Psychiatrists call for action on anorexia sites...

LONDON (Reuters) - As the start of London Fashion Week reignites the debate over ultra-thin models, psychiatrists have called on the British government to act over the soaring numbers of pro-anorexia websites.

Encouraged by social networking sites like Facebook and "thinspiration" websites, growing numbers of Britons are looking online to get tips on how to starve themselves or hide extreme weight loss, says the Royal College of Psychiatrists. "

(These) websites normalize illness," said Professor Ulrike Schmidt, chair of the college's eating disorders section. "In much the same way, the catwalks of international fashion events such as London Fashion Week can act as a showcase for underweight women." Fashion Week organizers have refused to rule out using waif-like models on the catwalk. More than 1.6 million people in Britain suffer from eating disorders, nearly 90 percent of them teenage girls. The report calls on the government to tackle the proliferation of pro-eating disorder sites as part of its wider efforts to safeguard children on the internet through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Psychiatrists say 1 in 10 girls look at pro-eating disorder websites repeatedly, taking inspiration from celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton.

Some websites use photographs of excessively thin models and messaging forums to encourage severe weight loss. Beat, a charity for people with eating disorders, said steps to make the sites illegal would not solve the root problem. "Directing people away from these sites, toward pro recovery sites is what we would wish to see," said its spokeswoman Mary George. Beat said it is already working with the AOL internet service provider to filter searches. "If somebody puts in a search for pro anorexia websites, our website comes up first," said George.

The UKCCIS said it was working hard to ensure that vulnerable young people are signposted toward places where they can get help when accessing such sites.

Share your thoughts here! on the Eating Disorder Hope Blog @ http://eatingdisorderhope.blogspot.com/

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE58H2OU20090918

Doris Smeltzer, MA, author @ Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia & co-founder of Andrea’s Voice Foundation offers FREE eating disorders teleconference

December 14, 2009

For Immediate release

Contact: Shannon Cutts
Phone: 713-906-9888
Email: mc@key-to-life.com
MentorCONNECT
www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect

Attention: Feature and Event Desks

Doris Smeltzer, MA, author of Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia and co-founder of Andrea’s Voice Foundation presents a FREE eating disorders teleconference on “Finding Your Voice for Change” for MentorCONNECT

Internationally-recognized author, speaker, and eating disorders recovery advocate Doris Smeltzer, MA, will present a FREE teleconference on Wednesday, January 13th, at 8pm central time. All are welcome to attend. RSVP’s are required.

This event is sponsored by MentorCONNECT, the first global eating disorders mentoring organization. Based in Houston since its inception in September 2007, MentorCONNECT now has a presence in 32 USA states and 12 countries, and has sponsored free events featuring such notable authors and speakers as Miss America 2009 Kirsten Haglund, Jessica Setnick, Jenni Schaefer, Dr. Carolyn Becker, Dr. Kenneth Weiner, June Alexander, Thom Rutledge, and others.

Event Details:
To Register: Send an email with “RSVP for Doris” to mc@key-to-life.com
RSVP Deadline: January 13th at noon
For More Info: Contact MentorCONNECT at 713-906-9888 or mc@key-to-life.com
View Event Flyer: You may also view the event flyer online at www.key-to-life.com

More About Doris: Doris Smeltzer, MA, is first and foremost a loving mom who lost her beautiful daughter, Andrea, to bulimia when Andrea was only nineteen years old. In the almost eleven years since Andrea’s passing, Doris has worked tirelessly to advocate for awareness and education of eating disorders through Andrea’s Voice Foundation, the non-profit organization she co-founded with her husband, Tom. She is a passionate advocate of Health at Every Size (HAES) and author of a moving book about Andrea’s struggles called Andrea’s Voice: Silenced by Bulimia. More recently she is developing an educational curriculum based upon her popular 14-week radio series, Savor Yourself…Beyond Skin Deep. For more information visit Doris and Tom at www.andreasvoice.org


More About MentorCONNECT:
MentorCONNECT is the first global online eating disorders mentoring community. Membership and all services are always free to members, and certain events are also opened up to the larger community. In addition to offering one-on-one mentoring matches, membership includes access to a password-protected, moderated, PRO-recovery community forum with two live weekly e-support groups and one Houston-based book study support group, periodic retreats and special events, a wide variety of online themed support groups, recovery blogs, personalized profile pages, the ability to upload photos / video / songs / artwork, and moderated chat / email services. To volunteer your services as a caring mentor, be matched with a mentor, or find general support, visit us at www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect.

View Flyer: http://www.key-to-life.com/storage/mentorconnect/Doris.Flyer.pdf

Support the FREED Act and eating disorder treatment coverage

The Eating Disorders Coalition worked with Members of Congress to conceptualize and draft the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (the FREED Act), which is a comprehensive bill on eating disorders addressing research, treatment, education and prevention.

Your voice is needed for the Eating Disorders Coalition letter writing campaign to be a success: They need Constituents to write their Members of Congress to support the FREED ACT (HR 1193)!

This is a simple, yet very powerful and effective opportunity for you to use your voice to support the FREED Act. We have had Members of Congress sign onto the FREED Act because of receiving one letter from a constituent --your voice CAN make a difference!

Over 100 Supporters have written their Representative so far.

Visit(http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/LetterWritingCampaign2009.htm) to write your letter today!

