Eating Disorder Referral

This is one of the best websites out there used to find treatment for an eating disorder. You can search anywhere in the United States for a treatment center and there are a variety of private practice doctors listed on each states individual website as well. If you want to get to the site directly from this page, click here.

Did an Eating Disorder Kill Brittany Murphy?

The jury is still out when it comes to cause of death, of 32 year old actress Brittany Murphy. It has been rumored (although not confirmed) that Murphy struggled with bulimia and drug use to control her weight. A full body autopsy and toxicology report will not be release for a couple more weeks. In the meantime, we only know that she died due to cardiac arrest, and we can speculate that it came as a result of the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. In 1995, Murphy sported a healthy physique in movie "Clueless," and in most recent years her frail frame has been at the center of concern and speculation. There are no results as to exact cause of death as of currently, but I wouldn't be suprised to find out that bulimia or anorexia played a major role in the outcome of her passing.

Healthy Strategies for Eating

1. Keep portions moderate. Especially high calorie and sugary foods. Every individuals appetite, body weight, and height vary so it is impossible to put on exact number on how many calories is "moderate." The best thing to do is eat breakfast (the most important meal of the day), lunch, a light dinner (because it is close to bed time & it is bad to sleep on a full stomach), and maybe a snack between meals if necessary.
2. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Fruits are not only a great source of vitamins, but an excellent water source as well. A perfect time to eat a piece of fruit is after a work out! For vegetables, just remember ANYTHING GREEN is just the ticket to boost your energy and give your body the necessary vitamins and nutrients it needs. And, do not be afraid of grains! Why? Because they contain COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES- the kind that are good for energy and digestion. Most nutrionist's agree, they are the most important part of our diet.
3. Eat slowly. Those who eat slower, live longer. What does it mean to eat slowly? Take small bites, chew slowly until the food turns to mush, then swallow. The pace is important too: Unless you're in the army, there should be no excuse for shoveling food down your throat. It's obvious that many of us have short lunch breaks at work, and eating slowly can seem like a nearly impossible tasks, but trust me, if you make this change, you'll feel better, EAT LESS, and have better digestions.
4. Do not skip meals. If you skip a meal or go for a long period of time without eating, your body begins to think it is starving. The metabolism slows down to save energy, and the next time it gets food it stores it as fat. The other reason skipping meals is unbeneficial is because we tend to consume DOUBLE what we normally would at a regular meal. This is basically binging which not only throws your bodies cycle completely out of wack, but can lead to dangerous eating disorders such as bulimia and binge eating disorder.
5. Drink plenty of water. How many times have we heard this one? The statement is true because our bodies are mande up of 75% water, so it is a vital part of life. If you do not like the taste of water, one of the best way to get your daily in take is to mix it with cranberry, grapefruit juice, or ice tea. The more nutritional value in the juice, the better, but you get the idea.
6. Limit sugary foods, salt, and refined-grain products. Here's an example of what a sugar intake will do: In one years time, drinking a 12 once can of soda everyday (160 calories) can increase your weight by 16 pounds. There are many simple ways to cut down salt consumption: Instead of cooking with salted butter, use unsalted. Instead of eating a pickle, substitute it with a cucumber. Unsalted peanuts rather than salted, etc. Refined grains are horrible because they actually strip your body of fiber and nutrients. They also dramatically increase blood sugar, which over time can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and hypoglycemia.
7. Take things one step at a time. You cannot expect a 180 degree turn around from yourself on the first day. Implement these stragies slowly the first fews days, and then more regularly and consistently after that. CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY. Also, DO NOT LET YOURSELF GET DISCOURAGED.

Myths about Eating Disorders

Myth #1: You have to be underweight to have an eating disorder.
Absolutely not! People with eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. Many individuals with eating disorders are of average weight or are overweight.

Myth #2: Only teenage girls and young women are affected by eating disorders.
This is not true. While eating disorders are most common in young women in their teens and early twenties, they are also found in men and women of all ages.

Myth #3: People with eating disorders are vain.
It’s not vanity that drives people with eating disorders to follow extreme diets and obsess over their bodies, but rather an attempt to deal with feelings of shame, anxiety, and powerlessness.

Myth #4: Eating disorders aren’t really that dangerous.
Yes they are! All eating disorders can lead to irreversible and even life-threatening health problems, such as heart disease, stunted growth, bone loss, infertility, and kidney damage.

Recommended Reading

"Biting the Hand that Starves You:" Inspiring Resistance to Anorexia and Bulimia.

Teens: Pressure: What parents can do

In this day in age, teenagers are under tremendous pressure to uphold an unrealistic image that the media puts out there. Whether it is in magazines, movies, or the fashion & music industry, the pressure to look like their favorite model, actor, or singer enters a teens mind nearly every day. Teenage girls and even guys will go to extreme measures to get thin or stay thin, even if that means starving themselves to death, purging after meals, or overexercising to the point of exhaustion and osteoporosis. I want to list a few warning signs for parents to watch for if they think their son or daughter might be developing an eating disorder:

• Keep an eye out on the types of clothing he/she is wearing. It is common for teens to hide excessive weight loss under baggy pants and extra large t-shirts.


• Take notice of their behaviors during and after meal time. Anorexics will cut their food into small pieces, and shuffle it around the plate. They will do whatever it takes not to eat. Bulimics tend to go the bathroom immediately after a meal to purge. Also, eating in secrecy is another cause for concern.


• Also be aware of your teens body perception. If he/she is constantly making statements like, "I look fat", "My thighs are too heavy", or "My belly is too big," this is an indicator of a poor body image that often times can lead to an eating disorder.

In Memory of

I found this extremely eye opening website that dedicates memory to those unfortunate men and women who died as the result of an eating disorder. Just about all of these men and women died at extremely young ages, one particular girl as young as 14. Most of the women with bulimia died of cardiac arrest or electrolyte imbalance in their sleep. Those suffering from anorexia died from malnurition, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. Knowing these men and women died at such young ages from a disease that afflicts so many people in the world, makes me want to work that much harder to help people cure this disease for good. Here is the link for the website.

Portion Control

Portion control is an extremely important weight managment tool because it provides us with a balance between the two extremes (overeating and undereating). Many of us know "what" to eat, but even more of us have been misinformed when it comes to "how much" to eat. Above is a helpful diagram that shows a variety of foods (such as chicken, cheese), that each correspond to an object of an appropriate portion size for that particular food. Developing a "portion control lifestyle" will increase your energy and stamina, elevate your mood, and overall make you a happier, healthier person.

Anorexia in Europe among young models

Awareness

I decided to post this blog in order to provide people with a place to come and share their thoughts, opinions, and stories concerning eating disorders. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are becoming more prevalent than ever before in the United States; 5-10 million females and 1 million males suffer from eating disorders in the United States. About 10% of female college students suffer from bulimia and 1 in 100 American women binges and purges to lose weight. I would like for this blog to be a safe, nonjudgemental place for people who are struggling with an eating disorder to come share ideas, stories, current struggles, and goals in the journey towards recovery.