Eating Disorders Help Guide

Certain Types of Talk Therapy Beneficial to Individuals with Binge Eating Disorder

A new study from Rutgers University in New Jersey found that certain kinds of talk therapy works better than behavioral weight-loss treatment to help people with binge eating disorder.

Binge eating disorder includes episodes of out-of-control eating. A person might consume, for example, 10,000 calories or more at one sitting. In order to be diagnosed with binge eating disorder, the person must feel that he has no control over his eating episodes, and he must experience shame and regret after such an event.

In the new study, Dr. Terrence Wilson assigned 205 men and women with binge eating disorders to either 20 sessions of interpersonal psychotherapy, 20 sessions of behavioral weight-loss treatment, or 10 sessions of guided self-help and cognitive behavioral therapy.
There were no differences among the three groups in terms of improvements in the rates of binge eating episodes after treatment or six months later.
However, two years later, the interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy/guided self-help groups were significantly better in terms of their remission from binge eating.

The study appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Labels: binge eating, therapy, treatment

Yoga May Help Teens Overcome Eating Disorders

"This is the only hour in my week when I don’t think about my weight," a girl with a severe eating disorder told researchers.

She was referring to her yoga class.

The girl was one of 50 adolescents (ages 11 to 16 years old) with anorexia, bulimia, or some other eating disorder who were involved in a study about the effects of yoga.

Half of the students had been hospitalized for their eating disorder, and all were enrolled in a treatment program at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Rain Carel had 25 of the teenagers participate in yoga classes for two months.
While the activity had no effect on their weight, taking the classes reduced their obsessive concerns about weight, food preoccupation, and other measures.

This study appeared in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Labels: exercise, treatment, yoga

Seeking Treatment? Find Program that Best Meets Your Unique Needs

There are a wide variety of treatment options available for people suffering from eating disorders.

The Mayo Clinic website advises those who are seeking treatment to take the time to learn about their disorder and find the eating disorder treatment program that is best for them:

Getting the right eating disorder treatment for a condition such as anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder is essential to prevent it from worsening or causing serious health problems. Eating disorder treatment generally involves a team of health professionals and includes psychotherapy, nutrition education, and sometimes medication.

Overcoming an eating disorder is challenging. But choosing the right treatment and the right team can help you manage symptoms, maintain a healthy weight, and maintain both your physical and mental health. ...

You are the most important member of your treatment team. In order for your treatment to be a success, you need to be actively involved with your treatment and informed about your eating disorder, and so do your family members.

Labels: advice, treatment

Eating Disorder Survivor Urges Others to Get Help They Need

Kelsie Gleason was only 11 when she started restricting her diet. At 15, she started telling her friends that she was feeling dizzy and would sometimes pass out.

By the time she was a sophomore in high school, Kelsi was being fed through a tube and was confined to a wheelchair.

But according to an Aug. 5 article in the Naperville Sun, Kelsie's story may be headed for a happy ending -- a result that she hopes will help motivate other disordered eaters to get the help they need:

With the help of several hospitalizations and outpatient treatment, Kelsie, at 17, finally admitted she had a problem. Instead of going for treatment to please her parents, she now wanted it for herself. She was ready to fully commit to getting better and entered a residential treatment program in her junior year.

Now 19, Kelsie is off medications, living on campus at Illinois Wesleyan and checks in with her therapist only a couple of times a year.

"The earlier you start, the better your chances of success," Kelsie told the Sun. "It's hard work and sometimes it feels like it's never going to get better. But if you stick with it, there's an entire world out there once you get through this."

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, today could be the day that life begins to get better. Effective eating disorder treatment may be as close as a mouse-click away.

Labels: treatment

Eating Disorder Cases Overwhelming Saskatoon Facilities

The long-term care that's often required for people recovering from an eating disorder is not readily available in some parts of Canada, according to psychiatrist Elizabeth Tosney.

"Philosophically, what we’re trying to do is right," Tosney said in an Aug. 1 article by Star Phoenix Ashleigh Mattern. "We have a balance between some medical models and some alternative programming. And we do have individual counselors who are willing to work and are well-trained and familiar with eating disorders. What we lack is more of it."

Right now, the waiting list for eating disorder treatment in Saskatoon is long, forcing sufferers to wait several weeks before they’re admitted to a program. However, medical personnel are working to ensure that the most acute cases receive treatment as soon as possible.

"If they aren't classified as emergency cases, then the wait could be a few weeks," Linda Walker, corporate and public affairs adviser for the Saskatoon Health Region, told the Star Phoenix "The more serious a case, the faster we try to get them in to one of our programs."

Labels: treatment

Benefits of Art, Dance for Teens with Eating Disorders

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: art, dance, eating disorders, treatment

British Health Agency Ordered to Repay Anorexic Woman's Life Savings

A woman who spent her life savings treating her anorexia has been awarded reimbursement from National Health Services in Wales. The patient, named only as Miss S, spent about $30,000 in private treatment, after NHS refused to pay.

"The report revealed that Miss S, who comes from South Wales, became ill while staying with a friend in Plymouth. She received outpatient and inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa in the Westcountry." (Source: WalesOnline)

From there, as her condition worsened, she was referred to a unit that specialized in eating disorders. Health Commission Wales, which was supposed to fund the treatment, didn't.

The representatives who wrote the report referred to HCW's actions as "maladministration" and determined that HCW's failure to fund treatment had caused Miss S "injustice and hardship."