Read about the FREED Act @ http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/documents/summaryofFREEDAct.pdf

Eating Disorder Organizations Join Forces to Urge Focus on Health and Lifestyle Rather Than Weight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AED Contact: Theresa Fassihi (832) 794-1280, terryfassihi@earthlink.net

BEDA Contact: Michelle Ervin (443) 223-7007, michelle@wordnercommunications.com

EDC Contact: David Jaffe (202) 543-9570, manager@eatingdisorderscoalition.org

NEDA Contact: Lynn Grefe (212) 575-6200, lgrefe@nationaleatingdisorders.org

IAEDP Contact: Blanche Williams (240)-206-8674, iaedpmedia@gmail.com

Eating Disorder Organizations Join Forces to Urge Focus on Health and Lifestyle Rather Than Weight

(Deerfield, IL) December 9, 2009 – The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC), International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp), and the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) have joined forces and are advocating together for a focus on health and lifestyle rather than weight as a measurement of well-being.

In late November, media stories reported that an American university implemented a new strategy for combating rising weights by requiring students to be weighed during their freshman year. Those deemed obese are required either to lose weight or pass an extra course focused on physical fitness. In response to this, and other similar strategies within the global “war against obesity”, national and international eating disorder organizations have joined forces to recommend school administrators, employers, and health policy makers focus more on health and lifestyle for all populations rather than on weight alone.

Eating disorder groups assert that this well-intentioned, but under-informed and unproven strategy of focusing on weight fuels weight-prejudice and neglects groups which may be in equal need of improving their health and lifestyle. There is also the concern that these programs may contribute to negative self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, and eating disordered behaviors. Neither the scale nor BMI calculation provides the full picture regarding health status, such as lifestyle and activity patterns, and physical and mental health measures. Thus, assuming illness health based on weight alone is not only inappropriate but harmful and discriminatory, and should be discontinued.

“There is concern that we have lost sight of the importance of avoiding harm in the process of addressing obesity.” AED President Susan Paxton, PhD, FAED states, “Further, we cannot ignore the opportunity to create a healthier environment, where people of all sizes are given the opportunity to lead healthy and productive lives, instead of singling out individual groups for reform based on weight alone”.

Paxton continues, “It is our hope that professional and community societies can join hands in fighting for healthier lifestyles and increased respect for people of all sizes, thus simultaneously promoting all aspects of health (i.e., physical, social, and emotional) within our communities.”

The AED has developed “Guidelines for Obesity Prevention Programs” (http://www.aedweb.org/media/Guidelines.cfm), which are intended to address the issues illustrated by the above example, and the more global issues in combating rising weights. Additionally, the EDC has developed talking points regarding BMI testing (http://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org/documents/TalkingpointsBMI.pdf).

Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) is a global professional association committed to leadership in eating disorders research, education, treatment, and prevention. For more information go to www.aedweb.org.

Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) is a national organization focusing on the need to increase prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for binge eating disorder. BEDA is committed to facilitating awareness, high quality of care, and recovery for those who live and those who work with binge eating disorder through outreach and support, education, and resources. For more information go to www.bedaonline.com.

The Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC) is a federal public policy organization that works to advance the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority. For more information go to www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org.

International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) promotes a high level of professionalism among practitioners who treat those suffering from eating disorders by promoting ethical and professional standards, offering education and training in the field, certifying those who have met prescribed requirements, promoting public and professional awareness of eating disorders and assisting in prevention efforts. For more information go to www.iaedp.org.

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. The programs include a National Helpline, Annual Public Conference, Educational and Awareness Programs, sponsorship of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Media Watchdog Program, Parent Family and Friends Network, Young Investigator Research Grants and more. For more information go to www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.

A New Play for Eating Disorders Programming: Check it out and Please Share with all who might be interested!

“Hunger” is a new play by psychologist and playwright Dr. Peter Langman.

“Hunger” is not a traditional narrative play, but rather a combination of monologues, dialogue, and ritualistic theatrical staging aimed at illuminating the characters’ struggles with food, weight, and eating disorders. The all-female cast includes a college professor, four students, and the “shadow” figure of one of the students, representing all the parts of herself that she denies. The characters cover the spectrum of eating disorders, including a bulimic, a compulsive over-eater, an anorexic who is in touch with her distress, and an anorexic who is in denial. The characters explore their relationships with food, the scale, their bodies, pleasure, fear, themselves, their families, and social pressures to be thin, ultimately discovering what it is that they truly hunger for.

The show runs approximately ninety minutes and is appropriate for high school and college audiences. Two monologues from “Hunger” are published in “Young Women’s Monologues from Contemporary Plays, Vol. 2.”

The script is available from Dr. Langman at peterlangman@yahoo.com.

For more information about “Hunger,” please visit peterlangman.googlepages.com.

Support for the Holidays! ~ Renfrew Treatment Centers Hosts Free Webinar

Renfrew Treatment Centers Hosts: Home for the Holidays Shine Your Light A FREE Webinar or 2-hour Workshop for Those Recovering from an Eating Disorder

Topics include: Eating Challenges During the Holidays How to Alleviate Holiday Stress and Pressure Taking Responsibility for Your Own Health and Recovery Survival Strategies to Stay Focused on Your Recovery Creating and Sustaining Relationships at Home, Work, & School

Webinar Tuesday, December 15, 2009 12:00pm-1:00pm EST
OR 8:00pm-9:00pm EST

Register for Webinar at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/971673361

Facilitated by Jennifer Nardozzi, PsyD and a Renfrew Alumna.

*also enter to win a free 2010 Renfrew Centers Calendar featuring beautiful artwork at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/books.html

Enter Drawing for Free Recovery Resources: Book and/or 2010 Calendar

Win a Free Copy of book: Life without Ed @ Jenni Schaefer or Renfrew 2010 Artistic Expression Calendar

Enter drawings at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/books

Good luck on these inspiring recovery tools!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

10 Common Myths About Eating Disorders

Check out this interesting article

10 Common Myths About Eating Disorders at

http://www.physicaltherapyassistantschools.org/10-common-myths-about-eating-disorders/ .

Do you agree or disagree with the points of this article? Why?

Can Yoga Help to Fight Eating Disorders?

