Tag Archives: Eating Disorder

Normal Body Weight Can Hide Eating Disorders

A study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the University of California-San Francisco found that teens and young adults with atypical anorexia can have normal body weights and still be dangerously ill. The research is the largest, most comprehensive assessment to date of normal-weight adolescents with atypical anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, disordered body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and … Continue reading →

Recover From Sugar Addiction

Do You Have A Sugar Addiction? Take a moment to reflect on these questions. 1. Do you eat large quantities of sweets? 2. Do you feel a need to have them and avoid sharing? 3. Will you go get what you want, no matter the hour? 4. Do you have mood swings, suffer from depression, have unpredictable behavior, or have moments of aggression? 5. Do you have a short attention span or are you forgetful? 6. Do you have an eating disorder or a weight problem? 7. Have you tried to limit or eliminate all sweets, but failed repeatedly? 8. … Continue reading →

Famous Model Blames Parents For Eating Disorders

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen denies ever having an eating disorder, but she says she knows many fellow models who do and she is now publicly blaming the girls’ parents for it. The statement seems a bit outlandish (I know it made me pause for a minute), but her comment wasn’t taken out of context… at least that’s what Brazil’s “O Globo” newspaper maintains. In previous blogs I addressed the issue of the fashion industry being blamed for promoting anorexia among young models, which is why I find Bundchen statements so interesting. The 26-year-old model (and actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s ex-girlfriend) recently … Continue reading →

Coming Out and Being Honest

Posted on by

I’ve spent the last 15 years underestimating a problem I have. Rather than confronting it, I believed ignoring it as in issue would make it go way. I struggle with obesity; I have an eating disorder. Unlike many other issues people struggle with, mine stands out obvious to anyone who sees me. It’s not that I’ve denied being overweight, it’s that I refused to make it an issue or define who I am. Instead I’ve tried to overcompensate, hoping to shine what’s inside me, that it might radiate and people wouldn’t notice my weight. I fear I’ve reached a point … Continue reading →

Warning Signs of Eating Disorders

The media constantly portrays the perfect woman as a slim and beautiful size 6, yet statistics show that the average woman is between sizes 11 and 14. As a result there is an increase in cases of eating disorders primarily among women. A survey completed by Exeter University in Great Britain reported that over half of the 37,500 teenage girls surveyed reported that their appearance was the biggest concern in their lives. They also found that 59% of girls who suffered from low self-esteem ages twelve to thirteen were dieting. Sadly about three percent of these girls will go to … Continue reading →

Stop Weight Loss through Bulimia and Anorexia

Sadly, approximately 5% of all females and 1% of all males in the United States suffer from bulimia or anorexia, many just trying to lose weight. In addition, some 250,000 Canadian women between the age of 13 and 40 also live with these diseases. What makes this so frightening is that the number of people with eating disorders is growing, specifically in western states. In both cases, the person becomes obsessed with food, wanting to become thin. With bulimia, a person will consume a tremendous amount of calories, usually in one setting, and then use laxatives or vomiting to purge. … Continue reading →

Bulimia: Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment

Posted on by

Bulimia is one of the most common psychological disorders affecting young females. The primary characteristic of the condition is the consumption of large amounts of food, usually junk food rather than healthy fruit and vegetables. Just as important as the amount of food eaten, is the experience of being out of control, i.e. the person cannot control the binging incident at the time. In addition, there is an attempt to compensate for the bingeing behavior in the form of purging, where the food consumed is expelled by a variety of means. The DSM-IV outlines the following criteria for the diagnosis … Continue reading →