Eating Disorders Blog

In an April 12 article on CNN.com, writer Elizabeth Landau reported on the impact that diagnosis terms can have on the likelihood that individuals with eating disorders will get the treatment that they need:

Some insurance companies will only cover treatment for eating disorders if the patient meets all of the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a guidebook for diagnosing mental illnesses, doctors say.

Patients who don't match all the symptoms, which include severe weight loss, are labeled "eating disorder not otherwise specified" (EDNOS) and sometimes don't qualify for the level of care they need.

A new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found more than 60 percent of patients with EDNOS met medical criteria for hospitalization and were, on average, sicker than patients diagnosed with full-blown bulimia.

That means more than 60 percent of patients with EDNOS may have trouble getting care covered by an insurance company, said Dr. Rebecka Peebles of the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Labels: treatment

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A study conducted in England indicates that a computerized, interactive weighing device may help curb childhood obesity. The "Mandometer" helps kids track how much and how quickly they are eating. The gadget works by measuring a plate of food at the beginning of a meal and then measures the rate at which the weight of the plate declines as the food is consumed.

The gadget gives a voice signal to slow down if the food disappears too quickly. The device creates a digital graph of the child's consumption rate and then compares it with an "ideal" graph that is programmed into the device by a nutritionist.

The results of the 12-month study were recently released in the British Medical Journal. The study incorporated data collected from 106 obese children. The researchers found that after one year, the eating speed of the children in the study fell by 11 percent, compared with 4 percent in a control group. In addition, children who used the Mandometer also weighed less and ate smaller portions.

Chief researcher Julian Hamilton-Shield believes that the device may significantly benefit obese children by retraining them to eat more slowly, which will encourage them to eat less (the longer time allows the brain time to signal that the body is full).

Dr. Hamilton-Shield commented: "It really did seem to help them. Their portion sizes decreased by a seventh. Even though this may not sound a lot, it is enough to make a difference. And the improvement seems to be durable because it continued six months after the trial finished."

(Source: www.redorbit.com)

Labels: treatment, childhood-obesity

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Binge eating disorder is characterized by periods of excessive food consumption. This makes the disorder similar to bulimia, but individuals suffering from bulimia consume massive quantities of food within relatively short periods of time and then utilize one or more drastic strategies to purge the excess calories from their bodies.

These purging strategies may include the use of laxatives, excessive exercise and self-induced vomiting. Individuals suffering from binge eating disorder, however, do not purge. One of the most noticeable effects of the disorder, therefore, is usually massive weight gain.

Research has linked binge eating disorder with a variety of serious health problems, including hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Individuals who become obese from excessive food consumption also experience myriad other health issues related to obesity, including musculoskeletal problems, high cholesterol and respiratory strain.

Individuals suffering from binge eating disorder eat compulsively, meaning they will consume large quantities of food whether they are hungry or not. They often feel that they have no control over their eating behaviors. A binge eater may consume between 10,000 and 20,000 calories during a single binge incident, while the average person consumes about 1,500 to 3,000 calories per day.

Recent research suggests several risk factors for binge eating disorder, including age (a higher percentage of people in their 40s and 50s have the disorder), the past or current existence of other eating disorders, mental health issues (in particular anxiety and depression), a history of sexual abuse, social pressures, genetics and high-stress jobs.

Although binge eating disorder is not currently recognized as a distinct clinical disorder, some experts believe it to be the most common form of disordered eating. As obesity in the United States hits an all-time high, eating disorder treatment providers are working to develop treatment strategies specifically for individuals struggling with binge eating disorder.

(Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com)

Labels: binge-eating, treatment, bulimia

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Recent research suggests that a few months of a specific type of talk therapy may help bulimia sufferers stop their unhealthy behaviors.

A multi-study review by Dr. Phillipa P.J. Hay at the University of Western Sydney in Australia found that bulimia-specific talk therapy (a form of cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT]) led to cessation of symptoms in approximately 37 percent of those treated.

By contrast, among bulimics on a waiting list for treatment, only 3 percent stopped binge-eating and purging.

