been missed, with tragic consequences," explained Edward Cumella, Ph.D., executive director at Remuda Ranch. "Anorexia nervosa is a very serious illness in seniors, because many already have compromised health to begin with."

Thought to be among the deadliest mental health issues, eating disorders are treatable in patients of all ages. Some people who are afflicted with an eating disorder are able to make progress via outpatient therapy, while others require the more intensive and comprehensive intervention that provided in a residential eating disorder treatment program.

Labels: eating disorders, elderly

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Scotland's first in-patient treatment facility for patients who are suffering from the eating disorder anorexia nervosa opened May 25 in Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen. In a May 26 post on the website The Med Guru, writer Neharika Sabharwal described what the new unit will mean to Scots who are suffering from anorexia:

Generally, patients with eating disorders are kept with patients suffering from mental illness. But Scotlands first dedicated unit would make available a course of treatment radically different from that supplied in psychiatric units. Health specialists and psychologists will try to get to the root of the eating problems.

Previously, all serious cases of eating disorders were referred to private clinic such as Huntercombe Edinburgh Hospital in Uphall, West Lothian and the Priory in Glasgow. But now people from all over the country can avail the same amenities for the first time at an [National Health System] unit.

The unit shall basically cater to the patients within the age group of 18 to 65 years, but in some rare instances under-18s will be considered for treatment.

Experts estimate that about 83,000 Scots have some type of eating disorder, Sabharwal reported, though most of those cases go undiagnosed and thus untreated.

In the United States, individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorders have a variety of treatment options, including entering a private residential eating disorder treatment program such as The Victorian of Newport Beach.

Labels: treatment, eating disorders

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A May 25 article by Nick Owens of the British news website mirror.co.uk indicates a dramatic increase in the number of British youth who are suffering from eating disorders.

Owens reported a 47-percent increase in the number of girls under 18 who are suffering from anorexia and bulimia, and a 25-percent increase in girls under the age of nine who are being treated for these disorders:

The new figures also show the number of women needing hospital treatment has risen by 25 percent to 1,740 compared with 1,398 in 2004. The number of men being treated for eating disorders has also gone up, rising to 226 last year from 183 in 2004.

Health experts blame the increasing pressure on young people to stay thin for the rising number of anorexia and bulimia cases. In a recent poll of 3,000 teenagers, 75 percent said they felt they needed to lose weight after looking at pictures of skinny stars such as Kate Moss and Nicole Richie.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of eating disorder charity Beat, said, "We are very concerned by these figures. We have heard of cases of people being told by doctors 'wait and see and come back later'. And these people get very, very ill before they get any help."

If you or someone you love is suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or a related eating disorder, a residential eating disorder treatment program such as Montecatini may have the answers you are looking for.

Labels: eating disorders

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The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), has reported that about 11 million Americans suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

According to an April 30 article by Leslie Presnall, a staff writer with The Daily Reveille (the student newspaper of Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge), nearly one in five college-aged students reports having suffered from an eating disorder:

Julie Hupperich, Student Health Center associate director, said eating disorders can begin at any age, but there are certain risk factors for college students. "There are additional pressures on them," she said. "It's just being under high stress, and an eating disorder is a coping mechanism."

Hupperich said stress will trigger a disorder, or symptoms will escalate during times of stress. She said certain students in subcategories on campus are at higher risk. "It's been shown that particular majors are at risk, like dance majors and female athletes," she said. "And Greek organizations seem to be at greater risks."

A number of experts have argued that the prevalence of media images of unhealthy body shapes has contributed to the development of eating disorders among college students.

Labels: college_students, eating disorders

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

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Two students at St. Olaf (Minn.) College who are also eating disorder survivors have created an audio documentary that they hope will raise awareness about the disorder and encourage those who are suffering in silence to get the help they need.

In a May 12 article on the website of the Northfield News, writer David Henke reported on the efforts of St. Olaf students Erika Greiner and Elizabeth Rooklidge:

It started in seventh grade, Greiner recalled. She stopped eating for days at a time, and if she ever felt like she ate too much, she would run compulsively -- sometimes up to 15 miles a day -- until she felt better about herself.

The anorexia got so bad in high school, Greiner said, that she would pack a turkey sandwich for lunch to fool her parents and friends, and then secretly take the turkey and cheese off the sandwich, leaving only the lettuce and bread. Then she would take a bite or two of the bread, and, worried about eating too much, throw the rest away.

Greiner and Rooklidge interviewed six other women at St. Olaf who suffered from eating disorders for the 30-minute documentary, which is composed of a series of frank and moving audio clips charting each woman's struggle with her disorder.

"My hope with this is to give everyone who doesn't understand what it's like some insight," Greiner said in the Northfield News article. "And for anyone who is struggling, I hope that they will see that there is hope out there."

Labels: awareness, eating disorders

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There has been an increasing body of evidence lately about the benefits of family meals. In general, children who often eat dinner with their families also eat less fast food, drink less pop, and make healthier food choices when they're not with their families. Also, girls who regularly eat dinner with their families are less likely to develop eating disorders.

Researchers are generally unsure exactly how family meals provide all these benefits, [Sarah] Woodruff says. It could be that eating with their families rather than in secret discourages eating disorder behaviours [sic], or that there is a 'carry-over effect' that helps kids make healthier food choices with their friends because of what they learn at home, she says, but no one really knows."
[Source: The Star Phoenix]

Researchers are also puzzled by the fact that positive effects of family dinners seem to be limited almost exclusively to girls. However, many pediatric health experts have long advocated on behalf of increased family involvement as a way of preventing a wide range of dangerous teen behaviors.

