Nutritionist Ingrid Skoog has recently been hired by the Oregon State Athletic Department to begin working with the student-athletes. Her overall goal is to help them improve their athletic performance, but she will begin by addressing the issue of eating disorders.

"She hopes to advise incoming athletes and show them how to eat properly in the dorms, and then help those who move into apartments to shop for healthy food that can be made quickly."

Collegiate athletics has become so competitive that being "naturally talented" isn't enough anymore. Everyone is looking for an edge. Skoog hopes to help them find that edge in safe, healthy ways. Read more at GTConnect.com.

Labels: athletes, nutrition, health care

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Eating disorder treatment facilities are expensive. Some families pay out-of-pocket, but many can't afford to and turn to their insurance companies for help. Unfortunately, many insurance companies severely limit the amount of coverage they offer. Kitty and Mark Westin know this first hand. They spent a lot of time an effort fighting their insurance agency when their daughter, Anna, was struggling with an eating disorder. In hopes of helping other families in similar situations, they list several suggestions on their website.

"It is also important to understand which covered treatments are funded through the 'health' section of your plan and which are funded through the 'mental health' section. For example, your psychiatrist and medical doctor will be funded through 'health benefits' and you should insist that these are billed this way. You will probably have lower co-pays and services will not be as limited."

The Westins offer suggestions also if you find yourself having to file an appeal with your insurance company. Read more at AnnaWestinFoundation.org.

Labels: insurance, costs, health care

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Getting the treatment necessary to fully recover from an eating disorder costs money. It often costs a lot of money. Because the costs are not adequately covered by insurance, some people have had to rely on second mortgages; others have had to file for bankruptcy.

"Insurers often will cover the medal complications that arise as patients - nearly all of them women or young girls - starve themselves or vomit up their food... But when the heart rate stabilizes, when enough weight is gained, the patient is released right back into her old eating habits with little support."

Currently, just 11 states require insurers to cover eating disorders as mental illnesses. The good news is that the overall opinion of the medical community is changing - albeit slowly. Read more at ContraCostaTimes.com.

Labels: treatment, health care

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