The review included data on 3,054 adults living in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom who participated in weekly sessions of CBT for an average of 16 weeks.

Bulimia-specific CBT focuses on an individual's dietary habits and weight-related fears, and works to identify and deconstruct distorted thinking patterns. Patients learn to replace these unhealthy patterns with healthy coping strategies.

(Source: abcnews.go.com)

Labels: binge-eating, treatment, bulimia, therapy

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According to a new report from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the number of Americans being hospitalized due to eating disorders and related complications increased between 1999 and 2006. Hospitalizations increased most dramatically for children under the age of 12 (by 119 percent). Patients between the ages of 45 and 64 showed the next most dramatic increase at 48 percent. Hospitalizations for anorexia remained stable during the same time period, while admissions for bulimia decreased by 7 percent. Hospitalizations for men increased by 37 percent. The report also noted that hospitalizations for rare eating disorders such as pica (the compulsive consumption of non-edible substances such as clay) and anxiety-related (psychogenic) vomiting increased by 38 percent. (Source: www.ahrq.gov)

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Clinical psychologist Cynthia Bulik is the director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She recently released a new book, Crave, about binge eating and how to conquer food cravings.

"It is my mission to inform as many people as possible about the dangers of binge eating, to help those who already feel trapped to escape, and to prevent others from falling into the dangerous cycle of binge eating. Be it prevention or treatment, success is my ultimate goal."

During her studies at the University of California at Berkeley, Dr. Bulik noticed a consistent connection between eating disorders and depression. Her research has led her to develop tools aimed at helping patients curb their cravings, and she's seen excellent results. She calls her approach, which she explains in the book, as "down to earth, user friendly, and very practical." Source: Good Morning America

Labels: binge-eating, treatment, cravings

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Few parents have to ask twice for their kids to drink a milkshake. Someone who's recovering from an eating disorder has a harder time, but downing these tasty treats is part of a relatively new approach that has promising results.

"Known as Behavioral Family Therapy, or the Maudsley Approach, parents are called upon to supervise the eating habits of their anorexic child, feeding them high-calorie meals like milkshakes and macaroni and cheese until they regain a healthy weight."

The National Institutes of Health is in the process of comparing the Maudsley Approach to more common treatments. The NIH study will take place at six centers nationwide, and will involve 240 adolescents.
Source: MediLexicon

Labels: treatment, recovery

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Treating an eating disorder in the early stages can help prevent sufferers from developing more serious behaviors. It is important to acquaint yourself with eating disorders and certain indications that a family member, friend, or coworker may be suffering from an eating disorder.

People suffering from anorexia feel "fat" all the time, and try to address the problem by actually starving themselves. When an individual's refusal to consume adequate nourishment gets out of hand, he or she may even starve themselves to death. Specific symptoms of anorexia include odd eating habits, including avoiding food and meals, refusing to eat with others, picking out a few foods and eating them in small amounts, weighing food, and baking or cooking large amounts of food for others which they do not consume at all themselves. In addition, they may exercise compulsively.

People with bulimia will consume extremely large amounts of food in one sitting - as much as 10,000 calories. After the binge-eating episode, the person will then almost immediately make him or herself vomit or use laxatives or diuretics to help decrease absorption of the excess calories. Bulimics will often excuse themselves to the bathroom right after a meal; frequently use laxatives, diuretics, or enemas after eating; smell of vomit; and engage in strenuous workouts, especially after eating.

A binge-eating disorder involves a person eating an excessive amount of food in one sitting and not purging the calories. Binge eaters tend to eat alone and very quickly, whether or not they are hungry. Binge eaters generally eat to cope with stress, and afterwards will feel ashamed. One of the obvious symptoms of binge-eating disorder is obesity and unusual fixation on food and eating. Unlike other forms of disordered eating, men have this disorder as frequently as women.
(Source: www.guanpdn.com)

Labels: treatment, awareness, symptoms

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As a central feature of the 2009 Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 22-28), the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is launching a nationwide campaign to promote greater access for disordered eaters to essential treatment and health care. The STAR campaign (State for Treatment Access and Research) will coordinate efforts among individuals, families, treatment providers, and advocacy groups to address the rights of eating disorder patients.