Labels: anorexia, finances, great britain, treatment

Scotland's First Anorexia Treatment Unit Opens in Aberdeen

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 Scotland’s 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: eating disorders, treatment

Are Doctors Overlooking Deadly Disorder?

Most eating disorder attention is focused on conditions that make a person too thin, such as anorexia and bulimia. But some people believe that doctors are overlooking equally dangerous disorders that cause people to become too heavy.

"Compulsive eating is also fatal," eating disorder expert Dr. Kimberly Dennis says. "It's just a much slower, gentler killer than anorexia or bulimia." ... In Kansas City, Dr. Dennis talked to health professionals about treating and recognizing all eating disorders.

Dennis believes there's as much denial around overeating and binge eating and there is around other eating disorders, and that psychological therapy is a necessary part of treatment. Source: KSHB-TV (Kansas City)

Labels: diagnosis, doctors, treatment

Thousands Spent Sending Anorexia Patients to Australia

The lack of adequate eating disorder treatment facilities in New Zealand has cost that country's health officials nearly $750,000 as they've had to send over a dozen teenagers to Australia to receive proper care.

"Health Minister Tony Ryall... earlier this year described the problems with anorexia treatment as 'a shambles', telling Campbell Live he had ordered a report on the DHBs' [District Health Boards] efforts to organize a service for the northern region."

Currently, there are only 12 beds for acute inpatient anorexia treatment in all of New Zealand, none of which are in the country's northern region. Source: The New Zealand Herald

Labels: patients, treatment

Bulimia Study Seeks Participants

Though bulimia nervosa affects countless adolescents, most studies on effective treatment have focused on adults. James Lock, MD, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, said that's why his team's research will focus on young people:

"The team will study three treatments that may help adolescent bulimics. Study subjects will be randomly assigned to receive 20 outpatient consultations using cognitive behavior therapy, family therapy, or individualized psychotherapy."

The team is currently looking for adolescents with bulimia or bulimic-like behaviors that are willing to participate in a two-year study. Prospective participants must be between the ages of 12 and 18, and their families must be willing to participate as well. Anyone who is interested in participating should contact research assistant Brittany Alvy at the Stanford School of Medicine. Source: Stanford Medical Center Report

Labels: bulimia, teenagers, treatment

Economy Keeping Disordered Eaters from Getting Help

With the economy in turmoil, fewer people who struggle with eating disorders are getting the help they need. Some can't afford it, while others simply don't want to spend the money.

The danger of not seeking help for an eating disorder can be very serious because they can cause many medical complications, even death... Eating disorders often take a turn for the worse due to increased personal family stress. As eating disorders intensify, they become more difficult to treat.

If you or someone you know needs treatment for an eating disorder, don't assume treatment will be too expensive. There are many options. Research counselors and therapists, as well as both in- and out-patient programs. Source: PR Web

Labels: complications, stress, treatment

Treatment Delays Blamed for Young Girl's Anorexia Death

A young girl's death in Norfolk, England, has been blamed on delays in getting the treatment she needed for anorexia. Greater Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong made the comments at a Nov. 6 inquest.

Mr. Armstrong said he would make recommendations to both [National Health Service] Norfolk and the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Trust after the inquest heard there had been a five-week delay between her [doctor's] referral and an assessment by a mental health nurse.

Charlotte Robinson was first referred for treatment on April 30, but was not seen by a mental health nurse until the June 5. She was not admitted to a hospital for treatment until July 20, by which time she weighed just 77 pounds. Source: EDP24

Labels: death, mental_health, treatment

TV Host Helps Others Overcome Eating Disorders

New Zealand TV host Alison Mau remembers what it's like to be young and obsessed with physical appearance. As a teenager, she struggled with self-image and tried a number of crash diets in order to lose weight.

"With her daughter Paris, 10, entering her tweens, Alison is well aware of how important positive messages about a problem which can plague adolescent girls can be... 'There are far more important things to think about, and more enjoyable things to think about, than what you look like.'"

Mau shared her experiences in an effort to support the Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) which designated Oct. 15 as Love Your Body day. Mau encouraged anyone who thinks they have body image or eating disorder issues to get help immediately.Source: New Zealand Sunday News

Labels: support, treatment, TV

New Zealand City Could Get Eating Disorder Unit

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

People with Eating Disorders Need Help

An opinion piece in the DeKalb County (IL) Daily Chronicle asks for the state's governor to sign recently passed legislation which would require insurance companies to provide coverage for eating disorder treatment.

"Treatment often requires inpatient care. That can be expensive. The average cost for a month of inpatient treatment for an eating disorder is $30,000. It is estimated that individuals with eating disorders need anywhere from three to six months of inpatient care."

If the legislation is signed into law, Illinois would become the 17th state to mandate coverage for eating disorder treatment. Source: The Daily Chronicle (IL)

Labels: legislation, support, treatment

Parent's Guide to Eating Disorders

Author Marcia Herrin has released the second edition of her Parent's Guide to Eating Disorders. In it, she calls on her experience as an eating disorder survivor, a registered dietician, and a mother to advise and guide other parents whose children are struggling with eating disorders.

"The book focuses on using the Maudsley approach as an essential resource and on what parents may be able to do at home, with or without the use of a Maudsley-trained professional, to treat their child who has eating issues or an eating disorder."

