A recent study by Columbia University found that women with bulimia nervosa (bulimia) exhibited different patterns of brain activity compared to healthy women while completing a task that involved self-regulation. Researchers believe that these abnormal patterns may be linked to other impulsive behaviors related to eating disorders.

The study was published in the January 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers assessed the self-regulatory brain processes of 20 women with bulimia and 20 women without an eating disorder. Researchers found that women with bulimia tended toward more impulsive responses to certain stimuli. In general, they responded to tasks more quickly and made a greater number of errors. Researchers believe that impulse control problems may be fundamentally linked to the development of eating disorders.

(Source: www.emaxhealth.com)

A 2008 study by researchers in the Netherlands identifies a high incidence of eating disorders among patients with narcolepsy. Narcolepsy causes individuals to fall asleep uncontrollably throughout the day. The study, which examined the behavior of 60 narcoleptics, found that sufferers of narcolepsy are extremely likely to experience intense cravings for food and to engage in binge eating. Approximately 23.3 percent of the study participants met the clinical criteria for an eating disorder, and 25 percent reported binge eating at least twice per week.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

A recent study reported in Diabetes Care reports a scary new trend among young women with type 1 diabetes. Diabulimia is the practice of skipping doses of insulin to achieve rapid and significant weight loss. This high-risk behavior carries potentially fatal consequences. Women with type 1 diabetes who intentionally neglect insulin doses are three times more likely to suffer premature death, as well as serious complications like kidney dysfunction and foot problems.

Ovidio Bermudez, medical director of the Eating Disorders Program at Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Oklahoma, commented for U.S. New and World Report on diabulimia:

"Diabulimia really needs to be looked at as a mental illness. ... This is not about 'cut it out,' it's about 'get help.'"

Experts suggest that the best way for parents to recognize this extreme behavior as early as possible is to stay involved. William Polonsky, director of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute in San Diego, warns parents that young diabetics may be picking up this behavior from peers and that they may be very good at concealing it:

"You see a lot of parents who are oblivious because their child has developed an enormously effective skill to be secretive about it. ... The No. 1 thing is to make sure you stay involved in your child's diabetes."

(Source: health.usnews.com)

Researchers at Wesleyan University in Connecticut have found that the prevalence of eating disorders among boys in the United States increased significantly between 1995 and 2005. The study, which examined weight control behaviors among high school students, utilized national data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. The study identified sizable increases in all forms of weight control by males, including dieting and diet product use, purging, exercise, and vigorous exercise.

Researchers found that Caucasian males were the least likely to try and control their weight, and Latino males were the most likely. The research team hypothesizes that increased weight control practices by young American males may be the result of growing social pressures related to body shape. In the study, the researchers commented on the findings:

"Considering that males have negative attitudes toward treatment-seeking and are less likely than females to seek treatment, efforts should be made to increase awareness of eating disorder symptomatology in male adolescents, and future prevention efforts should target male as well as female adolescents."

(Source: health.usnews.com)

A new study by Princeton University confirms what most people already know: Sugar is an addictive substance. The study, conducted with laboratory rats, showed that rats binging on sugar water experienced behavioral and even neurochemical changes similar to those induced by substance abuse. Bart Hoebel of Princeton University in New Jersey presented the findings this week at a meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology in Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Hoebel commented on the study:

"These animals show signs of withdrawal and even long-lasting aftereffects that might resemble craving."

(Source: en.epochtimes.com)

Peach Friedman grew up in Virginia, surrounded by women who place a lot of emphasis and on wearing designer clothing. This influence, combined with poor coping skills and some somewhat overwhelming life events, encouraged Ms. Friedman to start engaging in extreme eating behaviors. These behaviors included extended exercise sessions, as well as bulimic and anorexic eating habits.

Ms. Friedman has recovered from her illness and now finds health and balance working as a personal trainer in Sacramento, CA. She thanks her parents for intervening to help her. They sent her to a therapist and a nutritionist to help her address the underlying emotional issues, and to help her get back on a healthy regimen of eating.

Ms. Friedman, who gave birth to her first child this month, has also authored a book titled Diary of an Exercise Addict, which became available in stores in November 2008. She has also appeared on national television on The View and 20/20. In an article published this week by the San Francisco Chronicle, Ms. Friedman comments on the nature of eating disorders:

"I could have been a drug addict, a sex addict, a shoplifter or a cutter. I think I wanted or needed an escape. Exercise worked for me. I could not deal with the pain. ... I found escape through starvation and exercise. Maybe the groundwork is there to develop some sort of eating disorder, but when something changes - it can be a trigger to turn into an actual eating disorder."

In 2002, researchers at the University of Oxford in Britain conducted a study of the effect of good nutrition on detained young offenders. Recently, a follow-up to this study re-confirmed the results. The study indicated that proper nutrition decreased violent behavior. The researchers examined the offenses committed by 230 participants during the nine months prior to the study and in the nine months during the study. The group that received nutritional supplements during the study committed 25 percent fewer offenses than those who received a placebo. Researchers recorded the greatest reduction related to serious offenses, including violence which fell by 40 percent. Those who received placebos displayed no reduction in serious offenses.

(Source: www.foodmatters.tv)

Pediatricians across Canada are observing binge and purge eating behaviors in children much younger than anyone expected. A new national survey has been launched in Canada to find out approximately how many young children are suffering from the symptoms of eating disorders.

Researchers are studying eating disorders in children under the age of 12. Most children who exhibit binge and purge behaviors are between the ages of 10 and 12, though there have been reported cases as young as age 5. Currently, researchers estimate that approximately 10 percent of children under the age of 12 with symptoms of eating disorders are throwing up.

