Eating Disorders on the Rise in Children

Report: Pediatricians Need to Watch for Signs of Anorexia, Bulimia in Girls and Boys

By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Nov. 29, 2010 -- Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are on the rise in children and adolescents, and doctors should be on the lookout for signs in their young patients, a new report says.

It’s estimated that 0.5% of adolescent girls in the United States have anorexia nervosa and that 1% to 2% have bulimia, also called bulimia nervosa, says a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Eating disorders are also increasing rapidly in young males, the report says. Young males now represent up to 10% of all cases of eating disorders.

Eating Disorders Rising Fast in Children

An analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that hospitalizations for eating disorders in children under 12 increased by 119% between 1999 and 2006, the report says.

The report recommends that pediatricians recognize signs of eating disorders, screen patients for disordered eating behaviors, and be prepared to intervene when necessary. The clinical report is published in the Nov. 29 issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Epidemiology of Eating Disorders Is Changing

“The epidemiology of eating disorders has gradually changed,” write the authors, led by David S. Rosen, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan Health System.

“There is an increasing prevalence of eating disorders in males and minority populations in the United States, as well as in countries in which eating disorders had not been commonly seen.”

The authors point out that athletes and performers who participate in activities that reward a lean body are subject to increased risk of eating disorders.

The authors write that children who diet are at higher risk of developing eating disorders. The report says pediatricians should closely monitor the height and weight of patients as well as other signs and symptoms of eating disorders, which include pallor, hair loss, dry skin and fatigue, and dehydration.

Patients under 13 with eating disorders are more likely to have other medical or psychological conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety problems, the authors say.

Guidelines for Doctors With Young Patients

The researchers also say that blood tests can reveal worrisome signs involving glucose, calcium, and magnesium levels and liver enzymes that can alert doctors to potential problems.

Other studies such as bone density testing may reveal low bone mineral density, which is a frequent complication of eating disorders, the authors write.

The authors offer guidance for pediatricians, saying doctors:

• Need to be knowledgeable about risk factors and early signs and symptoms of eating disorders
• Should focus on healthy eating when talking to patients and their parents
• Should be careful not to accidentally send messages that could lead to excessive dieting or compulsive exercising
• Should carefully plot weight and height of patients and assess menstrual status in girls during visits
• Should be aware of treatment resources in the area that they could recommend to children or parents
• Should push for legislation and policy changes that ensure appropriate services for children with eating disorders, including mental health treatment and nutritional intervention programs
  
  Source: WebMD @ http://children.webmd.com/news/20101128/eating-disorders-on-the-rise-in-children
  
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  Find additional resources regarding children and eating disorders
  

Because Eating Disorders Don't Take a Holiday

Surviving a food-centric season isn't easy for those who struggle with anorexia, bulimia or compulsive eating

Professional experience reminds us that the holidays can be a highly stressful time of year for those with eating disorders. So many gatherings of family or friends are focused on "breaking bread" (or eating pie)—and then, people arrive with "gifts" of even more food. It can feel totally overwhelming. This emphasis on food can impair recovery or even trigger a relapse among the many patients we see, but awareness, compassion and sensitivity are key to helping those with food challenges navigate their struggle. After all, eating disorders don't take a holiday.

For some individuals wrestling with an eating disorder, Thanksgiving and Christmas and other food-oriented holidays are known entities—and familiarity with a holiday meal can be an asset. Fear of being out of control subsides as those who suffer know who will host the meal, who will be attending, which foods will be served and who will prepare them. And for the most part, they also know in advance what will be their greatest challenges.

"Because holidays create their own unique reasons for anxiety, knowing what to expect brings some comfort. It's important for those in recovery to do what is needed to lift their pressures—and not be coaxed into eating more than they can handle," says Dr. Kim Dennis, Medical Director at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center.

For others, the holidays mean encountering entirely new eating situations, where they not only are uncertain about who is preparing the food, but also unclear about what exactly is on the menu. Maybe an individual is spending her first Christmas with different relatives or celebrating the holiday at a restaurant. Gathering information and planning ahead are the keys to success in this situation.

"As part of our work with residents and their families, we recommend identifying the time, location, hosts and guests who will be at the holiday meal. If it is appropriate, the individual can call the host or restaurant and determine what's on the menu," says Dr. Dennis. "And, of course, it's important for an individual to stay in touch with her support environment."