The book includes step-by-step instructions for the Maudsley approach, a relatively new treatment that centers around family therapy and greater involvement by the parents in their child's treatment and recovery. Source: NursingCenter.com

Labels: parents, support, treatment

New Outpatient Program Starts in Cincinnati

Wade and Amy Bellamah-Daniel noticed a disturbing trend in Cincinnati - a culture of disordered eating that ranged from fad diets to full-blown eating disorders. They also noticed something else disturbing - there weren't any local programs to deal with the issue. So they started one.

"Clients of the Body Truth outpatient program go through their daily routines, with all the stresses and temptations. Then, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. three days a week, they attend group sessions to learn new ways to look at themselves, their bodies and food."

The Daniels believe the benefit of this approach is that it teaches people, from the very beginning, how to cope in everyday life. Meeting several times a week allows patient to share not only their struggles, but also their successes. There is also a mid-week support group for family members. Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer

Labels: cultures, support, treatment

Letter Writer Fears She May Be Anorexic

A 15-year-old girl who has spent most of her life dieting wrote a letter to a Pennsylvania newspaper advice columnist to express concerns that she may be anorexic. She shared her story (which includes teasing by family members) and symptoms (which include four months of missed periods), and asked for advice.

"Your obsession with your weight and your changed attitude toward eating are certainly warning signs for anorexia, but it's not possible to know if you are too thin without more information. I recommend an appointment with your family physician... The Internet is an excellent source of information, but spending time with a professional who can listen to your individual needs will help most."

The advice columnist noted that missed menstrual periods are also a potential sign of anorexia, though other causes could be to blame. She also suggested that the girl address the matter with her family, to tell them how she feels when they tease her and to ask them to stop. Source: Observer-Reporter

Labels: anorexia, diagnosis, treatment

Illinois May Mandate New Coverage

If Illinois lawmakers have their way, theirs will become the 17th state to mandate better insurance coverage for patients with eating disorders. The legislation has already been passed and is waiting for Governor Rob Blagojevich's signature.

"The cost of treatment, which often requires a team of clinicians, is one of the biggest obstacles to healing.... As with other serious illnesses, early intervention can save victims' lives and insurers' money, before patients end up in the intensive-care unit...."

Critics of these types of mandates have voiced their protests in nearly every state where similar legislation has been passed. They cite inevitable rises in health care premiums as their primary concern. Despite those protests, the mandates are largely viewed as being long overdue. Source: Chicago Tribune

Labels: costs, insurance, treatment

London College Create Eating Disorders Course for Parents

Effective early treatment is paramount in a person's battle against anorexia, and the support of loved ones is a key part of that treatment. But friends and family members are often unsure of exactly how to be supportive.

"King's College London has begun a course to give carers necessary skills. The Collaborative Caring Course teaches the necessary skills to understanding eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, and the consequential behavioral changes."

The free course is being run by Professor Janet Treasure of the Eating Disorder Research Unit, who hopes it will help family members not only to deal with the affects of eating disorders, but also to help encourage change in the sufferer. Source: BBC

Labels: behaviors, support, treatment

Australia Emphasizes Self-Help for Bulimia Sufferers

A new program being offered in Queensland, Australia puts treatment for bulimia right in the hands of the patients. The six-step process involves cognitive behavioral therapy, diet plans and problem-solving:

"Over 20 weeks, the program involves sufferers writing down what they eat, creating a meal plan, intervening in bingeing or purging, using problem-solving, eliminating dieting and identifying beliefs surrounding the disorder. They also come up with plans to cope with stressful situations which may normally trigger an episode...."

Psychologist Cherie Dalton, who is currently treating three patients using the new program, told The Courier Mail that even though the program is self-guided, patients aren't going it alone. They still meet with healthcare professionals, but they are also given the tools to take a stronger ownership over their recovery. Source: The Courier Mail

Labels: support, therapy, treatment

Live Theatre Could Help with Eating Disorders

A group of schoolchildren in Minneapolis recently help develop, write, produce and perform a play about eating disorders and body image. The 18 children volunteered one day a week for ten weeks to create the play, which was performed in front of parents, teachers, and friends.

"After the final performance, [Jess] Haines and her colleagues interviewed 15 of the participating children in three focus groups of five... A key feature of the intervention was that it appeared to engage the children and they reported finding it particularly relevant to their lives. This echoes other health research showing that involving participants in the development and delivery of an intervention leads to it being more relevant and culturally sensitive to its intended audience."

Haines and her colleagues also found that many of the children reported improvement in their own body image and ability to withstand derogatory remarks. Source: BPS Research Digest.

Labels: intervention, support, treatment

Girl Struggling with Bulimia Pleads for Help

Feeling she had nowhere else to turn, a young college student wrote to an advice columnist to seek help for the bulimia she's struggled with for four years. Her family has turned their backs on her, and with little money and no insurance, she doesn't know where to go for help.

"...you must be willing to get help, no matter what form it comes in. On-campus counseling is more beneficial than you realize, and even short-term assistance can help."

The advice columnist goes on to suggest that the writer contact the National Eating Disorders Association, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders, or her local church, United Way, or YMCA. Even a little help, she says, is better than no help at all. Source: The Herald Tribune - Florida

Labels: advice, support, treatment

Bill Would Expand Insurance Coverage

Following in the footsteps of previous states, the Illinois legislature has introduced a bill that would require insurance companies to cover the treatment of eating disorders. Eating disorders are currently not recognized as a serious mental illness, so insurance companies aren't required to cover treatment.