Interesting interview with Alison Field, ScD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School.

http://childrenshospitalblog.org/can-yoga-fight-eating-disorders/

Deeply felt artistic expression by eating disorder sufferers....

Check out the new virtual exhibit of artwork created by alumni of Rader Programs.
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/artistic-expression-and-eating-disorders

Siblings and Eating Disorders

What happens when a family member gets “sick” and doesn’t get better? Families throughout the United States are confronted with this reality every single day when a child has an eating disorder.

Although undoubtedly hard on the parents, often it is the siblings who become the unwitting and unnoticed victims, especially if they are young. This is because the parents, understandably, often focus an inordinate amount of time, thought and energy on that one child. But imagine how this is viewed by the other children.

Find information, resources and hope for siblings at:
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/siblings-and-eating-disorders

College students not immune to eating disorders

Over-exercising and diet restrictions can become an obsession

written by Cassandra Adams @ KentNewsNet.com, Kent State University, Ohio

Josh Pittman, freshman integrated social studies major, realized that to win his high school wrestling matches he had to reach a lower weight class.

To cut weight, Pittman began an obsessive cycle of radical calorie restriction and exercise, and soon the 5-foot-9 Pittman went from a slim 135 pounds to a dangerously low 112 lbs.

"I didn't think I was that thin. I was anorexic," Pittman said. "I became obsessed; it was a way of life and the only thing that was important to me."

Over-exercising and not eating wore Pittman down to a point where he fell asleep in classes, frequently passed out and was agitated all the time.

Josephine Glover, a licensed clinical counselor at Malone University, said once the eating disorder pattern has been established, it becomes an addiction and takes on a life of its own.

"The person begins to have a relationship with the eating disorder instead of real people," Glover said. "All their time is spent centered around food; it becomes an obsession."

Glover helps manage the Jubilee Center, a Canton eating disorder support center where the general majority of patients are college-aged.

Some studies have shown that as many as 50 to 60 percent of the college population has an eating disorder. Kent State students don't seem to be exempt.

Marie LePage, the undergraduate officer coordinator of psychological services in Kent Hall, said an increasing amount of students are going in for treatment.

"College is a time of greater stress, and it can be a way to deal with the stress," LePage said. "For many young people, it is truly their first time on their own. They are suddenly thrown into this world of greater freedoms, mom and dad aren't there to overlook their every move."

Other factors that contribute to eating pathology are genetics, peers, family and the media. LePage said eating disorders are a culture-bound disorder and largely influenced by societal pressure. The West is highest among many cultures cultivating the "thin is in" mindset to the extreme.

Sarah Yonkof, freshman exploratory major, said students are competing to look good.

"I feel like you're only as good as your size," Yonkof said. "Guys treat you better if you're skinnier - the attention is always based on your looks, not how smart or funny you are. No matter what your education, social status or money situation, people judge you on your weight - and I think it's wrong."

But women aren't the only ones feeling the pressure to "measure up."

"A big misconception is that guys aren't affected too," Pittman said. "Guys get self-conscious, just like girls. I remember, starting college, I gained some weight and got real depressed because I hated how I looked and felt."

While Pittman was able to reduce his disorder after quitting wrestling in high school, he said it still affects his life in college - though not as severely. He said if he's not careful, he begins a downward spiral of excessive exercise and strict calorie restriction - sans beer and snacks.

Glover and LePage agree recovery is possible with help from the right people. Pittman advises people suffering from the disease to get support.

"All I can say is there is nothing to be ashamed of," Pittman said. "Everyone has problems, whether they let people know or not. If this is your problem, seek out the help and get it; it's not worth your life."

Contact news correspondent Cassandra Adams at cadams35@kent.edu.

http://media.www.kentnewsnet.com/media/storage/paper867/news/2009/11/20/News/College.Students.Not.Immune.To.Eating.Disorders-3838248.shtml

Please share your thoughts here(http://eatingdisorderhope.blogspot.com/), on the Eating Disorder Hope blog, about College/University issues with eating disorders. Please let us know of any schools doing a particularly good job addressing this important topic.

Eating Disorder Specialist Library Launched

New Eating Disorder Specialist Library Launched to Help Eating Disorder Sufferers, Family, Friends and Health Providers Find Help

Finding treatment for eating disorders is an overwhelming task for those suffering from eating disorders and the loved ones trying to help them. To solve this problem, Eating Disorder Hope launched the Eating Disorder Specialist Library, to provide a comprehensive resource for exploring and comparing treatment options, providers, treatment approaches and philosophy. All accessible in one library, saving hours of searching the web for options.

Fort Worth, TX (PRWEB) November 15, 2009 -- Many eating disorder sufferers and families find that reviewing the online ‘virtual brochures’ offered in the http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-library-index.html greatly simplifies their search and puts them in touch with some of the best treatment centers and providers for their loved one suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorder.

This new and rapidly expanding eating disorder specialist library is an excellent tool for eating disorder sufferers, families, friends and treatment providers who feel overwhelmed with where to begin in the search for appropriate care for the eating disorder sufferer.

Finding highly skilled professionals specialized in the field is key to successful recovery.

Eating Disorder Hope offers information and resources to those suffering from eating disorders, their treatment providers and loved ones by providing the new Eating Disorder Specialist Library, articles, books, a virtual library, inspirational recovery stories, relapse prevention and recovery tools.

“Eating Disorder Hope is well named, since hope is the first essential ingredient of recovery. This site supplies a wealth of information, contacts and inspiration to help make recovery a reality,” said Aimee Lui (www.gainingthetruth.com), author of Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders.

The work of www.eatingdisorderhope.com is possible due to the support of sponsors including platinum sponsoring partner: Rader Programs; platinum sponsors, Remuda Ranch and Rogers Memorial; and silver sponsor, Linden Oaks at Edward.