The STAR program will be introduced to 30 state legislatures in the next two months, with legislative press briefings to be conducted in 27 of those states. The program strives to increase awareness among lawmakers about the obstacles that eating disorder patients face when trying to access adequate medical care. (Source: www. Msnbc.com)

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Researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) are working to develop a new treatment program for anorexics that engages spouses to help with recovery. Anorexia, a form of disordered eating in which individuals severely restrict caloric intake over a prolonged period of time, has the highest fatality rate of any psychiatric disorder - approximately one in five anorexic individuals die due to malnourishment and related complications.

Anorexia is thought to be between three and five times more common in women than men, though the number of men suffering from the disorder has grown in recent years. Typically, adult men and women with anorexia go through therapy alone. Spouses or significant others of anorexics are most often baffled by the illness and unsure of how to help.

Cynthia Bulik, director of the UNC Eating Disorders Center, commented on the need for a structured program that includes spouses, saying, "Partners of patients with anorexia nervosa really want to help and don't know what to do." (Source: www.wral.com)

Labels: treatment, therapy, spouses

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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: treatment, symptoms, diagnosis

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Treating eating disorders in young people can be more challenging than treating adults, according to a report in Bloomberg's Business Week.

"Disorders that start when you are young in adolescence, no matter what the disorder, are always harder to treat and harder to recover from," according to Dr. David Schlager, a professor at Texas A&M Health Service Center College of Medicine. "There are so many crucial things going on, so much pressure to establish yourself in various ways."

The most recent research using brain scan technology shows that adolescent brains react differently than adults' partly because the human brain does not fully mature until age 25 years old. Teens require special kinds of treatment.

Teens with eating disorders have the added problems of being unable to concentrate. They are usually irritable, depressed, and anxious, according to Dr. Andrea Vazzana, professor of child development and adolescent psychiatry at New York University. She also pointed out that research about eating disorders is about adults, and no one is sure if the same therapies used on adults are effective in teenagers and children.
 

Labels: treatment, teen

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Holly developed signs of anorexia when she was just 7-years-old. Her food went untouched, and she began losing weight. Her parents chose a less-traditional form of treatment called the “Maudsley Approach,” which focuses simply on getting the patient to eat again.

Phase one – lasting from weeks to a year – hinges entirely upon weight restoration. Whereas traditional anorexia therapy often excludes parents from treatment, Maudsley parents’ active involvement is seen as essential to their child’s recovery.

"If a 15-year-old had a bottle of vodka before school every morning, would you say 'Well, that adolescent is asserting her need for control, so parents back off?'" [Dr. Sarah] Ravin said. "No, because drinking alcohol before school is not OK." [Source: Miami Herald]

Dr. Ravin refers to the Maudsley Approach as an “agnostic” approach, meaning there’s little concern about what triggered the illness. Instead, patients focus first on regaining weight – a phase that is controlled by the parents, who set meal times and menus, and simply sit and wait as long as needed for the patient to start eating. Once a healthy weight has been achieved, the patient can gradually begin controlling her own meals. Only in phase three are causes of the illness addressed.

Labels: treatment, family, maudsley approach

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Eating disorders affect men and women of all ages, though they are most prominent among adolescent girls. Licensed counselor Natasha Horsley says she’s continually surprised at how multi-layered and complicated eating disorders can be.

“Horsley, who was associated with the Renfrew Center Eating Disorders’ Clinic in Philadelphia from 1993 to 1999, knows the impulse is to chide those with deprivation eating disorders to ‘Just eat!’ ‘But no one really chooses to starve or to binge and purge. The detective work is to uncover the deep reasons why it happens,’ she explains.” [Source: Courier-Post (Cherry Hill, NJ)]

Sudden, severe weight loss, or regular trips to the bathroom after eating are two of the most common signs someone may have an eating disorder. Stress can trigger a relapse for someone who’s in recovery. If you know someone who exhibits signs of an eating disorder, seek help right away.

Labels: treatment, causes of eating disorders

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