"But that could soon change. A law proposed in the General Assembly would add anorexia and bulimia to the list of serious mental illnesses that must be covered. Insurance companies would be required to cover 45 days of in-patient care and 60 visits of outpatient treatment."

Insurance company spokespeople warn that requiring more coverage could result in higher insurance costs. Source: Chicago Daily Herald

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Labels: insurance, support, treatment

Teen Shares Story of Recovery

Marisa was diagnosed with anorexia when she was 13-years-old. She was hospitalized several times before entering a residential treatment unit in Utah.

"Marisa is sharing her story because she wants people to understand anorexia - that it is a debilitating disorder rooted in control and not vanity... If she could control what she ate and subsequently her weight, then everything would be ok."

Now, at 16, Marisa is at a healthy weight. She and her parents are plaintiffs in a landmark case again Aetna insurance agency, which was sued because of its lack of eating disorder treatment coverage. The company has since agreed to change its policies and reimburse Marisa's parents the money they spent on her treatment. Source: WNBC - New York

Labels: recovery, support, treatment

New Bill of Rights Introduced

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) released their newly developed patient bill of rights on Wednesday. The document is part of an initiative launched in Washington to help families get access to better care for family members with eating disorders.

"Entitled the Worldwide Charter for Action on Eating Disorders, the Charter calls for a partnership among patients, families and their treatment team to ensure the highest quality care for every person undergoing treatment for anorexia nervosa (which has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder), bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder."

The NEDA and AED are seeing support for the charter from clinicians, state policymakers, and families affected by eating disorders. Source: EarthTimes

Labels: health_care, patient_rights, treatment

Anorexia Sufferer Joins Call for Better Support

The Opposition Party in Australia has developed a new policy on the treatment of anorexia and is urging the government to develop a center specifically for people with eating disorders.

"24-year-old Melissa Maher has had anorexia for nine years and says people with such disorders need specialized care that's not available in mental health wards."

She acknowledges that treatment centers do a good job of helping patients, but they could do more by offering specialized training for psychiatrists and/or doctors. Source: ABC News - Australia

Labels: government, support, treatment

Food Disorder Experiences Wanted

The Royal Cornhill Hospital in Scotland is planning to open an in-patient treatment center for eating disorders and would like input from people who have received treatment at other facilities.

"The views of relatives and friends are also being sought... 'We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has had experience of in-patient care either as a patient, relative or carer...'"

Source: BBC

Labels: input, support, treatment

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

Diagnostic Criteria for Eating Disorders Inadequate

Results of a new study by Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University have found that the DSM-IV criteria for eating disorders are not sufficient for accurate diagnoses. DSM stands for "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders". It is meant to offer a broad-based outline of diagnostic criteria for the medical community.

"Researchers noted that in treatment center programs for eating disorders more than half of the patients are diagnosed with an eating disorder 'not otherwise specified' (NOS)... 'The NOS category of the DSM-IV was intended to be a residual category of diagnosis... for relatively infrequent cases... '"

The fact that so many patients are being diagnosed with an eating disorder "not otherwise specified" indicates that eating disorder classifications in the DSM-IV are not broad enough. Read more at Huliq.com.

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Labels: awareness, diagnosis, treatment

UC Prof Developing Treatments for Families of Anorexic Teens

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego are hoping to design better treatments for families of teens with anorexia and other eating disorders.

Dr. Walter Kaye, professor of psychiatry, and his colleagues are recruiting 240 families with teens who suffer from eating disorders. The families will be divided into two groups. One group will receive family therapy, based on the theory that the child developed the disorder because of patterns of family interactions. The other group will work under the Maudsley theory that the family needs no psychological treatment, but parents do need to be taught how to help their child develop healthy eating habits.

"We may find different approaches work better for patients with a particular profile," Dr. Kaye said.

Anorexia affects about one in every 200 adolescents and has the highest death rate of any psychiatric disorder.

Adolescent treatment centers, like the Aspen Institute, can help diagnosis teens with emotional and behavioral issues and then, more importantly, create a treatment plan. Visit AspenAssessment.com for more information.

Labels: healthy_eating, therapy, treatment

PsychFit Combats Eating Disorders

For the past two years, psychotherapist Jane Baxter Cibel, Ph.D. has been treating patients with eating disorders, addictions and depression using an innovative approach called PsychFit. PsychFit combines psychological counseling with mild exercise such as walking on a treadmill.

"By conducting traditional psychotherapy during exercise and physical fitness coaching, PsychFit improves cognitive functioning at the same time it builds muscle, said Baxter Cibel. 'It repairs habitual negative and self-sabotaging thinking, which feeds depression and drives self-destructive behaviors.'"

Baxter Cibel believes that PsychFit works, in part, because physical activity is known to improve a person's mood and self-esteem.

Labels: exercise, therapy, treatment

Wales Creating a National Strategy

Currently, in the country of Wales, there are no residential centers available for the treatment of eating disorders. But officials plan to change that and have called for a national strategy aimed at treating and preventing eating disorders.

"While local community provision for sufferers does exist, Ms Jenkins said people who reached a more critical stage of the illness had to go to England for residential care. Work is underway to provide residential spaces for children and young people with mental health problems, at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend."

In addition, the Graham Menzies Foundation has applied for a multi-million dollar grant that would partially fund a residential treatment facility for several years.

Adolescent residential treatment centers like Youth Care and Island View can offer teens a structured environment as get help for their issues and earn academic credits.