“Eating Disorder Hope is a fresh source of inspiration and practical information to assist sufferers, loved ones, support team members, and professionals with finding the level and type of support and resources they need quickly and efficiently,” said Shannon Cutts, Founder/Director of Mentor Connect, and author of Beating Ana: How to Outsmart Your Eating Disorder and Take Your Life Back, “a website that is like a second home for both those who need help now and for the professionals who treat them!"

About Eating Disorder Hope
Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC is the founder of Eating Disorder Hope, a one-stop resource for support, referrals and education about eating disorders. The site promotes ending eating disordered behavior, embracing life and pursuing recovery. Eating Disorder Hope fosters appreciation of one’s uniqueness and value in the world, unrelated to appearance, achievement or applause. For more information, visit www.eatingdisorderhope.com, http://twitter.com/edhope, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eating-Disorder-Hope/83317933683?ref=s.

Do Airbrushed Ads Contribute to Eating Disorders

Airbrushed Ads 'Cause Eating Disorders'

12:28pm UK, Monday November 09, 2009

Jo Couzens, Sky News Online

Airbrushing of models and celebrities in adverts is fuelling eating disorders and depression among girls as young as five, leading body image experts are warning.

There has been speculation Victoria Beckham's Armani ad had digital help

In a shocking new report, a group of over 40 doctors, psychologists and academics are calling for a ban on digitally retouching photos in advertising aimed at under-16s.

The researchers, from Britain, America and Australia, have written to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to say the "clear majority of adolescent girls" are experiencing problems with "depression, stress, guilt, shame, insecurity and body dissatisfaction" as a result of the unnatural-looking girls featured in magazines. Finish article

Learn about About Help and Resource for Body Image at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/body-image-and-eating-disorders

Bulimia Nervosa: Is Inpatient Treatment Better Than Day Treatment?

A German study published in the fifth issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics compares the differences between inpatient and day treatment of bulimia nervosa. The Authors reported in detail on the design and 3-month outcome in a previous article and present the results of the 12-month follow-up in this letter. Fifty-five of 204 patients screened at an outpatient clinic fulfilled the inclusion criteria, gave informed consent and could be randomized.

» Read full article on[Eating Disorders News From Medical News Today]

Please share your thoughts and opinions with us here or at: http://bulimiarecoveryhope.blogspot.com/

Find information and resources regarding bulimia at: http://eatingdisorderhope.com/bulimia.html

Check out the National Eating Disorder Association Online Auction! (forwarded in support of the work of NEDA, please visit their site for more info)

Register and Start Bidding on Fresh Items!

NEDA Supporter and Friend,

The Holidays are quickly approaching! At NEDA, we're celebrating the change of seasons by offering quality items on our online auction just in time for shopping - an easy way for you to cross things off your lift while making a difference! New items will be posted each week! Make sure to check out the featured items below and snag these sweet deals!

So what are you waiting for?...Bid Now! All purchases support critical programs that people rely on NEDA to provide. Your bid contributes to the bigger picture of supporting individuals and families impacted by eating disorders and helps NEDA meet fundraising goals. We couldn't do it without you!

Please remember to register at www.nationaleatingdisorders.cmarket.com.

Help for Obesity/Diabetes Sufferers in New York and more...

Fran Weiss,LCSW-R,BCD,DCSW,CGP: Associate Clinical Professor, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NYC. Sr. Psychotherapist, New York Obesity Research Center, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, NYC. Specializing in the emotional components of disordered eating, weight regulation, obesity, bulimia and body image. Individual and Group Psychotherapy.

New York, New York: Three Unique Group Offerings for 2010. Feb – April, 2010 (12 week short term group,Co-led @ diabetes educator). A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR DIABETES More Information

II. The Body Image Transformation Experience B.I.T.E.®

NEW 2010 WINTER SPRING WORKSHOP SERIES ~ Two interconnected Workshops More Information

Workshop I: February 9 - April 20, 2010. Owning My Body My Self "Why Can't I Just Do It?" TUESDAYS: 7:30pm-9:00pm. Explores participants' eating experiences, self-perception, and resistance to change.

Workshop II: April 27 – June 29, 2010. Transforming My Body My Self. TUESDAYS: 7:30-9:30pm. Special Guest Collaborator TBA. Combines innovative group therapy techniques with body-oriented therapy.

III. B.I.T.E.® Mentoring Group July - December, 2010 (Tuesdays or Thursday evenings, TBA, 1 ½ hr weekly sessions) More Information
Available to those who have completed the full program of B.I.T.E.® and others who are still struggling with eating and weight regulation problems, and who want an ongoing group experience.

NEWS: Fran’s Presentation at the American Group Psychotherapy Association, Feb. 2010, San Diego Neuroscience and Attachment Theory Meets Weight Regulation Groups.

Mindfulness as a Recovery Tool

The practice of mindfulness is particularly important to those struggling with eating disorders. This is because it is so easy for an individual to become consumed with eating disorder thoughts, which by definition are not positive or self-affirming.

“I look like a pig … if I eat this meal I will get fat … no one likes me… if I was thin, I would have friends.” How often do such thoughts, or others like them, come to mind? And the problem is, there is never just one thought; one leads to another to another. Soon they are tripping over each other, trying to take center stage, leaving the individual distracted and overwhelmed by negative emotions.

This is why mindfulness has value. Instead of heading down that road of negativity, a person needs to STOP and consciously redirect their own thoughts, by looking, hearing, touching – whatever it takes to break the cycle.

Learn More at: Mindfulness and Eating Disorders

Development of the Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale

The development and initial validation of a new measure of male body dissatisfaction.

Authors: Ochner CN, Gray JA, Brickner K.