Whatever the fear, it is most important to plan to the type of eating disorder. The strategies developed during counseling sessions vary, depending on the pattern of the eating disorder. For a client with bulimia, who has a history of bingeing on holiday meals and does not want to fall into old habits, counseling could focus on factors that contribute to her binge-eating. She may repeat a positive affirmation to herself throughout the day and enlist a support person to help keep her on track at the meal.

"It's also important to communicate to family members on how to have open and honest communications with their loved one—to be able to address what they are seeing and state how they are feeling—in a loving and supportive manner. That's not always easy to do," says Dr. Dennis. If a family member, who has a loved one in recovery from bulimia or binge eating, wakes up to discover two leftover pumpkin pies are gone, it is important to address it. "Not saying anything is one of the worst things to do. The 'don't talk rule' is a big part of the disease and family members should know they can help their loved ones recover with open, honest and loving dialog."

Some people with eating disorders dread holiday meals so much that they will make excuses to get out of joining festivities or going home at all. The season's spotlight on food means that people with diagnosed disorders feel their eating habits will be watched closely, and people who are trying to hide disorders will be especially worried about being caught. However, with advance planning and family support, strategies can be developed to make holiday meals bearable and even enjoyable. Dr. Dennis says, "All of this needs to be done with kindness and love, which, after all, should be what we celebrate at this time of year."

Excerpt from Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover For Good by Johanna S Kandel - and free book drawing!

Declare an Eating-Disorder-Free-Zone

When you’re in the process of recovering, it’s vitally important that your entire life does not revolve only around your recovery. If it did, you would simply be recreating what it was like when your life revolved around your eating disorder. You are more than your eating disorder and more than your recovery.

Go out with friends who are not intimately involved with your recovery. Go to a movie or the mall. Make plans to go to the zoo, a butterfly garden, an arts and crafts class, or even a theater play. Talk about anything except your recovery and your eating disorder. If you live with your parents, a roommate, or a spouse/significant other, make sure to schedule some time “out” that has nothing to do with your treatment or recovery process. Doing this will reinforce your understanding that you are not your eating disorder. And it is also a wonderful way to discover what it is you like and what you have to share with those around you. It is only then that your true identity is able to emerge.

It’s also equally important for your family members to have a life that does not revolve entirely around your recovery. They need their own space in order to maintain their mental and emotional health so that they can be present for you when you need them.

© Life Beyond Your Eating Disorders, Johanna S. Kandel, Harlequin September 2010

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Free Book Drawing for Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder

ENTER DRAWING
Please complete the contact form enter Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder in message, and you will automatically be entered into our December 1, 2010 drawing!

Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good

@ Johanna S. Kandel

There is life beyond your eating disorder—and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Johanna S. Kandel, founder and executive director of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, struggled with her eating disorder for ten years before finally getting help. Now fully recovered, Kandel knows firsthand how difficult the healing process can be. Through her work with The Alliance—leading support groups, speaking nationwide and collaborating with professionals in the field—she's developed a set of practical tools to address the everyday challenges of recovery.
Complete with inspiring true stories from others who have won their personal battles with eating disorders, this book provides the help you need to break free from your eating disorder and discover how wonderful life really can be.

Purchase here: Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good

Jenni Schaefer Offers Holiday Gift Ideas in Support of Eating Disorder Recovery

Greetings from Jenni Schaefer!

This holiday season, I'm excited to share my NEW online store for
unique "Recovered.™" merchandise. I created this line to help others celebrate recovery from eating disorders. The new "Recovered.™" line includes T-shirts, a baseball cap, tote, journal, and more ...

Goodbye Ed, Hello Me™
- Pink Tumbler

Recovered.™
Baseball Cap

Also available for holiday gift giving and recovery milestones are

my sterling silver Life Without Ed® and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me® charms,necklaces, bracelets, and key chains.

(Purchase a piece of recovery jewelry this week, and
you'll automatically be entered to win a free Goodbye Ed, Hello Me®/Recovered.™ journal!)

Happy shopping and I wish you a joyful and healthy holiday season!

Jenni Schaefer

P.S. - For a healthy holiday boost, take a peek at my new blog post, Put the Fa La La Back Into the Season.

Eating Disorder Hope and MyPyramid Form Partnership

FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Eating Disorder Hope, a respected independent resource for sufferers of anorexia, bulimia and overeating disorders, has partnered with MyPyramid to help eating disorder sufferers find nutritional and healthy lifestyle support.