Labels: awareness, prevention, treatment

Targeted Brain Stimulation May Offer Alternative Therapy

Dr. Bomin Sun of the Center of Functional Neurosurgery in China has released the results of study in which brain stimulation was used to treat patients with advanced forms of anorexia. The treatment - called Deep Brain Modulation, is performed by implanting small electrodes onto a specific part of the brain, which is then electrically stimulated.

"Anorexia nervosa is a complex condition, involving sociological, neurobiological and psychological components,' said Dr. Sun. ‘This DBS treatment is very promising in that all patients had an improvement in eating behavior, psychiatric symptoms, or a combination of both."

Some side effects were documented in patients that had another surgical treatment, in addition to the DBS. There were, however, no side effects recorded in those who had the DBS treatment only.

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Labels: brain_chemistry, therapy, treatment

Brain Scans Different in People with Anorexia

A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh has found that people with a history of anorexia have vastly different brain activity than those who never suffered from the disorder. The results appear in the American Journal of Psychiatry, and the study's authors hope the findings will help in the development of more effective treatments.

"While the brain region for emotional responses - the anterior ventral striatum - showed strong differences... in the healthy women, women with a past history of anorexia showed little difference."

In addition, the part of the brain that's associated with outcome and planning was much more active in women who'd had anorexia. An eating disorder association spokeswoman said this study shows that eating disorders are much more than just a 'silly diet gone wrong.'

The Aspen Institute of Behavioral Assessment can help parents and professionals figure out a troubled teen by conducting a thorough assessment and then creating a clear treatment plan.

Labels: brain_chemistry, research, treatment

Relations Key to Anorexia Treatment

An ongoing study being conducted by colleagues at Duke and the University of North Carolina is finding that many people who develop eating disorders first struggled with interpersonal relationships because they felt self-conscious and anxious.

[Dr. Nancy Zucker] said she hopes to discover more detailed information about how individuals with anorexia process social interactions and whether they perceive relationships the same way as unaffected individuals."

If results continue to support the theory that people who struggle with social interaction are more prone to develop eating disorders, it could change significantly the way the disorders are treated. The focus could shift from that of diet and body image to the development of interpersonal and other skills needed to build meaningful relationships.

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Labels: relationships, support, treatment

NEDA Holds Auction

The National Eating Disorders Association is holding an online auction through Sunday, December 2nd. Money raised from the auction will go to benefit the NEDA's ongoing efforts against eating disorders.

"Auction items range from exotic vacations and priceless celebrity memorabilia to countless items guaranteed to delight and surprise."

Those wishing to help the NEDA with their fundraiser can bid on concert tickets, autographed guitars, Wii game systems and more.

Labels: awareness, treatment

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.

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Labels: awareness, causes of eating disorders, treatment

Hope in a Hula-hoop

A new program in Australia is helping people with eating disorders find hope in a most unusual place; the circus. Clowning around - literally - is being encouraged as a way for anorexic and bulimic patients to reconnect with their bodies in health ways.

"The pilot program uses performance circus skills - acrobalance, aerials, juggling and hula-hoops - to help people build trust and learn positive risk-taking while also developing strength and flexibility."

The program is still in its early stages and will not be officially rolled out until it has been fully funded.

Labels: hope, treatment

New Hope for Eating Disorders

Traditional eating disorder programs can take up to 10 years to make a difference in someone's life. And the rate of relapse is extremely high. But a new method being used in a San Diego clinic promises much better results and much fewer relapses.

"The clinic doesn't rely on psychiatric drugs or talk therapy. Instead, patients learn how to feel hungry and full. The key to success is this computerized device called the 'Mandometer'. It's customized for each patient... The Mandometer measures how much food is going on the plate, and how much and how fast food is being taken off."

Patients also learn how to ease their anxiety after a meal. The clinic has a "warm room" that's set to 108 degrees in which the patients go and sit after they've eaten. The warmth helps relieve stress. The relapse rate for this therapy is only 10 percent after five years, compared to 50 percent with most other types of therapy.

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Labels: support, therapy, treatment

Therapy Options for Anorexia

There are many treatment options available for people with anorexia. Various psychological, nutritional and medical treatments are offered, and choosing the "right" ones can be difficult. Parents who have teens with eating disorders may feel nearly panicked in their desire to find help for their children; a feeling that's exacerbated by the over-abundance of studies and opinions about different types of treatment.

"...a number of treatment methods are available to individuals with anorexia. The important thing is to diligently seek a mode of treatment that works for you. Right now, researchers may not know why one approach work and other one doesn't. Those are important things for us to learn. But on an individual basis, it's more important to find something that works than to know why it works."

Treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) often work well in conjunction with some form of nutritional therapy. Consider out-of-the-ordinary additions to traditional treatment - like massage therapy, which some say helps anorexic patients not only relax but start to develop a healthier body image.

Residential treatment centers, like the Youth Care, offer cognitive-behavioral therapy for a variety of issues.

Labels: anorexia, therapy, treatment

Awareness Campaign Launched

The island nation of Malta has launched an eating disorder awareness campaign, in an attempt to promote awareness, prevention and treatment. Called "Taste Freedom", the campaign was launched on September 7th at a breakfast meeting.

"Guest speaker Professor Bob Palmer... tackled the subject from a wider perspective. 'Eating disorders have an "image problem". They are often portrayed as either an exotic rarity afflicting and sometimes killing young women at the threshold of lives that had been full of promise or as the expression of the foolishness of adolescent girls who take to excess the essentially trivial concerns with appearance and slimness that are widespread in our societies. Neither picture is accurate. Eating disorders are neither rare nor trivial."