The purpose of this research was to develop, and establish the initial psychometric properties of, the Male Body Dissatisfaction Scale (MBDS). Ninety-five male students were recruited over three phases. An item-remainder analysis was performed in phase I, convergent and discriminant validity assessed in phase II, and test-retest reliability and factor structure assessed in phase III. The MBDS achieved an alpha level of 0.93 and was inversely related to body esteem (p=0.02) and self-esteem (p=0.03), and positively related to how much participants' opinion of themselves was based on their body shape and weight (p<0.01).>» Read full article on[Eating Behaviors via MedWorm.com]

Please share your insights and comments on our Hope Club Blog ~ specifically designed for eating disorder treatment professionals @ http://edhopeclub.blogspot.com/

Also, please check out our Males and Eating Disorders page at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/males.html

Amazing theatre production dealing with eating disorders!

Experience nor.mal LIVE!

October 28th and 29th at 7:30pm

You are cordially invited to attend exclusive presentations of the award-winning musical NORMAL followed by talkbacks with experts in the field of mental health. The NIS curriculum’s effectiveness in raising awareness of eating disorders and eliminating the stigma attached has been proven time and time again. Endorsed by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and by treatment centers nationwide, the NIS program is an effective way to get audiences talking about issues related to eating disorders, due to the universal appeal of the gripping emotional performance upon which the programming is centered. Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 7:30pm In Tandem Theatre • 628 N. 10th Street • Milwaukee, WI • 53233 This complimentary presentation of the NORMAL In Schools program will be followed by a wine & cheese reception. This cultivation event is specifically designed to introduce NIS to educators and clinicians, and to discuss the program’s effectiveness in schools, counseling groups and treatment centers. A few seats are still available. RSVP to add your name to the list. Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 7:30pm In Tandem Theatre • 628 N. 10th Street • Milwaukee, WI • 53233 Open to the public. Pay what you can admission. No reservations or tickets required.

contact: rhussa@normalinschools.org

New Dawn Seeking Clinical Director

New Dawn Eating Disorders Recovery Center seeks a Clinical Director for our Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization (with Transitional Living) Programs located in Sausalito and San Francisco, CA. Responsibilities include managing and supervising existing multidisciplinary staff, assisting with continuing program development and implementation in collaboration with the CEO, coordinating care with referring providers and managed care companies, performing utilization review as necessary, conducting psychological evaluations and follow-ups, and providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy. Great benefits package including health, dental, vision and 401(k). Position is available for immediate hire.

Qualifications: Must hold a California license (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) and have at least two years of experience working in a residential, inpatient or Intensive Outpatient eating disorders treatment program and at least one year of supervisory experience. Accreditation experience (CARF or JCAHO) is a plus. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Interested Candidates should contact Ross Morton, CEO via email at ross@newdawnrecovery.com with brief a letter of interest, CV, references and 2 letters of recommendation.

Stop dissing your body, BYU speaker (Jennie Schaefer) says...

By Sara Israelsen-Hartley
Published: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 4:44 p.m.

MDT PROVO — All the talk about fat thighs, pudgy stomachs and flabby arms needs to stop. Eliminating body-hatred conversations was one of the biggest steps Jenni Schaefer took to conquer her eating disorder. "I had to have patience," she said. "I had to give myself time to fully recover in my head … so I could accept my body, and then move from accepting it to liking it, then move from liking it to loving it." Speaking recently at Brigham Young University, the internationally renowned author, speaker and an ambassador for the National Eating Disorders Association encouraged other women and men to avoid those types of damaging conversations, which Schaefer said are far too prevalent. (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/705338359/Stop-dissing-your-body-BYU-speaker-says.html)

Please share your thoughts here, on our blog!

Art and Body Image

Mirrors Art Exhibition

"Expressing, transforming and clarifying the shades of limelight that frame our body image."

Mori Gallery

168 Day St Darling Harbour

14th-26th October 2009

Opening night 14^th October 6-8pm

Mirrors, are an integral part of life we use them to create an image of who we are, who we think we should or could be and who we want to be, you find them in our bathrooms, bedrooms, purses and in other people’s eyes, words and thoughts. As an art exhibition Mirrors become a tool in expressing how others see themselves, reflecting how we see ourselves and the common thoughts and images that surround this, but furthermore Mirrors is a means to show how art can transform, reveal, confirm and change our associations between the beauty within both life and ourselves.

The exhibition Mirrors has evolved from the Art Exposing Eating Disorders Exhibition that began as a charity event last year, with a far larger goal than simply raising money for its beneficiary the Butterfly Foundation. The exhibition was the initiative of Rhiannon Bulley a young girl in recovery from Anorexia Nervosa, a serious and debilitating mental disease. She will again curate the exhibition along with the team at the Mori Gallery and fellow past sufferer Sarah O’Rourke.

How we see ourselves not only effects the way we live but dictates it, this is art reaching out and touching the insides of people veins and compelling them to re-evaluate their own beauty and the beauty of life.

Artists confirmed to be involved this year include Laura Jones, Aujun Rattley, Karin Taylor Cynthia Lund Torrol and Bec Winnel as well as many other emerging artists and art therapy works.

German artist, Remus Grecu has generously supplied Mirrors with copies of his paintings, which were shown at the Stadel Museum in Frankfurt as part of anti anorexia campaign titled The Contemporary Beauty Ideal.

Installation artist Elodie Silberstien will also participate in the exhibition for the second year running. This year her tableau vivant style artwork will take on the form of the diary of an anorexic girl, which she formed by interviewing people in recovery from anorexia. Elodie also worked closely with curator Rhiannon Bulley to develop a performance aspect to the piece, which will be performed on the opening night.

Acclaimed Sunshine Coast artist Cindy Wider will also provide an installation complete with her online and published art course Paint in Your Pj’s that aims to provide women with self-understanding and a clear path to their individual goals in life through drawing and art.

