Images in magazines and on television may cause increased body dissatisfaction in adolecents.
Adolescents who read magazines and watch television contents that deal with the concept of image prove to be unhappier with their own bodies. Girls are more susceptible to experiencing a lower perception of their physical appearance. Body dissatisfaction is linked to the type of content that is consumed (diet, beauty, health or music videos) rather than the frequency of exposure.
Read more….
Binge-eating disorder, in which people compulsively and frequently consume large amounts of food, is as destructive for men as for women, a new study finds. Nonetheless, men are less likely than their female counterparts to seek treatment.
In part, this reluctance to get help may be because research on binge eating tends to focus on women, and eating disorders aren’t seen as “male” diseases.
Men struggle with binge eating disorder too, study says (Read more…)
Barbie doesn’t look so good in real life.
If Barbie were human-size, she’d stand 6 feet tall with a 36-inch chest, an 18-inch waist, and 33-inch hips.
Galia Slayen, who once battled an eating disorder, wanted to know what a person with these dimensions would look like so she built a life-size Barbie.
Barbie’s dimensions are out of whack (Read more…)
Darryl Roberts Attacks BMI in New Documentary
Cutting down TV time doesn’t help kids lose weight-study
Trying to help children lose weight by cutting back on the time they spend in front of a TV or video game doesn’t have much of an impact, according to a Canadian study. Interventions designed to reduce overall screen time, including individual and …
No point in telling parents about kids’ weight?
In the last decade, almost all public schools in California collected information about height andweight on kids in the fifth, seventh, and ninth grades, but only some opted to send the results to parents. This gave Dr. Kristine A. Madsen of the …
Is Photoshop Destroying America’s Body Image? Huffington Post The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced it was taking a stand against image manipulation in advertising, stating that alterations made through processes like Photoshop can contribute to unrealistic body image expectations, …
Body Image a Struggle for First-Year College Students Patch.com Students returning from their first year away at college talk about their body image and self-esteem. By Deanna Del Ciello | Email the author | 7:00am Teenagers face many worries before leaving for college for the first time—moving away from home, …
Develop a healthier relationship with food St. George Daily Spectrum Brown references statistics from “The Assessment and Treatment of Negative Body Image,” a presentation by Nicole Hawkins, PhD, given earlier this year at a Center for Change eating disorders conference. “Seventy-five percent of teenage girls feel they …
People with eating disorders likely to die earlier, study shows Reuters Anorexia increases a patient’s risk of death fivefold, and people with bulimia or another nonspecifiedeating disorder also face an increased risk of death — about twice as likely to die as people without those disorders, a study said. …
Eating disorders stalk women into adulthood msnbc.com carrie didn’t expect to be here, in treatment for a eating disorder at the age of 41. >> you don’t fit in a pair o pants anymore, so you’re a big fat cow. yet, here she is, after a desperate intervention. >> my sister said, carrie , you are spiraling …
Man eats 25,000 Big Macs
Healthy as he can be, this Wisconsin man enjoys Big Macs daily.
Is skim milk making you fat?
Research takes a look at the effects of cutting calories and fat to manage weight. The results may surprise you.
What does it mean to be fat? Do you know it when you see it? What if the doctor told you that you are overweight or obese, and suddenly you think you are fat but didn’t know it. Without the label, could you see the beauty in these diverse bodies:
Do you measure it? With what–the BMI? Here are a few quotes on the legitimacy of that measurement:
“When a standard such as BMI is used, its limitations must also be presented. In particular, equating the terms increased BMI and obese can be quite misleading, since excess body mass calculated solely from height and weight may be due only to excess fat, only to excess [lean body mass], or to any combination of the two.” —Letter in JAMA, June 2005 “The major problem with this ‘obesity kills’ statistic is the lack of compelling evidence to substantiate it.” —Harvard Health Policy Review, 2003 “Someone needs to say the emperor has no clothes … [the conventional wisdom on obesity] is cultural bias, not science.” —Dr. C. Wayne Callaway, Professor of Medicine, George Washington University, 1998 “The BMI doesn’t give a precise readout. It can be horrible as an individual gauge.” —Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chief Academic Officer and Case Western Reserve University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Chairman Dr. Eric Topol “Evidence that it is more dangerous to be thin than fat is either ignored or minimized in analyses that shape public policy toward weight loss … What evidence exists for an association between obesity and mortality or morbidity, is usually found not to apply to those with mild to moderate obesity.” —Clinical Psychology Review, 1991
“When a standard such as BMI is used, its limitations must also be presented. In particular, equating the terms increased BMI and obese can be quite misleading, since excess body mass calculated solely from height and weight may be due only to excess fat, only to excess [lean body mass], or to any combination of the two.” —Letter in JAMA, June 2005
“The major problem with this ‘obesity kills’ statistic is the lack of compelling evidence to substantiate it.” —Harvard Health Policy Review, 2003
“Someone needs to say the emperor has no clothes … [the conventional wisdom on obesity] is cultural bias, not science.” —Dr. C. Wayne Callaway, Professor of Medicine, George Washington University, 1998
“The BMI doesn’t give a precise readout. It can be horrible as an individual gauge.” —Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chief Academic Officer and Case Western Reserve University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Chairman Dr. Eric Topol
“Evidence that it is more dangerous to be thin than fat is either ignored or minimized in analyses that shape public policy toward weight loss … What evidence exists for an association between obesity and mortality or morbidity, is usually found not to apply to those with mild to moderate obesity.” —Clinical Psychology Review, 1991
Here how the ‘obesity epidemic’ is tragically impacting life-expectacy:
If we keep growing, we are liable to live forever! There are numerous books and websites that document the science behind the fact that overweight/obese are not categories that spell impending doom. These include:
If you perceive BMI as an accurate indication of your ‘fatness’, your perception is your reality. Just know that this is a flawed measure, as are the old Metropolitan Life Insurance tables (used the weights of dead people to predict mortality), and these are our only ‘objective’ tools. Otherwise it is all you, or someone outside of you, that decides if you are fat.