Medical professionals, nutritionists, counselors, media personalities and student body representatives were all invited to participate in the breakfast.

The best boarding schools are listed at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com. Find one for you child today.

Labels: awareness, prevention, treatment

New Clinic Opens in Tennessee

The Renfrew Center, which first opened in Philadelphia in 1985, has opened a new facility in Brentwood, Tennessee. Treatment plans focus not just on the physical, but other factors that may exacerbate an eating disorder.

"Jessica Samford Conley, director of the Brentwood facility, explained the Renfrew Center’s three-pronged approach. Patients at the center interface with psychiatrists, therapists, and nutritionists."

Psychiatrists work to determine if patients are struggling with any other issues or disorders such as anxiety or depression. Therapists help the patients discuss problems, and nutritionists help patients become more comfortable with food. Read more at Tennessean.com.

Labels: support, therapy, treatment

Referral Database Offers Support for Eating Disorders

The web referral database recoveryconnection.org has begun offering help for patients who are struggling with eating disorders.

"Previously only catering to those seeking treatment for drug addiction or alcohol detox, the referral database has been upgraded to include the latest information for those seeking treatment for anorexia, bulimia, compulsive/binge eating, and other eating-related disorders."

If left untreated, eating disorders can lead to serious health issues, and can even cause death. Read more online.

Labels: drugs, support, treatment

Hospital Overwhelmed with Anorexia Cases

The Royal Children's Hospital in Victoria, Australia has so many new anorexia cases - amid a decrease in funding - that it's been forced to close its doors to new patients. Admissions among 10- to 13-year-olds alone have increased from three in 2003 to 43 last year.

"State Government funding has not increased to meet demand and despite pleas for help the hospital, which does not have the staff to deal with so many cases, has been forced to reduce its eating disorder beds from twelve to six, and limit new admissions."

The hospital recently admitted a 13-year-old girl who was so sick that she went immediately to intensive care. Exacerbating the situation is a lack of outpatient resources such as counseling. Read more at TheAge.com.

Luckily, here in the US, we have private residential treatment centers, like Island View in Utah, which can help children with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Visit www.islandview-rtc.com for more information.

Labels: children, hospitals, treatment

The Patient Survives

When Debbie was rushed to hospital after a suicide attempt, she weighed just 86 pounds. Her secret goal was 81 pounds. She spent six weeks in the hospital, re-gaining weight and talking with a psychiatrist about her eating disorder and what might be causing it.

"Over a period of weeks, Debbie began to feel physically stronger and more hopeful. After the first week of hospital care she no longer required tube feedings... But as closely as she was watched, at times, if she got a chance, she still was able to vomit. Nonetheless, the urge somehow had seemed to weaken. Sometimes, although she had the opportunity, she didn't even think about it."

When she left the hospital, she weighed 96 pounds and was beginning to think more about her future. She refers to her time in the hospital as a "nightmare" and though she'd rather not think about it, she knows she needs to remember how she ended up there if she wants to ensure that she never ends up there again. Read more at American-Reporter.com.

Eating disorders can be just one of the issues facing a troubled teen. Often teenagers struggling with uncontrollable emotions turn to drugs and alcohol to escape their problems. Learn more about troubled teens and the ways you can help at www.4troubledteens.com.

Labels: cures, surviving, treatment

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

Binge Eating More Common in Latinos than Expected

A recent study by Harvard Medical school found a higher than expected prevalence of binge eating disorders among Latinos. The study consisted of over 2,500 people - 1,127 males and 1,447 females.

"'This was the first really national study of this issue,' [Margarita Alegria] said. 'And while we thought the rates would be what we found for anorexia, we didn't expect binge eating to be so high and the access to treatment so low.'"

Alegria, the principal investigator in the study, said binge eating may be partially attributed to the Latino lifestyle. The study also found that the prevalence of eating disorders increased the longer someone has been living in the United States. Read more at TheCrimson.com.

Residential boarding schools can offer a structured environment that can benefit many teenagers. Find one at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: research, study, treatment

Mental Health Legislation May Soon Pass

In North Carolina, mental health-related insurance reform is one step closer to becoming reality. Called the "mental health parity bill", it would require private insurers to cover treatment of psychiatric diseases like eating disorders and schizophrenia. The measure was unanimously passed by the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday and will now be voted on by the full Senate.

"The North Carolina bill is considered a major reform and a step toward ending discrimination against those with psychiatric diseases by mental health providers and advocates."

Coverage for hospital stays and office visits can be limited for most mental health issues except nine that are considered the most serious. Read more at News-Record.com.

Equine therapy programs work well with children who have resisted other forms of therapy. Learn more about equine therapy for troubled teens at AspenRanch.com and TurnAboutRanch.com. Copper Canyon Academy offers equine therapy at their boarding schools for girls.

Labels: insurance, mental_health, treatment

Australian Researchers Study Mindfulness

Buddhist "mindfulness" is a technique of developing a healthy acceptance of oneself and an awareness of one's response to emotions. It's a technique extolled by - among others - the Dalai Lama and that is being studied by Australian researchers as a possible treatment for eating disorders.

"[Michelle] Hanisch and [Angela] Morgan provided mindfulness therapy to 30 women suffering from bulimia, aged from 19 to early 60s, two hours a week for eight weeks... Morgan reveals that the women who went through the program showed 'clinically significant' progress and had made further improvement a month later."