This year, under the name Mirrors, Art Exposing Eating Disorders will provide every person who steps into the venue, The Mori Gallery in Darling Harbour, with the opportunity to be a part of the expression through blank canvases complete with paint and work stations that encourage creative writing. The space will be a creative hub that not only provides the opportunity to hear other people’s voices but inspires individuals to listen to their own. Funds from the sale of art works will once again be donated to the Melbourne based, non- profit organisation, The Butterfly Foundation.

In terms of functioning this exhibition is as integral to those it supports as the daily mirror check that is normal for each of us in our daily routine. The reflection of a mirror sadly is not always one of clarity it is often blurred and altered by outside motives, in this way Mirrors through art aims to provide clarity where beauty is not an image but a feeling.

You can follow the exhibition from start to finish on http://mirrorsartexhibition.wordpress.com/

Artistic Expression and Eating Disorders

New thinner Barbie doll may fuel rising eating disorders in young women

Designer Christian Louboutin thinks the already unrealistically thin Barbie doll's legs are too heavy and is redesigning a newer, thinner version due out in the states next year. This move may help to fuel the already rising incidence of eating disorders among women in the U.S. who strive to obtain impossibly thin figures.

The new Barbie will have even thinner legs because Louboutin found the doll’s “…ankles too fat,” according to the New York Daily News.

What do you think? Share your thoughts here: http://eatingdisorderhope.blogspot.com/

Free Book Drawing (check back often for future book drawings)

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ENTER DRAWING
click on the above link, complete the contact form, enter book drawing in message, and you will automatically be entered into our November 5th, 2009 drawing to win this book!

HUNGRY: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia
by Sheila and Lisa Himmel(Penguin Group, 2009)

Eating disorders are one of the most destructive sicknesses to affect young women and men, especially during the turbulent teenage years where the pressure to embody the thin frames of cover models while existing in a food-obsessed culture. HUNGRY: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; August 4; $15.00) is the stunning memoir by Sheila Himmel, a James Beard Award-winning food critic, and her daughter Lisa, who, partly influenced by those societal pressures, plunged into the destructive world of anorexia and bulimia. Purchase your copy here: Hungry: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia

Disordered eating in adulthood is associated with reported weight loss attempts in childhood

Research report seeking to determine whether history of attempted weight loss in childhood (age 12 years) is associated with binge eating disorder (BED) and unhealthy weight loss behaviors in adults. (Source: International Journal of Eating Disorders: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/34698/home).

Did restrictive eating or weight loss attempts in childhood contribute to your development of disordered eating? Share here!

Videos on Eating Disorders by Top Experts

View informative and understandable brief video presentations by the top experts on eating disorders. Watch on the home page of Eating Disorder Hope. These are presented by:

Thomas Insel, MD ~ Director, National Institute of Mental Health

Walter Kaye, MD ~ University of California, San Diego

Cynthia Bulik, PhD ~ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Produced by Jane Cawley

Spain weighs models before allowing on runway

Officials in Spain are making an effort to battle anorexia among models.

Reports indicate that Spanish officials will weigh the models before allowing them on the podium for the fashion week.

The fashion industry has come under scrutiny recently for having a lot of anorexic models during their shows.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has publicly decried Fashion Week saying it can act as a showcase for underweight women.....What do you think about this??

source: http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20090110667&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=hollywood

Relationship Help for Eating Disorder Sufferers and Loved Ones

Relationships can be complex, especially when an eating disorder is thrown into the mix. Find resources for dealing with the eating disorder sufferer in your life at:

Friends & Family (general): http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/family-and-friends.html

Parents: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/parents-and-eating-disorders

Siblings:http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/siblings-and-eating-disorders

Spouses: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/spouses-and-eating-disorders

Relationships(general): http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/relationships-and-eating-disorders

Alanis Morisette and the National Eating Disorders Association

FYI – Singer/Songwriter Alanis Morisette will be running her first marathon and will donate all proceeds to the National Eating Disorders Association. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20307477,00.html. If you would like to support her efforts (and those of NEDA!) you may contribute on her fundraising page at this link: http://www.firstgiving.com/alanismorissette.

Relationship Issues and Eating Disorders

What should a person do when an eating disorder enters a friendship, or love relationship? There are many suggestions and guidelines revealed in subsequent articles, such as listening, conveying compassion, extending help, etc. But whether a friend or... a significant other, keep in mind that you are important too and your needs also have value.

Remember…Relationships need balance. If you have a relationship with someone suffering from anorexia or bulimia, extend love to them, and to yourself. If you need additional help in coping with the situation, you may consider a support group. Until your eating disordered friend achieves recovery, her primary love interest -- strange as it may seem – will remain her eating disorder...Read More

Win a Free Copy of The New Release: INSATIABLE: A Young Mother's Struggle with Anorexia

Free Book Drawing
(check back often for future book drawings)

---

ENTER DRAWING
complete the contact form, enter book drawing in message, and you will automatically be entered into our October 5th, 2009 drawing to win this book!

INSATIABLE: A Young Mother's Struggle with Anorexia
by Erica Rivera (Penguin Group, 2009)

is a memoir that open up the dialogue about mother-daughter relationships and nourishment. Erica asks the question: what is it we're really hungry for?

From a writers' retreat in Taos to a coffee house in Minneapolis, through coutless jars of peanut butter, M&Ms, and a Barbie sheet cake, Erica takes readers with her on a raw and ultimately inspiring journey as she claws her way out of Anorexia and the binge cycle. Her inspiring process is one of making peace with her life as well as her body.