"The purpose of 'Partnering with MyPyramid' is to equip consumers with the information that they need to make smart decisions about eating more healthfully and being more physically active," said Dr. Rajen Anand, Executive Director of the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and sponsor of Partnering with MyPyramid. "Eating Disorder Hope is proud to play a role in bringing that vision to reality," said Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC, founder of Eating Disorder Hope.

Eating Disorder Hope is dedicated to raising awareness of body image and eating disorders, and to improving access to treatment. EatingDisorderHope.com offers comprehensive information utilized both by individuals and healthcare professionals. Resources include an eating disorders treatment directory, tools for relapse prevention, eating disorder recovery tools, and libraries of articles, books, and recovery stories.

"Eating Disorder Hope encourages a focus on health and vitality as the preferred measure of good health, rather than an obsession with weight, which can trigger disordered behaviors," notes Ms. Ekern. "This partnership will help guide our visitors toward a healthier relationship with food and exercise."

The work of http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com is supported by sponsorship from Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, Remuda Ranch, and Rogers Memorial.

About Eating Disorder Hope

Eating Disorder Hope was founded by Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC, to provide eating disorder education, support and eating disorder treatment referrals. EatingDisorderHope.com 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.

Contact:
Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC Eating Disorder Hope 5112 Golden Lane Fort Worth, TX 76123 817.602.8727 jacquelyn@eatingdisorderhope.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Eating Disorder Hope

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Happy Holidays? Healthy Relationships During the Most Stressful Times...

details: Mark Bird, PhD. will present regarding: Improving relationships even during stressful times. Shannon Purtell, LPC, CART will present regarding: The 5 Antidotes to Anger.

when: Friday, Dec. 3rd 9am to 12noon

where: The Colonnade Office Building, 15305 North Dallas Parkway#300, Addison, TX 75001
cost: $35 (pay at the door)

hosted by: The Calm Program
breakfast sponsored by: The Ranch at Dove Tree

3 ceu's, breakfast and door prizes

space is limited, call today to reserve your spot: 972-387-7480

email contact: shannonpurtell@calmprogram.com or jsimpson@ranchatdovetree.com

Even Preschool Girls Favor Being Thin, Study Finds

By Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Managing Editor

posted: 17 November 2010 12:08 am ET

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Girls as young as 3 are already emotionally invested in being thin, to the point where some even will avoid touching game pieces that depict a fat individual, a small study on preschoolers suggests.

The finding is troubling, since the pressure to be thin has been linked with a higher risk of eating disorders and depression, according to lead researcher Jennifer Harriger of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

And a negative view of fat people is no better. "Weight-related teasing has also been linked to a variety of negative outcomes," Harriger said. "Given that our society is currently dealing with an obesity epidemic, this is especially concerning."

While the study involved a group of 55 girls from the southwestern United States, Harriger said preliminary results from a replication of the study in Southern California suggest those girls also want to be thin. She added that studies in other U.S. regions are warranted: "It is impossible to generalize the findings from one study to the remainder of the U.S. population."

The longing to be thin is possibly being paired with strict eating or other behaviors to reach such a goal. "I think that the current research at least suggests that very young girls understand that society values thinness quite highly," said Jill Holm-Denoma, a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Denver. Holm-Denoma, who was not involved in the study, added that research has shown some girls are dieting by age 6 to control their weight.

As such, Holm-Denoma is not surprised by the new findings. "My guess is that preschool girls are pretty susceptible to internalizing the thin ideal and perhaps doing things to stay thin," she told LiveScience.

Thin is in

Harriger and her colleagues looked at thin-ideal internalization, which refers to the extent to which individuals embrace the cultural ideal of a slender body as their own personal standard. Past research suggested young kids are aware of anti-fat beliefs, but whether these children had really internalized the beliefs wasn't known.

And since 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds aren't able to verbalize complex thoughts and feelings, Harriger had to get creative.

To figure out whether the girls had more flattering thoughts about thin types than about fat types, the researchers had the preschoolers (3 to 5 years old) look at three figures identical in every way except for their body size – thin, average and fat. The children had to associate each of 12 adjectives (six positive and six negative adjectives) with a figure.

Here's how the researcher guided the girls: "Point to the girl that you think is/has ____." The positive descriptors included: nice, smart, friends, neat, cute and quiet. The negative descriptors were: mean, stupid, no friends, sloppy, ugly and loud.

An average of 3.1 negative words and 1.2 positive words were used to describe fat figures, compared with an average of 1.2 negative and 2.7 positive adjectives for thin figures.

