Unfortunately, for many who struggle with disordered eating, life revolves around food and weight: planning for meals, feeling guilty post-eating, thinking about food, dreaming about it, frequent weighing, body checking…. In many of these individuals, this food/weight...
In The News
Mothers & Daughters: The “Ripple Effect” of Self Esteem
For months leading up to summer, it is hard to avoid hashtags and slogans that promote a “bikini body,” as if there is a certain body type that should be synonymous with going to the beach! In an effort to bring the joy back to summer, popular “Mommy Blogger”, Jill...
Genetic Origins of Anorexia Nervosa
For the first time, researchers have identified a location for anorexia nervosa within the genome. The ground-breaking study was carried out by the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium Eating Disorders Working Group at UNC Chapel Hill Medical School in an effort to...
Pathways to Over-Eating: Change Your Course
As I field inquiries from individuals seeking treatment for conditions like binge eating disorder and bulimia, I almost always provide some basic education in that very first call about the two most two most common “pathways” to over-eating or binge-eating (and...
The Rise of Anorexia in Children
The incidence of anorexia in younger children appears to be increasing. As with anorexia in adolescents and adults, pre-pubescent anorexia is a biologically-based illness (i.e. genetic) that is typically triggered by social and emotional factors. Increased rates of...
Why Have Eating Disorders become Gendered?
In a recent survey of young men, it was determined that 1 in 5 men were concerned about their weight. According to The Times UK, “Government figures released a few week ago revealed that for the first time the number of boys receiving treatment for eating disorders is...
Fad or Bad? When Guidelines Turn to Dogma
Scroll through your social media feed and you will surely catch a glimpse of a friend or fitness guru endorsing a hot new dietary fad. One week, cutting gluten is “key to a healthy lifestyle,” and the next, it’s cutting sugar. These recommendations target broad...
From Identification to Treatment: 4 steps to effectively intervening with your child’s eating disorder
1. Know the warning signs & symptoms: Of course, a dramatic change in weight - either up or down – will be one of the more obvious signs that an individual’s eating has shifted (and may or may not indicate an eating disorder). But someone can be suffering from...
Q: Are Parents Responsible For Their Child’s Eating Disorder?
Parents often report feeling guilt or blame when discussing their child’s eating disorder. Though research has shed light on the underlying mechanisms of the disease, myths regarding a parent’s responsibility for their child’s eating disorder have been perpetuated....
Effectively Communicating With Your Loved One
When helping a family member or friend recover from an eating disorder, having an accessible communication toolbox is crucial. Family members often report that it becomes increasingly challenging to communicate their concerns and thoughts with loved ones as symptoms...