Or purchase your copy here:Insatiable: A Young Mother's Struggle with Anorexia

Best-Selling Author Jenni Schaefer presents a FREE teleconference for MentorCONNECT

September 22, 2009

For Immediate release

Contact: Shannon Cutts

Phone: 713-906-9888

Email: mc@key-to-life.com

MentorCONNECT

7218 Mobud, Houston, TX 77006

www.key-to-life.com

Attention: Feature and Event Desks

Best-Selling Author Jenni Schaefer presents a FREE teleconference for Houston’s own MentorCONNECT

Sept. 22, 2009, HOUSTON, TX – Jenni Schaefer, popular best-selling author of “Life Without Ed” and “Goodbye Ed, Hello Me” will present a FREE teleconference on Wednesday, October 7^th, 2009, at 8pm central time. All are welcome to attend. RSVP’s are required.

This event is sponsored by Houston’s own MentorCONNECT, the first global eating disorders mentoring organization. Based in Houston since its inception in September 2007, MentorCONNECT now has a presence in 32 USA states and 10 countries, and has sponsored free events featuring such notable authors and speakers as Thom Rutledge, Dr. Carolyn Becker, Doris Smeltzer, and others.

Event Details:

To Register: Send an email with “RSVP for Jenni” to mc@key-to-life.com

RSVP Deadline: October 7^th at noon

For More Info: Contact MentorCONNECT Founder Shannon Cutts at 713-906-9888 or mc@key-to-life.com

View Event Flyer: You may also view the event flyer online here: http://www.key-to-life.com/storage/mentorconnect/MC.Jenni.9_09.pdf

More About MentorCONNECT:

MentorCONNECT is the first global online eating disorders mentoring community. Membership and all services are always free to members, and certain events are also opened up to the larger community. In addition to offering one-on-one mentoring matches, membership includes access to a password-protected, moderated, PRO-recovery community forum with two live weekly e-support groups and one Houston-based book study support group, periodic retreats and special events, a wide variety of online themed support groups, recovery blogs, personalized profile pages, the ability to upload photos/video/songs/artwork, and moderated chat/email services. To volunteer your services as a caring mentor, be matched with a mentor, or find general support, visit us at www.key-to-life.com/mentorconnect.

Nutrionist needed for Oliver-Pyatt Center of South Miami

OLIVER-PYATT CENTER OF SOUTH MIAMI, a comprehensive program for the treatment of eating disorders, seeks a full-time nutritionist as part of its multi-disciplinary treatment team. Our treatment setting is intimate, with a high staff to client ratio, and an emphasis on individual therapy and highly individualized treatment. Responsibilities include nutritional counseling, meal planning, and group therapy. Position will lead and direct nutrition team for all levels of care.

Applicants must be Registered Dieticians with a minimum of 5 years experience, and expertise in treating patients with anorexia, bulimia, exercise addiction and binge eating disorder.

Position is full time, with a competitive salary and benefits package. For more information on our programs, please visit www.oliverpyattcenters.com. To apply, please contact Lizette Nunez at 305-663-1738 or email lizette@oliverpyattcenters.com.

Invitation to join the Eating Disorder Hope Club

You are invited to join the Eating Disorder Hope Club!

We are thrilled to invite you, and excited to share with you all that our club has to offer. As a member of the Eating Disorder Hope Club, you will receive continual access to the very latest and best in supportive resources, served up with an ongoing abundance of hope for full recovery!

Check us out at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-hope-club

Relapse Prevention Week at Eating Disorder Hope

Many eating disorder sufferers experience relapse at some point in their recovery. It is not the end of the world, rather it is an opportunity to regroup and recommit to what works for you in your own personal recovery journey! Check out some of our great relapse resources at:

http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/relapse-and-eating-disorders

Also, please share any hope and inspiration you have here, on our blog, regarding regrouping after a relapse and regaining a path of recovery....

Relapse Prevention & Care

Always keep in mind that recovery is extremely difficult. Even the most committed person can experience periods of relapse. Don’t panic, and especially, don’t give up. There is no shame in simply being human.

Here’s another handy phrase: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In eating disorder recovery, relapse prevention is critical. This comes in many forms, such as identifying triggers. A trigger is something in the environment, an individual, a thought, or a situation that prompts a person to return to an eating disorder behavior. By preparing a response in advance, the recovering person will know what to do when faced with a dangerous trigger.

Read more about Relapse under our Recovery Tools section at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/relapse-and-eating-disorders

Infertility and eating disorders - often not discussed

Have you struggled with infertility as a result of your eating disorder? How has this impacted your life?

Please read ourinformative article about infertility on our Health Page and share your comments here.

Health Issues Related to Eating Disorders

Check out our informative new
Health Resource Page

Excellent articles regarding: Medical Complications of Eating Disorders, Infertility, and Heredity. Must reads for those who wish to be informed on the health concerns related to eating disorders.

Jenni Schaefer releases new book! Goodbye Ed, Hello Me

Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life

(McGraw-Hill) by Jenni Schaefer

Don’t Battle an Eating Disorder Forever— Recover from It Completely

Jenni Schaefer and Ed (eating disorder) are no longer on speaking terms, not even in her most difficult moments. In her bestseller, Life Without Ed, Jenni learned to treat her eating disorder as a relationship, not a condition — enabling her to break up with Ed.

In Goodbye Ed, Hello Me Jenni shows you that being fully recovered is not just about breaking free from destructive behaviors with food and having a healthy relationship with your body; it also means finding joy and peace in your life.

Combining Jenni’s signature personal advice and unfailing encouragement along with valuable exercises you can do as you read, Goodbye Ed, Hello Me will give you the prescriptive tools to take the final steps in divorcing your Ed completely.

Lynn Grefe, CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, says, “Jenni may someday be named the trend-setter for the miraculous word "recovered.’”

Available for purchase at Amazon or Gurze.

Nutrition and Eating Disorders

We have an exciting new page in the Recovery Tools section of our website. It is the Nutrition Page. It offers articles, resources and eating disorder recovery inspiration! Check it out at:
http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/nutrition-and-eating-disorders

Eating Disorder Hope is in the News!

