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/