Viewing posts categorised under: Eating-disorder
Binge Eating Disorder References and Resources
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
Several blog article on this site related to the issue to Binge Eating Disorder present a number of in-text APA-style citations. The follow is a full list of the citations and references.
Allen, Karina et al, “The Onset and Course of Binge Eating in 8-13 Year Old Healthy Weight, Overweight and Obese Children.” Eating Behaviors: an International Journal Vol. 9 Issue 4 (December 2008): 438-446
American Psychological Association. “Treatment for Binge Eating.” http://www.apa.org/topics/eating/binge.aspx (accessed February 1, 2011)
Darby, Anita et al, “The Rising Prevalence of Co-morbid Obesity and Eating Disorder Behaviors from 1995-2005.” The International Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 42 Issue 2 (March 2009): 104-108
DeAngelis, Tori, “Binge Eating Disorder: What’s the Best Treatment?” Monitor on Psychology Vol. 33 Issue 3 (March 2002): 30
Fitzpatrick, Elyse and Cornish, Carol. Women Helping Women. Eugene, oregon: Harvest House Publishing: 1997
Gibney, Michel et al, Clinical Nutrition 2005. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing: 2005.
Mayo Clinic. “Binge Eating Disorder.” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/binge-eating-disorder/DS00608/DSECTION=symptoms (accessed February 15, 2011)
White, Marney et al, “Regimented and Lifestyle Restraint in Binge Eating Disorder.” International Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 42 Issue 4 (May 2009): 326-331
Staying Healthy During Unemployment
- posted in Blog, Depression, Eating Disorder, Guest Bloggers, Health
About ten years ago the company that I worked for shut down and I found myself unemployed. A normal work week for me was 45 to 50 hours a week, so I was suddenly left with plenty of free time. Initially, this newfound freedom seemed like a blessing, a much needed vacation. That feeling did not last long, however, and although I did actively seek new employment, I quickly began to fill most of my days by staying home, watching television, and eating.
In a month I was sleeping all day and awake all night, plus I had gained five pounds. I was tired, discouraged, and depressed. In todayʼs world, my experience is not uncommon. It was reported in March 2013 that unemployment rates in the United States are at 7.6%. That means that a monumental 11.7 million individuals are jobless. CNN Health reports that for people who have been unemployed for six months or longer, it is not unusual to show signs of depression. Stress, anxiety and negative thoughts lead to sleepless nights that result in fatigue and lethargy. Eating habits become increasingly unhealthy as people turn to comfort foods that lead to binge eating.
So how does one survive a time of unemployment?
When it becomes apparent that this is not a vacation, and in reality, there is no money to consider taking a vacation, what steps can a person take to maintain his or her mental and physical health while on the job hunt?
Here are four suggestions that got me through:
Be realistic. Validate your feelings. Yes, you are in an undesirable situation. Your income has decreased, your future is uncertain, and you may lack a sense of purpose.
Additionally, intimate relationships may become strained because of financial worries. Is it any wonder that you are unhappy or miserable? However, being realistic does not mean that you allow yourself to wallow in your negative thoughts. Instead, use this awareness to keep you focused on your job search and taking care of yourself.
Stay mentally active. Look for ways to keep your brain active during this time. I looked for any free thing I could do. I took free computer classes at the local career center, joined a book club at the local library, and did the crossword puzzle in the daily newspaper.
Stay physically active. Sitting on the couch watching television is not the answer. While you may not be able to afford a gym membership at this time, there are things you can do. Walk, outside or at the mall. Clean your house. Cook your own meals. (This will save money and keep you busy both physically and mentally.)
Have a plan. Schedule your day. If it seems there is nothing to do, create something to do. Activities like cleaning the garage, or taking the plastic to the recycling center will get you out of bed and moving for the day. I scheduled every week day with time for my job search. After that my schedule was filled with exercise, cooking, and any free activity or class I could find. Also, donʼt forget to make time for family and friends. Many become reclusive in this situation. However, even in unemployment, all work and no play make us a dull girls and boys.
Unemployment isnʼt easy. Itʼs real work. It took me ten months to find a new job. There were many times of frustrations, and many fruitless interviews. There were moments when I wanted to give up. However, in the end, I stayed faithful to these suggestions, and I went to my new job healthy, and ready to begin my new adventure. I believe they can work for you, too.