Be clear on this though: if someone outside of you is judging you, they are the ones with the problem. People who truly feel good about their own bodies are unlikely to judge, compare, or criticize others. People with positive body image are most likely to see all bodies as unique and beautiful.
So if you get to decide if you are fat, and there is no valid external measure, then what will you decide? Do you think it benefits you to feel bad about yourself? How has that been working out so far? Self-loathing, especially regarding our bodies, only fuels chaotic behaviors with food. Hating yourself while eating will not make you eat less. Understanding your relationship with food and your body are key to breaking free of the power that food has over you. Trying harder at the same things you’ve been doing (that do not work long term) is similar to the definition of insanity.
So do you want to be ‘fat’ and ‘crazy’, or do you choose to learn to love your body and be sane?
*Quotes and chart were taken from the Obesity Myths website–thank you for your heroic work!
The beginning of college and freshman year can trigger eating disorders due to all the vast changes and added stress. For the first time, many of the students are responsible for budgeting their money, completing their own errands, and managing their time. They are also spending a great deal of time with a new group of people and are adjusting to having nearly complete independence. While this may seem like a dream come true for most teens, all of these components together can cause a great deal of anxiety for some.
Almost all students discuss the dreaded term “freshman fifteen”, and while some may experience weight gain, the concept is a myth, although the thought of it can be the cause of even more stress and anxiety. In an effort to avoid these unwanted pounds, many students will engage in risky behaviors, such as crash dieting or excessive exercising, both of which are slippery slopes into an eating disorder.
Other students may have engaged in disordered eating behaviors before starting college, but have been living under the watchful eye of parents and unable to fully partake in their undesirable behaviors. Newfound freedom can offer the perfect opportunity for an eating disorder to fully develop. This, coupled with peers who may be engaging in, and/or even encouraging these behaviors, can be an unpleasant combination.
Although Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are the most common eating disorders, and what usually comes to mind when you think of eating disorders, Binge Eating Disorder may also be triggered at this time. Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by the uncontrolled eating of large amounts of food in a short period of time. These individuals experience discomfort, but do not purge. This causes weight gain, which is often upsetting, and sometimes for emotional comfort, they will turn to food, thus leading to another binge. The cycle can be very difficult to break, especially while dealing with all of these new stressors.
Eating disorders are a true physiological disease, with a biological predisposition, which is why not all college students develop eating disorders and why not all diets lead to eating disorders. Of the 90% of college females on a diet, which may be considered disordered eating, approximately 20-25% progress to eating disorders. And, of those who do develop eating disorders, 1/10th of them are males.
Common signs of an eating disorder are:
It is important to get help if you need it, and it is equally as important to offer help to someone in your life who may be battling an eating disorder. Eating disorders are very serious, and can lead to long-term health problems if left untreated. If you, or someone you know, experiences any of these signs, get help from a therapist and dietitian. Most college campuses have counseling centers with professional who can help or get you the information you need to get help. It is also important to remember that eating disorders can be triggered by other things and during different times in one’s life as well. For example, marriage, pregnancy, and post-partum are all times when there are new stressors in a person’s life. Remember, it is never too late to develop an eating disorder, and it is never too soon to get help.
“Lecturing people on how to live a healthy lifestyle can be counterproductive, unless individuals can be persuaded to change their behavior.”
It is no surprise that Jamie Oliver’s plan to eliminate childhood obesity did not go exactly as he intended. His main goals on the show “Food Revolution” were to change school meals, to teach cooking classes, and to encourage people to eat more meals at home. These goals may be desirable for a few families, but seem completely impractical for most people I know. First of all, changing school lunches would require a lot of government funding and may cause an increase in prices of lunches for students. Currently, many families rely on the inexpensive (sometimes free) meals and snacks that schools provide for their children.
