Posted on Dec 5th, 2011 |
Female college athletes are at a higher risk of developing eating disorders than their male counterparts, and at a higher risk than females who do not participate in sports, according to an article posted on Yahoo Sports. Certain sports, according to the article, tend to be associated with especially high rates of eating disorders, including gymnastics, dance, running and swimming. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Oct 18th, 2011 |
There are many mental disorders that can wreak havoc on the personal lives of those suffering from them. One of the most damaging categories of mental disorders is eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. These three disorders are also joined by another catch-all term called eating disorder not otherwise specified, designated for eating disorders in which the symptoms do not fall neatly into the criteria of the disorders listed in the DSM-IV.
In an article on The Milford Daily News, Dr. Esther Dechant and Beth Mayer give an overview of eating disorders. Nearly one million men and 10 million women in the United States suffer from eating disorders, with many more cases suspected. Because of a high level of shame associated with the disorders, many individuals avoid seeking eating disorder treatment or admitting to loved ones that a problem exists.
While the specific causes of eating disorders are unknown, researchers are learning more about certain factors that increase the risk. Those who have a family history of eating disorders, who participate in activities or sports in which appearance or weight is carefully assessed, and those for whom being thin is especially important tend to be at a higher risk. Experts agree, however, that no particular biological or environmental trigger alone is the cause of an eating disorder.
Treating eating disorders is very difficult. Most individuals are treated on an outpatient basis, with efforts centering on various types of therapy and evaluations and coaching by medical staff and registered dietitians. In severe cases, the patient may require hospitalization or a residential eating disorder treatment program to regain stability.
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Sep 22nd, 2011 |
Many young women leave for their freshman year of college with the fear that they will return home two sizes bigger than they left. In what is referred to as the "Freshman 15," young women binge on cafeteria food and late-night pizza and junk food while sitting around studying. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Jul 21st, 2011 |
Pregnancy is a season of life when many women take extra care to eat well and exercise to ensure the health of the baby. However, for women who struggle with eating disorders, pregnancy can be a frightening time, with fears of how disordered eating behaviors may be affecting the baby. In addition, for some with severe eating disorders, pregnancy places an additional physical strain already experienced with the disorder. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Jun 23rd, 2011 |
The typical portrait of a person with an eating disorder may have one of several identities, including that of a model or celebrity. However, it turns out that many who have eating disorders are not cheerleaders, gymnasts or even sorority girls. As many as 10 percent of those with eating disorders are male, and there may be many more.
An article posted on the New York Press discusses the many pressures men are under to achieve the perfect physical image. Instead of limiting calories by avoiding food, men instead often work out excessively to fit a benchmark they believe is necessary.
While women suffer with eating disorders and feel a profound sense of shame, the lack of support for men with eating disorders may have a unique stigma. With anorexia believed to be a group of disorders associated only with females, men often feel very alone in their struggle to admit they have a problem. While treatment often includes group therapy and encouragement from those who have had success in recovery, the number of male mentors is small.
Experts believe that there may be many men who struggle with eating disorders who will never seek help. When men seek treatment they are able, over a period of months, to find success at recovery. Without seeking treatment, anorexia can result in many physical problems and possibly even death.
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Jun 15th, 2011 |
Diabetics may feel like their body is a cause for close observation, with much attention given to glucose levels and physical symptoms of the disease. Some experts believe that an unusual amount of attention on the physical body may be a factor that heightens the risk for developing an eating disorder.
As discussed in an article on DiabetesHealth, the elimination of insulin from a diabetic’s treatment can make it easy for weight loss to occur, but with many serious risks. Called diabulimia, the eating disorder can result in severe physical changes. The temptation to use less insulin than prescribed may be very tempting to a young girl, saddled with the comparisons that often plague adolescents as they measure their own appearance against that of not only friends, but celebrities and models.
The article discusses many of the signs that may indicate that a person has cut insulin to lose weight. The individual may become very dehydrated, drink large amounts of fluid and urinate frequently and emit a fruity odor, associated with the release of ketones. The symptoms, in short, resemble those associated with the presence of diabetes.
When an individual manipulates insulin doses to initiate weight loss, they are focused only on the short-term goal of losing weight, but are ignoring the significant long-term risks that are present when insulin is limited. Because eating disorder patients rarely seek help on their own, parents and other loved ones should be careful to watch for signs of diabulimia among diabetic loved ones.
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Jun 5th, 2011 |
The stereotype of the typical eating disorder profile was someone young, white and likely full of female teen angst. However, treatment centers are increasingly seeing that stereotype being overshadowed by the large number of women over 35 who are struggling with eating disorders. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on Jun 1st, 2011 |
Eating disorders are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, and each case presents a unique blend of both. While there has recently been an increased effort to involve the family members of an individual struggling with an eating disorder in helping the patient ease back into everyday life, there have been some groups who advocate for the exclusion of any discussion of family life in assessing the origin of the eating disorder.
(more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on May 9th, 2011 |
Don’t overlook the possibility that teenage boys can develop serious eating disorders, say experts. In fact, the numbers for boys with eating disorders may be even higher than suspected because friends and family members can overlook or ignore the signs. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
Posted on May 1st, 2011 |
Across the mental health field, more attention is being placed on methods for self-help from various illnesses – but the field has lacked scientific evidence to strengthen these theories. A new resource manual, centered on self-help tactics for people with eating disorders, is being discussed at HealthCanal.com for its potential to be evidence-backed, cost-saving and effective. (more…)
Posted in Eating Disorders
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