Finally, if you have other mental health issues, such as clinical depression or unresolved traumas, these suggestions may not be sufficient, and you should consider seeking professional counseling.
Kim Cartwright is a writer, speaker, and researcher who is passionate about helping people with issues such as self worth, eating disorders, and relationships. Check out her personal blog, (She)ology, and find her on Twitter @kimbrly63.
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Binge Eating Disorder Treatment
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
Antidepressants are sometimes prescribed in for individuals with BED, although no known medications exist that are specifically designed to treat the disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2010). They have been known, however, to treat some underlying issues such as depression or anxiety, which, in turn, decreases binge behavior. Anticonvulsant topiramate (Topomax) which is normally prescribed to control seizures has also been found to decrease binge behavior, but there can be serious side effects such as numbness, or a burning and tingling sensation (Maya Clinic, 2010).
In regard to treatment, preventative intervention should also be mentioned. The main eating disorder among obese people is BED. Both obesity and BED create a high public health burden, not to mention a decreased quality of life and increased use of health services for those who are affected by it (Darby et al, 2008). Therefore many experts feel that education for young women is key in the prevention of the disorder, and should include such things as information regarding healthy eating habits, well-balance diet and intake, importance of physical activity and the importance of a healthy body image and self-esteem (Darby et al, 2008).
Binge Eating Disorder: A Christian Counseling Approach to Care
- posted in Blog, Christian Counseling, Eating Disorder
Scripture tells us that God will give us the strength to overcome binge eating. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God is faithful and we will not be tempted beyond our abilities.
Next the Bible tells us that we are not to worry about anything, including what we will eat or drink. In Matthew 6:25 and Luke 12:22, Christ says that we are not to be anxious about our bodies. We are more than merely our clothing or food, and God will provide our every need. Instead, as Romans 12:1 states, we are to trust God and present our bodies as living sacrifices.
Finally, binge eaters must see that God does not look at physical appearance. Instead, he looks at the heart of every individual. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells the binge eater that God does not look at people in the same way that people look at people. God focuses on the heart, not on outward appearance. Psalm 139 tells us that we are made uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully by God.
Homework Assignments
Those who suffer from BED should be encouraged to meditate and memorize Scripture in order to replace distorted thoughts with biblical thoughts. Appropriate passages that teach Godly attitudes about food and body image should be assigned. Suggested passages are Romans 8:28-29, Psalm 139 and Matthew 6 (Fitzpatrick & Cornish, 1997, p 406).
A food journal should be kept so that the binge eater can see how much food she is putting into her body at any given time. Times of temptation should be noted in order to help the binge eater determine any patterns or situations in which she is particularly vulnerable.
Daily activity or exercise should be assigned, as it is part of a healthy lifestyle and it also promotes healthy weight loss. This is to be done in accordance with the individual’s ability (Fitzpatrick & Cornish, 1997, p 406.)
Finally, some cognitive behavioral therapy homework assignments may also be helpful. The dysfunctional thought record (DTR) is often helpful in tracking negative and distorted thoughts.
Causes of Binge Eating Disorder
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
Research shows two pathways by which an at-risk individual will generally develop BED. (Allen et al, 2008). The first is referred to as the restraint pathway. This happens when a transgression from a strict dietary plan induces an “all-or-nothing” mentality. This person feels that once he or she has deviated from the plan, he or she may as well simply keep on eating. The result of this is normally a cycle in which one goes back on a strict diet plan, only to fail again, and then participate in further and more frequent binge episodes (Allen et al, 2008).
The second pathway is referred to as the affect-regulation pathway. An at-risk individual will develop BED in this way when he or she uses food to moderate negative emotions. Binge eating is reported to dull feelings of sadness, anger, boredom and frustration. The affect-regulation pathway is most often seen in female and adult adolescents. (Allen et al, 2008).
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by frequent episodes of out-of-control eating (American Psychological Association, 2010). Unlike individuals who participate in bulimic behavior, those with BED do not purge themselves of excess caloric intake through self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise. (American Psychological Association, 2010)
Symptoms include eating large amounts of food, eating even when you are full, eating rapidly during binge episodes, feeling that your eating is out of control, eating a lot even when you are not hungry, frequent dieting (especially dieting that does not result in weight loss), frequent eating alone, and frequent negative feelings toward your eating habits (Mayo Clinic, 2010). Recurrent binge eating is typically seen in overweight or obese people, although those of normal weight have also been known to be affected by BED (DeAngelis, 2002). Those affected by BED are also likely to display distorted attitudes toward eating, shape or weight, and show signs of mood symptoms such as depression and anxiety (DeAngelis, 2002). An individual who displays one or more symptom of BED is encouraged to seek medical care, because this is not something that, in all likelihood, will improve on its own.