Dr. Leora Pinhas, principal investigator on the study and the psychiatric director of the eating disorders program at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, commented on the surprising findings:

"I think we're all aware that there are eating disorders in kids under the age of 12. But we thought that it would be simpler, mostly that they weren't eating, or they might be exercising. ... We weren't expecting them to have taken the next step."

Dr. Pinhas pointed out that many parents may not know their kids are engaging in this behavior. Most children who binge and purge are in the normal weight range and look physically normal. In addition, kids are smart enough to hide their behaviors. They may vomit in the shower, or turn on the faucet in the bathroom to cover the noise.

(Source: www.canada.com)

Approaching a child about his or her weight is a delicate task. According to Dr. Carmen Mikhail, director of the Eating Disorders Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital, parents should use "love, support, and caution" when broaching the subject. The most important thing, according to Dr. Mikhail, is to avoid targeting the child or singling him out from other family members. Dr. Mikhail advises talking to the family as a whole about adopting new healthy habits and making healthy lifestyle choices for the whole family. Dr. Mikhail also advises praising children when they make healthy choices. With younger children, the conversation should be focused on being healthy; for older children, it's okay to introduce pamphlets and talk about social pressures regarding weight. Dr. Mikhail says that parents are most successful at dealing with childhood weight problems when they lead by example. Active parents have active kids.

(Source: www.chron.com)

Recent research has shown that children with diabetes are at higher risk for developing an eating disorder than children without the disease. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia are beginning to explore the influence of diabetes and its treatment on the development of eating disorders in children.

Treating diabetes usually involves highly restrictive diets and an enormous emphasis on food. Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia plan to study children who are newly diagnosed with diabetes. Researchers will examine "treatment patterns, weight, psychological adjustment, and attitudes about weight and eating," as well as any changes in eating behaviors and blood sugar levels in response to insulin.

Dr. Deborah Young-Hyman, a pediatric psychologist in the MCG Georgia Prevention Institute, who is involved with the study, commented, "Diabetes treatment prescribes obsessive food behavior, such as carbohydrate restriction. ... We want to know if those prescribed behaviors contribute to disordered eating and/or whether there are physiological mechanisms which prevent children with diabetes from controlling their eating behavior. For example, treatment with insulin makes you hungry and can cause you to gain weight."

The study will last for three years. The children and their parents will respond to questionnaires regarding eating patterns and psychological adjustment, including questions about family life, the child's personality, and perception of social attitudes. Dr. Young-Hyman believes that diabetes puts unusual pressure on children.

"As they are diagnosed and are adjusting to diabetes treatment, children are already dealing with all sorts of issues that put them at an increased risk for eating disorders. The psychological issues that come with the diagnosis can add to that risk."

(Source: www.physorg.com)

Approximately 65 percent of American women have disordered eating behaviors. This data comes from a 2008 study conducted by Self Magazine, in collaboration with the University of Northern Carolina at Chapel Hill. An additional 10 percent of women reported some symptoms related to eating disorders. In total, 75 percent of women surveyed showed some relationship to disordered eating.

Cynthia R. Bulik, Ph.D., William and Jeanne Jordan Distinguished Professor of Eating Disorders in the UNC School of Medicine's department of psychiatry and director of the UNC Eating Disorders Program, commented on the study's findings:

"Our survey found that these behaviors cut across racial and ethnic lines and are not limited to any one group. ... Women who identified their ethnic backgrounds as Hispanic or Latina, white, black or African American and Asian were all represented among the women who reported unhealthy eating behaviors." (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Labels: diagnosis, symptoms, treatment

A new type of website is cropping up on the Internet. Known as "Thinspo" (short for "Thinspiration"), these pro-ana (pro-anorexia) and pro-mia (pro-bulimia) websites provide various forms of inspiration and advice for girls and women to starve themselves. Inspirational messages come in the form of photo montages of super-skinny models, tips for tricking doctors at weigh-ins, drastic (and sometimes lethal) weight-loss strategies, and pro-anorexia rock anthems like Superchick's song "Courage."

The sites also promote links to video sites like youtube.com, where anorexic girls proudly post photos and videos of their emaciated forms. These glimpses of normal girls in the throes of extreme anorexia have been dubbed "Real Girl Thinspo" and are often accompanied by encouragement from posters and viewers, such as "starve on, skinny b*tches." Other sub-forms of Thinspo include Celebrity Thinspo and Bones Thinspo.

Anorexia nervosa has the highest fatality rate of any mental illness; about 1 in 5 people who develop the disorder die from it. In light of this, experts and government officials are registering alarm at the growing popularity of pro-anorexia websites. In April 2008, for example, the French government proposed making the incitement of eating disorders illegal and punishable by heavy fines. (Source: themedium.blogs.nytimes.com)

Labels: influences, parents, peers

This week, Examiner.com published the story of Mark Bergstrom. Bergstrom, a 25-year-old marketing executive from Maryland, sought treatment for anorexia nervosa after dropping from his normal weight of 145 pounds to 108 pounds. Bergstrom believes that his eating disorder originated during his senior year of college. As a serious lacrosse player and self-described perfectionist, Bergstrom was devastated when his coach and mentor died in an accident and Bergstrom sustained injuries which kept him from playing in the final match of his senior year.

He remembers deciding to drink more and eat less as a way to control the chaos in his life. However, it wasn't until a couple of years later that Bergstrom sought formal help, after his weight got dangerously low. He realized that although he could control his urge to drink, he could not control his severe aversion to food. Now recovered, Bergstrom speaks out about men and eating disorders. In particular, he says, the most important step for any guy who thinks he may have an eating disorder is to "just tell someone."

According to the nonprofit organization Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED), anorexia currently affects one male for every four females. (Source: Examiner.com)

Labels: bigorexia, manorexia, men