Then the girls were presented with nine figures, three of each body type, and they had to circle the three they'd most like to play with and one they would want as a best friend. The preschoolers were significantly more likely to choose the thin figure over the other two for a best friend. Similar results showed up for their circle of friends to play with.

Fat game pieces

Finally, the participants played either Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land, two popular board games for this age group. Players got to choose from three different game pieces that had been specially designed for this task by varying only in body type: one was thin, one was average, and one was fat.

To measure kids' emotional investment in a body-size type, after each child chose a game piece, the researcher said, "Wait, I wanted to be that one! How about you be this one?" (If the child had selected a game piece with a thin or average body, the researcher asked to switch it with the fat one; if the child had chosen a fat game piece, the researcher asked to switch it with an average body.)

The girls' responses were coded as: willing to switch (the child immediately said "yes" and expressed no discomfort or unhappiness); reluctant to switch (the child hesitated for more than 5 seconds, refused to make eye contact with the researcher, or looked at parent for guidance); not willing to switch (the child said "no" or shook her head no).

Harriger got some strong responses.

"Interestingly, several participants were reluctant to even touch the fat game piece," Harriger told LiveScience. "For example, one child selected the thin piece as the girl she wanted to 'be' to play the game. When I presented her with the fat piece and asked her if she was willing to switch, she crinkled her nose and she reached around my hand, avoiding touching the fat piece altogether, picked up the average-size piece and said, 'No, I won't switch with you, but I will be this one instead.'"

Other participants made comments such as, "I hate her, she has a fat stomach," or "She is fat. I don't want to be that one."

These results, detailed online Oct. 15 in the journal Sex Roles, suggested the participants had internalized the thin ideal.

Thin trends

Since it's tricky to study body issues in an age group so young, numbers and trends are hard to come by.

In her opinion, Harriger thinks "it is likely that body-size issues have increased in this population [over the past decade], because research suggests that they've increased in older children, adolescents and adults." She added, "Our society is obsessed with thinness and beauty."

Media could be partly to blame.

"Children, even preschool children, are exposed to countless commercials and messages regarding weight loss, dieting products and beauty products. These messages, coupled with the anti-obesity campaign, promote the message that fat is bad," Harriger said. Other factors as well may contribute to body-size issues, she said.

Holm-Denoma also pointed to the media's influence. "It has been shown that consuming large amounts of mainstream media that showcases thin women ... leads to the development of body dissatisfaction and internalization of the thin ideal.

"It seems reasonable to predict that young girls who are exposed to thin women in media sources may also develop body dissatisfaction and the desire to be thin," Holm-Denoma said.

Here's to a healthy body

To keep kids healthy on the inside and out, here are some tips for parents and teachers from researchers:

Focus on health, not weight.

Eat together as a family. (Research indicates that children who eat dinner with their families are less likely to suffer from eating issues.)

Refrain from making comments about your own or others' weight or body shape. For instance, no talk of "My thighs look so fat" or "I shouldn't eat that cookie, because it has too many calories" when around kids.

Compliment children on things they do, or their personality characteristics, rather than on what they look like.

Limit children's exposure to mainstream media sources that emphasize thin models or put a high value on physical beauty, Holm-Denoma said.

Model healthy eating habits and exercising for your children.

At the end of the day, parents and teachers should make the home/school environment a "fat talk free zone," Harriger said.

Source: Live Science @ http://www.livescience.com/culture/preschool-girls-thin-ideal-eating-disorders-101116.html

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What do you think about Preschool girls preferring thin bodies? Let you voice be heard, here, on the Eating Disorder Hope Blog! We value your insight...

Eating Disorder Hope Featured in Fort Worth Business Press

11/12/2010 6:24:00 PM Cyber fight Counselor uses website to battle eating disorders