This is thought to be true because after a binge episode it is common for an individual to try to diet or eat normal meals. The caloric restriction will then often trigger more binge eating, which creates a vicious cycle (Mayo Clinic, 2010). In fact, some reports suggest that extreme caloric restriction in itself can trigger binge eating because it disrupts our natural hunger and satiety cues (White et al, 2009). It can also be noted that those with BED are more likely to become overweight at a younger age, more likely to begin dieting at a younger age, and more likely to spend more time in unproductive weight-loss programs or treatments (Gibney et al, 2005).
Binge Eating Disorder: Summary and Statistics
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
In 1959, Albert Strunkard identified Binge Eating Disorder as a distinct eating pattern in people who were suffering from obesity (Gibney et al, 2005). It is generally believed that BED has a broader demographic distribution that that of anorexia and bulimia.
Several reports from the early 1980’s state that 20%-50% of the British population showed signs of moderate to severe binge eating, and it was believed at the time that United States statistics would have proven to be similar (Gibney et al, 2005).
More recent reports state that, based on community-based samples, BED affects 1%-5% of the population. Moreover it affects 20%-50% of people surveyed in treatment-seeking samples of overweight and obese individuals (Allen et al, 2008). It has also been reported that those affected with BED, date the onset back to childhood, and that it affects approximately one-third of treatment-seeking obese children (Allen et al, 2008).
The OMG Diet – Fad, Gimmick, or Effective Weight Loss Strategy
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder, Health, Weight Loss
You’ve heard of the atkins diet, and even the south beach diet, but have you heard of the OMG Diet? A new weight loss program, with some interesting rules, has people in the medical community thinking WTF?
The diet is detailed in the book “Six Weeks To OMG: Get Skinnier Than All Your Friends” and is written by Britain-based personal trainer Paul Khanna.
The diet prescribes users to consume black coffee in the morning, and then exercise on an empty stomach. In addition, dieters are to refrain from eating anything for three hours.
It also tells dieters to “sit in a cold bath” as a way to burn body fat
This isn’t the first time ideas like these have been presented. Timothy Ferris, in his book “The 4 hour body”, recommends ice cold showers to lose weight.
The science behind cold water treatments is that one’s body needs to work to maintain one’s core temperature, thereby burning calories. However, to date research hasn’t shown it to be anything more than an interesting concept.
As for the coffee, it’s a stimulant–and thereby a mild appetite suppressant–but there may be health risks that come with the heavy doses of daily caffeine.
“”"D-ANNE JADE Founder of the National Centre For Eating Disorders
says
The author is buying into a particular kind of culture and, of course, it is going to attract younger women. I am sad. I treat people with eating disorders and I will be picking up casualties down the line. …..[she also warns]
The amount of caffeine in this diet alone is causing nutrients to be stripped from your hormones and thyroid gland. This can affect your immune system and make your body get into an absolute mess.
“”"
So, dangerous gimmic or a progressive approach to getting in shape? Let us know what you think in the comments.
College Eating Disorder Stats
- posted in Blog, Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are illnesses in which victims suffer severe disturbances in their eating behaviors and related thoughts and emotions. They affect several million people at any given time, usually women of ages 12-35. There are two main types of eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; a third disorder, binge eating disorder, is being examined.
15.5% of college students ages 18-24 are overweight
28.8% of college students older than 25 are overweight
Eating disorders affect 5-10 million women and 1 million men, with the highest rates occurring in college-aged women.
More than 90% of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25 (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 2003). However, hundreds of thousands of boys are affected by these disorders (U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health, 2000).
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American Psychiatric Association. (2005). Let’s talk facts about eating disorders. Accessed from http://healthyminds.org/multimedia/eatingdisorders.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1997, November). National college health risk behavior survey (NCHRBS): MMWR, 46(SS-6).
Ibid.
National Mental Health Association, (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nmha.org/camh/college/index.cfm
SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center. Article Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/ken98-0047/default.asp#2