Labels: eating disorders, girls, prevention, family meals

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Eating disorders are typically associated with teenage girls. And while most cases are still found in women, the prevalence of eating disorders in men is increasing.

"Patricks battle with anorexia started in college. A star lacrosse player in high school, [Patrick] struggled on his college team, and had a run-in with a coach. He began to doubt himself& He began exercising more and eating less, as little as 500 calories a day."
- Source: Mansfield (OH) News Journal

In the past, experts have estimated that about one in ten anorexics was male. Now that number may be as high as one in four. Increased pressure to be both thin and "ripped" is causing men to over-exercise and undereat.

Labels: men, eating disorders

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In a May 6 commentary on the website Tennessean.com, the author of the eating disorder memoirs Life Without Ed and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me called for a comprehensive effort to eradicate eating disorders. E.D. survivor Jenni Schaefer wrote that improved education, better-funded research efforts, and greater insurance coverage are essential weapons in the fight against anorexia, bulimia, and related disorders:

Without help, many people [who have eating disorders] struggle for years and, if they do survive, they end up with serious long-term health consequences.

We have our work cut out for us if we care about turning these stories around. First, we must fight for insurance coverage to include eating disorders in every state. We must also call on Congress to insist that the National Institute of Mental Health significantly increase funding for research of eating-disorder treatment and prevention. In the U.S., eating disorders are much more common than Alzheimer's disease, but receive only a fourth of the amount of research funding.

Several other experts and advocates have noted that challenges related to awareness and financial resources prevent many people from accessing effective treatment for eating disorders.

Labels: awareness, eating disorders, insurance

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A psychology professor at Emory University is attempting to prevent weight problems and eating disorders among students by offering a class entitled "Appetite Awareness Training."

According to a May 4 article by Helena Oliviero of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Professor Linda Craighead's students eat dinner during class, while talking about topics such as appetite, hunger, and emotional eating:

Craighead, who specializes in eating disorders and weight-management issues, said that although our culture glorifies thinness, it doesn't really promote a trim lifestyle, making it challenging to eat a healthy diet. From the boss who brings boxes of doughnuts to work to commuters facing long drives and ubiquitous fast food, it's easy to stray.

Still, she said, learning how to recognize stomach cues -- instead of eating out of stress or boredom -- can go a long way in battling the bulge. So does being proactive (Craighead keeps Balance bars and microwave-ready tomato soup with her at all times).

With weight concerns and eating disorders among teens becoming increasingly prevalent, Prof. Craighead told the Journal-Constitution that it is important for parents to talk to their children about healthy eating.

Labels: eating disorders, colleges, healthy eating

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As the prevalence of eating disorders rises among even very young girls, parents sometimes feel helpless, fearing there is nothing they can do. And while eating disorders are triggered by a combination of things, there are steps parents can take to protect their children:

Throw out your scale and stop weighing yourself. Your child sees everything you do and seeing you weigh yourself has a significant impact on her perception of weight and body& Talk about foods with regard to how they can nourish her body, rather than their effects on her weight. Focus on health, not on calories, fats, or carbohydrates.(Source: PRWeb)

Remember to encourage physical activity for the sake of health, not weight control. The more a parent puts a positive focus on physical health, the less likely a child will be to risk that health.

Labels: eating disorders, children, parents, prevention

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A 2006 study conducted by the National Eating Disorders Association found that nearly one in five college students admitted to having suffered from an eating disorder. Despite this high number, though, few students ask for help.

Students' silence speaks to disordered thinking that characterizes the disease. "The nature of eating disorders ... is that there's a big period of denial," [Mary Commerford, director of Furman Counseling Center at Barnard] said. "Literally 'I'm doing this, it's normal, I don't have a problem.'" Source: Columbia (University) Spectator

Students who struggled with an eating disorder prior to college are especially at risk, because the added pressures of collegiate life make overcoming the disorders more difficult. Fear of their disorder becoming public also keeps many young disordered eaters from seeking help.

But getting help for an eating disorder can be as close as a confidential conversation with a counselor or an online discussion with an expert in the field. These simple steps can help a student get on the road to recovery and healthy living.

Labels: eating disorders, colleges, counseling, students

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Horizon Blue Cross of New Jersey has reached a settlement agreement in a lawsuit over its lack of coverage for eating disorders. The settlement requires Horizon to expand coverage for more than one million eating disorder patients who are currently insured through the company.

Horizon also agreed to treat any future eating disorder claims by 1.5 million of its 3.3 million insureds as they would claims for biologically-based mental illnesses (BBMI) like schizophrenia - reforms that will cost the company an estimated $17.8 million. (Source: New Jersey Law Journal)

Horizon will also be required to pay nearly $2.5 million in restitution for previously refusing to cover treatment for eating disorders.

Experts estimate that as many as eight million Americans (seven million women and one million men) suffer from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or another type of disordered eating. In the absence of appropriate treatment, the health effects of eating disorders can range from devastating to deadly.

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A new biography of singer Lady Gaga claims that she has an eating disorder. The author, New York Post reporter Maureen Callahan, says that Lady Gaga's manager told her that the pop star was in the hospital six times last year as a consequence of her extreme dieting.

Manager David Clemmy told Callahan that Lady Gaga binges on junk food and sweets, and then stops eating for weeks at a time in order to fit into her costumes.

Lady Gaga herself told the Daily Telegraph that she was on a very strict but healthy "pop star diet."

"I don't eat bread, just vegetables and salad and fish," she said. "Eating like that is much better for me anyway, but on Sundays, I sometimes eat pasta."
 

Labels: eating disorders, dieting, celebrities, extreme weight loss

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