Secondly, these families probably do not need cooking classes. I would imagine that they are choosing not to cook because of their busy schedules, lack of time, or simply because it is not enjoyable for them; not because they need to learn how to do it. Each of these goals seems more like preaching and less like dealing with the root of the problem, which may be the reason why there was a drastic decrease in the number of children eating cafeteria lunches in the particular schools that were targeted. I do not think this was the outcome that Oliver hoped for.
More importantly, none of these changes address the relationship with food. In order for a change to withstand the test of time, it must be behavioral. By telling children (and adults) that certain foods are good and others are bad, it sets up a negative dichotomy. Children are told, or forced, to restrict certain foods, which will cause them to inherently sneak, hide, and binge these forbidden foods.
Another problem that is not addressed regarding school lunches is the short amount of time that students are given to eat. When they are rushed, they tend to eat everything on their plate, without taking the time to notice if they are even still hungry or if they are already full. This causes children to overeat, which can be considered a major cause of childhood obesity, not the types of food that the children are eating.
So what should be done to manage childhood obesity?
How many of these people have an eating disorder? (photo by cesarastudillo)
How can you find a solution to a problem without really knowing the problem? This is the question plaguing physicians, psychologists, therapists, dietitians, and other professionals who treat patients with disordered eating. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a book that lists and defines all psychiatric disorders, patients can be classified as having anorexia, bulimia, or an Eating Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS).
The clinical definitions for anorexia and bulimia are so rigid, that over half of the patients with eating disorders cannot be diagnosed as one of those and instead are diagnosed with EDNOS. There is a wide range of patients who are given this diagnosis, but as researchers point out, conditions vary greatly and many patients can identify more with the symptoms and criteria of anorexia or bulimia.
This leads to several problems. First and foremost, there is little research that discusses how clinicians should treat EDNOS patients. From a patient perspective, some insurance companies will not cover medical expenses related to this diagnosis.
I have a problem with how the term “not otherwise specified” can be misinterpreted as a less serious eating disorder, or not quite an eating disorder yet. This notion may cause patients to be less motivated in participating in their own treatment, or cause loved ones to dismiss it. Even though all psychiatric disorders include a not otherwise specified diagnosis, the percentage of patients with this diagnosis is far less than the astonishing 50% of EDNOS diagnoses.
So what can be done? And why? Many professionals believe that reducing the stringency of the anorexia and bulimia definitions would allow more patients to be diagnosed as one or the other, and maybe even both. Experts also see a need for a defined binge eating disorder and a separate purging disorder for patients who purge but do not binge.
Why is it important to have these clear diagnostic criteria available?
These changes may seem small, but once a psychiatric condition is listed in the DSM, there is an increase in research of the condition, as well as an increase in the general awareness. As a result, clinicians will be able to better treat patients with disordered eating, and patients will take their diagnosis more seriously and will be more accountable for their recovery. Additionally, Insurance companies may reimburse for more diagnoses, and there could be an increase in the coordination of care among health care professionals because there will be a standardized language for the various diagnoses. With these changes, patients will definitely see an improvement in the level and quality of their care.
Post by Brittany Gowland
Just like so many of my fellow Americans, I partake in the guilty pleasure of reality TV, usually with a smile on my face, but I can’t stop myself from becoming saddened by the television shows that chronicle the weight and body image struggles of celebrities like Carnie Wilson and Kirstie Alley. Many people can relate to these women and feel relieved knowing that even when you’re famous, you can fall victim to a fad diet and experience yoyo-like weight loss and weight gain.
Carnie Wilson underwent gastric bypass surgery to “solve” her weight problem, only to have gained weight in the end, and is now struggling (in front of millions of people) to try to figure out what to do.
Kirstie Alley has been in the spotlight for years, always because of her weight. After losing 75 pounds and becoming the spokesperson for Jenny Craig, she regained that weight plus some. Recently, Kirstie Alley has vowed “to lose 100 pounds again!” which I suppose she will attempt to do with the help of a weight loss product that she is currently endorsing.
The missing element in both Wilson and Alley’s solution is that they do not address their underlying relationships with food, weight, and body image. This portrays the message to all individuals watching that they too can ignore their own food issues. Newsflash: No weight loss plan/diet/exercise regimen, etc will ever be successful without first resolving other issues.
Carla Wolper, a researcher at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York, states exactly what I’m thinking when she says, “It would be nice if there was somebody out there doing it the right way”. But then again, I guess that wouldn’t make for a very interesting TV show.
On the contrary, I commend actor and comedian Jeff Garlin who wrote about his struggles with food in his new book “My Footprint”. It is not very often that a male, especially a famous one, speaks out about his insecurities. I applaud his honestly as he discusses his compulsiveness with food and his never-ending diet plan. It is comforting to those suffering to know that anyone, regardless of gender, can face these issues that he has identified, and will hopefully overcome.
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