The two researchers will present their findings at the World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in Barcelona, Spain in July. Read more at News.com.au.

Students at Mount Bachelor Academy also practice mindfulness therapy as a tool for emotional growth and development of the critical thinking skills necessary to make appropriate choices. Visit www.mtba.com to learn more about their emotional growth boarding school program.

Labels: research, therapy, treatment

New Movement Therapy Helps Eating Disorder Recovery

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: education, therapy, treatment

Eating Disorder Clinic Holds Benefit Concert

For 19 years, the Marin County, California Clinic Beyond Hunger has been helping both adults and teens cope with eating disorders. Tonight, a benefit concert will take place to help raise money for the clinic.

"Beyond Hunger helps educate adults and teens with all levels of eating disorders and body image issues through workshops, support groups, community referrals and prevention programs, treating about 2,000 people annually."

The benefit concert will take place at San Rafael Community Center Auditorium, and begins at 7pm. The concert will feature Susan Zelinsky, Shana Morrison, Jennifer Naegele and others.

Read more at Origin.Marinij.com.

Labels: support, treatment

Starvation of the Spirit

Emma Farnsworth knows first-hand the pain and confusion of trying to overcome an eating disorder. She spent several weeks at an eating disorder treatment facility in St. Louis. What she discovered is that, while an eating disorder certainly damages the body, it has an equally devastating affect on the mind and soul.

"Eating disorders are abusive, selfish, vacuous and deadly - but the media glamorizes them by giving them attention, even when showing a skeletal model on the verge of death. I have seldom come across a truly honest article about the emotional and mental burden of anorexia and bulimia."

Farnsworth recounts her time in the treatment center, getting to know the other girls. Aside from their eating disorders, she says, many seemed quite normal. All wanted to be good friends and siblings and hopefully good wives and moms someday. But eating disorders slowly wore away at their joy and hope, even more than their bodies. Read more at MSNBC.MSN.com.

Teens with eating disorders can find help at an adolescent residential treatment center such as Island View. Not sure what exactly your teen is suffering from? The Aspen Institute of Behavioral Assessment can diagnosis your child and form a treatment plan.

Labels: effects_of_eating_disorders, support, treatment

The Grateful Book

Young people who are struggling with eating disorders can have difficulty finding things to be grateful for. One clever young woman decided to create a book where guests in her home could write about the joys and blessings in their own life.

"She started it as a reminder of life's small joys. Anyone can write in it. Anyone can read it. You can sign you name if you want. The only rule is to write what you are grateful for."

A Grateful Book can be a great pick-me-up when your teen (or you) is having a bad day. It can also provide some hope and reminders of the things worth living and fighting for. Read more online.

Labels: hope, support, treatment

Choosing the Right Therapist

When a teenager is diagnosed with an eating disorder, some form of therapy is usually included in the overall treatment plan. Doctors will often make referrals, but it's best to do some independent research as well.

"To find a good therapist, seek referrals from people you trust, such as friends and family, clergy, professional organizations, other health care providers and your insurance company. Then, check credentials..."

Different types of counselor and therapist are required to have difference credentials or certifications. It's important to make sure credentials and certifications are up-to-date and appropriate for the type of treatment being offered. Read more at DaytonDailyNews.com.

Labels: support, therapy, treatment

A Story of Survival

Sammi Grunspan, now 20 years old, was barely a teenager when she developed an eating disorder. Having been overweight practically her entire life, she began taking laxatives to control her weight high school. Still, she continued to gain weight until - while attending a seminary school in Israel - she met a woman who helped her develop a plan that worked.

"Grunspan has successfully followed the diet for the past year. She is down to 160 pounds, which is just 10 to 15 pounds short of her goal."

She admits that she still struggles to eat properly and not resort to laxatives or other unhealthy means to lose weight. It's a battle she fights every time she sits down to eat. But with the support of family and friends, she's winning the battle.

Read more at ClevelandJewishNews.com.

Unsure of what's troubling your teenager? A residential treatment center like the Aspen Institute for Behavioral Assessment can help find the underlying issues your teenager is dealing with.

Labels: healthy_eating, support, treatment

Removing the Stigma of Mental Illness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month - a good time to begin setting the record straight about mental illness like depression and eating disorders.

"The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that in any year one in four Americans suffer from some diagnosable mental illness."

Many people fail to seek treatment, out of embarrassment or shame, even though most mental health issues are very treatable. Read more online.

Teenagers suffering from an eating disorder, depression, or other forms of mental illness can significantly benefit from a residential treatment center. A residential treatment center like The Aspen Institute can provide an assessment and treatment plan for teens struggling with a variety of issues, including substance abuse and learning disabilities.

Labels: mental_health, mental_illness, treatment

Gender, Ethnic Differences May Hamper Eating Disorder Diagnosis

Boys, men, and some ethnicities may cause doctors to overlook the possibility of eating disorders among these groups, according to researchers at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

"'We need to think more broadly about who struggles with eating disorders,' said adolescent medicine and eating disorder specialist Rebecka Peebles, MD, instructor in pediatrics (adolescent medicine). Peebles pointed out that diagnostic and even treatment criteria were developed with Caucasian women or girls in mind. 'We may not be asking the right questions for these other groups at all.'"

