People who are in good physical health are often admired for their dedication as well as for their physiques. As such, few people would look at someone who was jogging or working out in a gym and think there was a problem. But an increasing number of people are developing an unhealthy exercise obsession that is known as anorexia athletica.

"[Chris] Lamps [a child and adolescent psychologist] said there's no clear-cut, giveaway sign that someone is over-exercising, and that it's a broad spectrum of how well that person is functioning in the rest of their life that fits in with their overall health."

Exercise releases endorphins, which some people's bodies respond to in a manner similar to how people are affected by narcotics. These people can become addicted to what's known as the "runner's high." Often, people who are obsessed with exercise also restrict calories or begin purging. If a person's body is deteriorating from too much exercise, or he is making damaging sacrifices in other areas of life, they may have a serious problem. Source: News Leader (VA)

Labels: exercise, health, obsession

In Auckland, New Zealand, there are no inpatient facilities for eating disorder treatment. Local patients are currently being sent to Sydney, Australia - but that could soon change.

"Plans for a regional service provided by Auckland District Health Board, with funding from Waitemata and Counties-Manukau are now being considered by the Health Ministry."

Funding is complicated because more than one health board is involved, and no timeframe has been released. Still, local residents are hopeful that those who need it will soon be able to find treatment closer to home. Source: Western Leader (NZ)

Labels: health, support, treatment

Organizers for London Fashion Week no longer plan to bar size zero models and will not require international health certificates proving the models are in good physical condition. The decision was made after industry executives refused to cooperate.

"Hilary Riva of the British Fashion Council said her international counterparts complained that proposals to make catwalk models pass a medical exam were expensive and intrusive. 'From our conversations with our international counterparts... it has become clear that they do not recognize the need for an international health certificate,' Riva said in an open letter posted on the council's Web site on Wednesday."

The medical exams would have cost $500, and many believed that models would have simply sought work in fashion shows where the certificates weren't required. Source: Associated Press

Labels: fashion, health, modeling

Nicole Roberge's struggle with anorexia nearly killed her. Her experience, combined with her concerns about eating disorders in young people, compelled her to speak to a group of middle school students in Connecticut.

"She emphasized healthy eating habits and shared her near-death experience with anorexia. Later, when a group of five students sat down to talk about their body image, most said they think life is easier for thin girls."

One young girl said that before hearing Nicole's story, she was considering not eating for a week, but Nicole helped her see how unhealthy and dangerous it was. Source: GateHouse News Service

Labels: death, health, support

A study by a group of doctors in British Columbia, Canada, has found that the life expectancy of individuals with anorexia nervosa is significantly lower than that of those who do not suffer from the eating disorder.

"Their number crunching revealed, for instance, that a woman who develops the disorder at age 15 will live on average to age 56 - 25 years less than the average Canadian female... About half of those who die commit suicide, while the rest succumb to medical problems..."

The B.C. specialists hope their study will help eliminate the stigma surrounding anorexia and other eating disorders, and will prompt both sufferers and the community at large to take the disorders more seriously. Source: Canadian National Post

Labels: death, health, life_expectancy