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

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Wales Assembly Member Bethan Jenkins thinks teaching kids about body image and self-esteem in school could help prevent eating disorders. With this in mind, she's asked the Education Minister for a national curriculum.

Wales Online reported the following about Jenkins' efforts:

Her campaign comes amid concerns that 11 and 12-year-olds  especially girls  are already comparing themselves to pictures of emaciated models widely used by the media. Ms. Jenkins, who chairs the National Assemblys cross-party group on eating disorders, said: "I believe that it is important that young people learn about their bodies from an early age"

UK studies have found that six out of ten teenage girls suffer from poor self-esteem, and think they'd be happier if they were thinner. Ms. Jenkins is asking for body image and self-esteem sessions to be added to the personal and social education (PSE) curriculum.

Labels: body image, education

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Many media images promote body dissatisfaction -- and may encourage the onset of eating disorders -- among boys, girls, men, and women. In order to offset these unhealthy influences and promote more productive self-image, a North Carolina health center is hosting a "Love Your Body" workshop at the end of July.

The June 18 edition of theAsheville Citizen-Times provided the following information about the event:

Join Aubrey Ray at Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center July 29 to learn how to improve your body image, self-esteem, and overall health and well being. Ray will present "Love Your Body!" during the monthly Diabetes Support Group and Education Series. ...

Many things contribute to how a woman feels about her body. Peer pressure, family history, education, stage of life, ethnic, culture, and social status all play important roles in how people feel about how they look.

Improper balance can lead to problems such as eating disorders, which in turn can lead to problems like diabetes. Ray will offer tips for treating your body well and appreciating all its abilities and finer points.

The class will be held July 29, 4 pm, and is free to the public. The Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center is located in Ashville, North Carolina.

Labels: self-esteem, self-image_issues, education

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"Normal" is a unique musical that peers into the dark, destructive world of eating disorders. Written by Yvonne Adrian, with lyrics by Cheryl Stern, the off-Broadway play opened in 2005.

Anorexia is not a common topic for a play, much less a musical, but [Artistic Director Chase Kniffen] and the cast of seven provide an open, in-depth and intimate view of the subject as well as the dynamics of the Freeman family as mother, father, daughter, and son struggle to come to terms with the layers of dissonance that would drive a young girl to starve herself ... [Source: The Richmond (Virginia) Times-Dispatch]

"Normal" doesn't offer a fairy-tale ending or magical solution. Though the question "Why?" is asked, it is never answered. The play is raw and real -- perhaps too real for some -- but it does an excellent job of educating the audience and exposing a disorder that is often kept hidden in the shadows.

Labels: anorexia, education, eating_problems, broadway

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The National Eating Disorders Association has launched a powerful and provocative new advertising campaign that forces readers to see eating disorders from a unique perspective: Through the eyes of someone suffering with the disease.

"This ad campaign is thought-provoking, even aggressive, and not likely to be ignored in a magazine or on a bus shelter. It's meant to evoke strong emotions, to encourage people to educate themselves and to get the help they need."

One of the images is a bathroom scale with a single bean on it and a caption that reads "It Weights Almost Nothing. Just like the Girl Who's Having it for Lunch." Source: 24-7 Press Release

Labels: support, education, perceptions

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"Bling" is a slang used to describe fancy jewelry - real or fake - that is worn by young men and women. In Kansas City, Kansas, the word is also an acronym for a program being used to teach them about eating disorders.

"BLING stands for Building Liberated Insightful Girls. It's a multi-dimensional educational program created for adolescents to work proactively to prevent eating disorders in young girls."

The goal of the program is to teach kids how to respect and appreciate their bodies - no matter their size or shape. It is currently available in several Kansas City school districts. Source: KSHB-TV News (KS)

Labels: awareness, education, prevention

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Middle-schoolers in Santa Cruz, California recently learned something shocking; those picture-perfect images they see of models in magazines are "digitally enhanced". It's one of many lessons the group of girls is learning in an after-school class focused on teaching them the truth about the media while simultaneously helping them learn to eat healthy.

"The class seeks to boost girls' self-esteem and help them to make healthier choices. In addition to learning to critically examine media images of women, girls engaged in role-playing, art, discussions and yoga. They discussed healthy food choices and learned to distinguish when they were really hungry from when they were lonely or had some other need."

The class was developed at Harvard Medical School and is being called "one of the most promising and extensively researched eating disorder prevention programs..." Read more at SantaCruzSentinel.com.

Labels: media_influences, self-esteem, education

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It's called FORM, which stands for 'Freedom Ordered Renewal Meditative Movement' and is a Pilates-type therapy that some facilities are using to help treat eating disorders. It's been found to help compulsive exercisers be more moderate in their routines while the deep breathing and stretching can relieve some of the aches and pains caused by eating disorders.

"Importantly, patients learn to distract from their eating disordered thoughts and behaviors and to relate to their bodies in a brand new, affirming manner. FORM is an excellent meditative outlet that benefits patients regardless of their faith."

Patients have given excellent evaluations of the therapy, stating that they're learning not to take their bodies for granted. Patients have also reported improvements in overall mood and stress relief.

Read more online.

Labels: treatment, therapy, education

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Evelin Alvarez and Kayla Claxton are juniors at Yspilanti High School near Ann Arbor, Michigan. They recently presented a paper titled "Eating Disorders and the Social Pressures that Cause Them" at a research institution called Altarum.

"'...We only surveyed junior and senior girls at Ypsi (high school)... We asked the girls questions on whether they considered themselves to be healthy, and through that, we found that they no longer know what healthy is.'"

Alvarez and Claxton will each receive a $750 scholarship award for their paper. They intend to take the information they've gathered and use it to raise awareness in their school about the dangers and treatments options of eating disorders. Read more at MLive.com.

Outdoor education programs, outdoor therapy, and brat camps can help kids with substance abuse problems and other behavioral issues. Learn more about outdoor therapy programs at Wilderness-Programs-Info.com.

Sage Walk, featured on ABC's Brat Camp, helps teens with behavior and emotional issues. Visit sagewalk.com to learn more about their brat camp program.

Labels: awareness, education, high-school_girls

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Pauline Powers has spent years teaching medical students and residents at the University of South Florida about eating disorders. She's recently added a new endeavor to her educational and treatment efforts.

"Her latest effort is as director and driving force behind Hope House, a USF community project that will establish a comprehensive outpatient program for eating disorders. Based on another facility, Sheena's Place in Toronto, it will be the first of its kind in the United States."

Operations have been funded through a grant for the first three years, but the house must eventually become self-sufficient. Powers estimates that the cost of treating just one person with an eating disorder is about $100,000. Read more at SPTimes.com.

Labels: treatment, support, education

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