One of the studies conducted by Peebles surveyed the differences in eating disorders among boys and girls ages 8 to nineteen. The most common "alarm" for eating disorders is an expressed desire to be thin - but most boys express a desire to be healthy, not necessarily thin. And they aren't as likely as girls to starve themselves, but instead resort to over-exercising and severely limiting food intake, which can create the same damaging results. Read more at Huliq.com.

Labels: boys, diagnosis, treatment

Exercise Addiction

Exercise is considered healthy, so people who are addicted to exercise often go unnoticed and don't get the help they need.

"Exercise addicts can come in all shapes and sizes, and unfortunately there is not a one-size fits all description. Here are some characteristics of exercise addicts: They are often unhappy with their body; they work out seven days a week, often for hours at a time; they will continue even if in extreme pain."

Exercise Addiction isn't typically linked with eating disorders, but it isn't unusual for someone who struggles with anorexia or bulimia to exercise excessively as another means of weight control. Read more at KRCG.com.

Labels: addiction, exercise, treatment

Bulimic Adolescents Respond to Cognitive-Base Approach

A group of psychiatrists from the Institute of Psychiatry in London, U.K. found that teens who suffer from bulimia or unspecified eating disorders respond better to a cognitive-based therapy than family therapy.

"After six months, the researchers found a more significant reduction of bingeing in the guided self-care group than in the family therapy group, but observed no significant group differences after twelve months."

The 85 adolescents were randomly assigned either the cognitive-based self-guided care or the family therapy. Researchers believe the cognitive-based therapy would be used best as part of an early intervention/treatment program. Read more at MentalHelp.net.

Labels: bulimia, therapy, treatment

Involve Parents for Bulimia Solution

Doctors Daniel le Grange, PhD and James Lock, MD, PhD have released a book titled "Treating Bulimia in Adolescents" in which they include parents as a vital part of the recovery process. Often, clinical management of adolescent eating disorders includes separating the teen from his or her parents. Parents are often seen as part of the problem.

"We don't see parents as the culprit,' [Le Grange] added. 'We see them as a valuable resource in the treatment of these adolescents. Our goal is to empower parents to feed their kids. Feeding kids is something they do well."

Called "The Maudsley approach", the treatment program includes parental supervision of an adolescent's every meal. Parents ensure that the right kinds of food are eaten, and stay with the child for while after the meal to make sure the child doesn't purge. Read more at PsychCentral.com.

Labels: bulimia, teenagers, treatment

Ways to Prevent a Relapse

Though many people develop eating disorders when they're young, many of them end up battling the disorders for the rest of their lives. Relapses are not uncommon, especially during times of emotional or mental stress. But there are things you can do to help prevent relapses either in your own life or the life of a loved one.

"Continue to find avenues of support for patients with eating disorders. For many, overcoming an eating disorder is a lifelong battle. Consistent support via therapy or support groups may be needed."

A relapse may not look like the original illness. Someone who was once diagnosed with anorexia may begin exhibiting signs of bulimia instead, or may begin binge eating. Find out more information at AnorexiaBulimiaHelp.com.

Labels: recovery, relapse_prevention, treatment

A Story of Hope

At age 13, Carmen Cusido weighed 60 pounds. What began as a desire to be "thin and beautiful" turned into an obsession. At the height of her eating disorder, she was consuming just 300 calories a day. Now, 10 years later, Carmen is healthy, and happy with the way she looks. But she hasn't forgotten the hard road she traveled to get here.

"By the time I was admitted to a hospital pediatric unit, I was so weak from self-starvation I was assisted by a wheelchair... Hot tears were running down my cheeks when a doctor there placed a naso-gastric tube – a thin tube that went from my nose to my stomach – that, like an intravenous, would provide extra nutrients if I wasn't eating all my meals."

Carmen spent most of 1997 in that Eating Disorders Unit. In 2000 she decided she was "tired of being sick and tired". She has been on a steady, positive road to recovery ever since. Read more at Thnt.com.

Labels: recovery, support, treatment

New Jersey Families Call for Expansion of Insurance Laws

Helping a child recover from an eating disorder can be a long, scary, and expensive process. Long-term, live-in facilities can cost tens of thousands of dollars a month, and most insurance agencies don't cover any of the expenses for long-term care. Several New Jersey families have recently filed a class-action law suit against insurance companies, stating that they are violating the mental health parity act that requires biologically based disorders to be covered by medical insurance.

"The National Institute of Mental Health... says that 'several family and twin studies are suggestive of a high heritability of anorexia and bulimia' and that, while no gene has been found linking eating disorders with inheritability, 'scientists suspect that multiple genes may interact with environmental and other factors to increase the risk of developing these illnesses.'"

New Jersey's definition of "biologically based" disorders includes things like obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression, both of which are often linked to eating disorders and may provide further proof that the disorders are in fact biologically based. Read more at CourierPostOnline.com.

Labels: costs, insurance, treatment

Hope House

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: education, support, treatment

Health Care Still Lacking for Sufferers of Eating Disorders

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: health care, treatment

Young People Lack Support

Or at least... that's how they feel. A recent study in London found that 92 percent of young people who struggle with eating disorders felt that they couldn't tell anyone. Some young people who participated in the study told of how their disorder was dismissed by physicians who called the disorder a "phase".

"This report comes close on the heels of a strong reaction by the US based National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) and a number of scientists to an Associated Press story on 21st January where the supermodel Gisele Bundchen said of anorexia, 'the parents are responsible, not fashion.'"

The report calls for more accurate reporting and asks that the media report some of the good news, too. Read more at MedicalNewsToday.com.

Labels: support, treatment

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