Eating Disorder Hope (www.eatingdisorderhope.com), A New One-Stop Resource for Everything About Eating Disorders, Seeks to End Eating Disordered Behavior

Fort Worth, Texas (August 25, 2009) – Millions of Americans suffer from eating disorders and many don’t know where to turn to for help.

Jacquelyn Ekern, a licensed counselor and founder of Eating Disorder Hope, launched the site, www.eatingdisorderhope.com, to provide a comprehensive resource for support, referrals and education about eating disorders.

“My past battle with and recovery from an eating disorder fueled my passion to help others,” said Ekern. “My goal is to become a global resource for help and healing in eating disorder treatment. My advice for individuals with eating disorders is to get help because these disorders rarely resolve themselves. Finding professionals specialized in the field is key to successful recovery.” Eating Disorder Hope offers information and resources to those suffering from eating disorders, their treatment providers and loved ones by providing articles, book suggestions, a virtual library, inspirational recovery stories, relapse prevention and recovery tools.

“I wish Eating Disorder Hope existed when I was struggling with an eating disorder,” said Jenni Schaefer, author of Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too. “I felt lost and like no one understood what I was going through. With just one click, Eating Disorder Hope gives people touched by eating disorders much needed support – letting them know that they’re not alone, that there is hope, and most of all that people can and do fully recover.”

The work of www.eatingdisorderhope.com is possible due to the support of sponsors including platinum sponsoring partner: Rader Programs; platinum sponsors, Remuda Ranch and Rogers Memorial; and silver sponsor, Linden Oaks at Edward.

“Eating Disorder Hope is a one-stop source for the best information about eating disorders on the Internet,” said Sari Shepphird, psychologist, eating disorder specialist and author of 100 Questions and Answers About Anorexia Nervosa. “It is one of the most trustworthy and informative Web sites available today.”

About Eating Disorder Hope Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC is the founder of Eating Disorder Hope, a one-stop resource for support, referrals and education about eating disorders. The site promotes ending eating disordered behavior, embracing life and pursuing recovery. Eating Disorder Hope fosters appreciation of one’s uniqueness and value in the world, unrelated to appearance, achievement or applause.

For more information, visit www.eatingdisorderhope.com, http://twitter.com/edhope, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eating-Disorder-Hope/83317933683?ref=s.

Exciting Grant Opportunity for Researchers in Field of Eating Disorders

Klarman Family Foundation Grants Program in Eating Disorders Research

The Klarman Family Foundation is interested in providing strategic investment in translational research that will accelerate progress in developing effective treatments for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The Program's short-term goal is to support the most outstanding science and expand the pool of scientists whose research explores the basic biology of eating disorders. The long-term goal is to improve the lives of patients suffering from these conditions.

Examples of funding areas include but are not limited to molecular genetic analysis of relevant neural circuit assembly and function; animal models created by genetically altering neural circuits; testing of new chemical entities that might be used in animal models as exploratory treatments; and brain imaging approaches that identify neurochemical pathways in patients with these disorders. Investigators conducting research in the neuro-circuitry of fear conditioning or reward behavior may also apply but must justify the relevance of their research projects to the basic biology of eating disorders. Clinical psychotherapeutic studies, medication trials and research in the medical complications of these disorders are outside the scope of this Program.

Two-year awards of $400,000 USD ($200,000 per year inclusive of 10% indirect costs) and one-year pilot studies of up to $150,000 USD (inclusive of 10% indirect costs) are made to investigators with a faculty appointment at a nonprofit academic, medical or research institution in the United States, Canada or Israel.

Learn More

Nurses working with highly specialized patient populations

Interesting article recently published in Advance for Nurses about eating disorders treatment. Please share this with nurses who work with eating disorders:

http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Article/Altered-Images.aspx

Body Image Week

Body Image Week at Eating Disorder Hope! Does your body function well for you? Can you dance, run, jump, swim, climb and roll down a grassy hill like a kid? Maybe appreciating the "functionality" of our bodies is a good place to start when working on improving body image.... Check us out!

Turn Beauty Inside Out!

Is beauty an exclusively external thing? Or is it deeper than that? Great article on Turning Beauty Inside Out by Stephanie Brooks, MS, RD on the Eating Disorder Hope Body Image Page!


Check it out!

Eating Disorder Hope now offers twice as many resources as before!

Eating Disorder Hope just launched extensive new

recovery resource pages about: relapse, nutrition,

relationships, body image, compulsive spending,

feelings, mindset, speakers bureau, insurance,

paying for treatment and more!

Check it all out at Eating Disorder Hope

How is your body image?

What is my genetic predisposition for my body?

What does obsessing about my body/weight distract me from?

Does my weight define my worth? Why or Why Not?

Is my perception of beauty distorted from years of media exposure?

Am I living a life congruent with my values and integrity?

If I had to gain a little weight, but could be free of the eating disorder,
would it be worth it to me?

THE EDC ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL LOBBY WEEKS, AUGUST 10 - 28

(FORWARDED ON BEHALF OF THE EATING DISORDER COALITION)

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN THE HEALTH CARE DEBATE!

ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM AND EATING DISORDERS WITHOUT COMING TO DC

THE EDC ANNOUNCES VIRTUAL LOBBY WEEKS, AUGUST 10 - 28

Meet with Your Legislators during the August Recess!

The Eating Disorders Coalition is hosting our very first EDC Virtual Lobby weeks from August 10-28, 2009, coinciding with the recess on Capitol Hill. This is the perfect time to meet with your representatives while they are in their hometowns and make your voice heard!

Click here to download all the materials you'll need and learn more about how you can make a difference this August.

We look forward to your participation!

Eating Disorders Coalition