Jacquelyn Ekern, a licensed professional counselor, founded the website Eating Disorder Hope in 2005 when she was working on a master’s in counseling/psychology and creating an eating disorder support group as part of her supervised internship. Elizabeth Bassett Reporter The winter holidays often are a tough time of year for those who are watching their calories, but for some, dealing with food is never easy no matter what the time of year. Eating disorders, which can be found in an estimated 10 million people, according to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), are a group of medical conditions that can be costly not only for an individual’s health but also for the medical industry. Jacquelyn Ekern, a licensed professional counselor, founded the website Eating Disorder Hope in 2005 when she was working on a master’s in counseling/psychology and creating an eating disorder support group as part of her supervised internship. Ekern had gone through her own struggle with an eating disorder, and she wanted to provide information about the support group when she started a website that today has sections for those with disorders, families, individuals in other countries and for professionals. “It was very small when it started, and I had no idea it would take off like it has at that point, but there was such a need for information and resources online that it just became very apparent that this is something people need,” Ekern said. “… It was just the most Podunk site.” Initially, the site was just for her support group, and she contacted other specialists and researchers about posting their work. Then she found nonprofits dedicated to supporting those with eating disorders and linked to those. Now, Eating Disorder Hope gets more than 15,000 visitors each month and about 40,000 page hits a month. “And it keeps growing,” she said. Providing resources from reliable sources is key when the Internet provides an overload of information, much of which could be unreliable. Barbara Alderete, coordinator of the Texas Health Spring Center Southlake (and not affiliated with Eating Disorder Hope), said people often turn to online sources for research when they are starting to admit to themselves that they may have an eating disorder. Eating disorders don’t just include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, the two disorders that are the best-known. Binge eating disorder also is a problem, and being obese and overweight can be classified as such as well. A NEDA report states that anorexia nervosa is expensive to treat and yet insurance coverage for treatment is “exceedingly insufficient.” The average direct medical costs for treating anorexia nervosa is $6,054 per individual per year compared with $4,824 a year for schizophrenia. Additionally, 2005 National Institutes of Health research funding included only about $12 million dedicated to eating disorders compared with $350 million for schizophrenia, which affects an estimated 2.2 million Americans. The lack of information is why Ekern started Eating Disorder Hope, and she said influences like family dynamics, biology, trauma and emotional distress and other factors can spur a person to develop an eating disorder. The American obsession with thinness is often seen in the media, Alderete said, but television, the Internet and other media sources can have a positive influence as well, giving people information on how to seek help and change behaviors to become healthier. The negative influence of the media typically works with other factors to be a contributing factor to an eating disorder. “The impact is greatest on someone who is vulnerable who has these other predisposing factors that makes them vulnerable to an eating disorder,” she said. While reaching thousands of people through her website, Ekern also sees some patients, even though she’s not accepting new patients. Most of her time is spent on the website, but she said she’d like to be able to accept more patients in the future. In the meantime, there’s still work to be done on the site. She’s had support from three major sponsors that made the site possible, she said – Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment center in Illinois, is the partnering sponsor, and Remuda Ranch, with centers in Arizona and Virginia, and nonprofit psychiatric specialist Rogers Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin, are also sponsors. Eating Disorder Hope recently added the Eating Disorder Specialist Library to help individuals find treatment options, and Ekern said she wants to bolster the international component and possibly add some kind of comparison feature that would let prospective patients or family members evaluate treatment centers. The site has also partnered with MyPyramid.gov, through the Department of Agriculture, to provide information on healthy eating. By focusing on healthy behaviors, instead of demonizing bad behaviors that are part of an eating disorder, and by giving individuals options to seek help, Ekern is hoping to continue influencing those who are fighting with food but ready to change. “Nobody wants to be told what you’re doing is wrong. I don’t know that it would necessarily motivate change,” she said.

Excerpt from Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover For Good by Johanna S Kandel

Lighten Your Load

Imagine yourself standing at the base of a big, tall mountain and looking up. If someone told you to climb straight up to the top of that mountain without the aid of ropes, harnesses, grips, or proper climbing shoes, how would you feel? Overwhelmed? Wouldn’t you feel that you were being asked to do the impossible? If so, you’d be right. But if you were told you could get to the top by walking in a spiral around the mountain at a much less steep angle of ascent, that there would be maps, rest stops, guides, and water stations along the way, that you might slip backwards from time to time but there would always be someone to catch and support you, you’d probably feel a lot better about starting the climb. It might be a longer journey, but you’d know that the summit was ultimately within your reach and that you could get there.

As you begin your climb up Recovery Mountain, lightening your load will make it a lot easier. Those of us with eating disorders o share a tendency to take on too many burdens. It’s as if we were going through life carrying a backpack full of really heavy bricks, and, trust me, that makes it awfully difficult to keep on moving forward. (Some people in recovery have even said that it can feel as if they’re lugging an entire U-Haul truck behind them.) Some of the bricks—such as avoidance, fear of confrontation, self-loathing, people-pleasing, perfectionism, to name a few—are of our own making. But they weren’t not created in a day. Sometimes we buy into being what we think we are supposed to be (like a people pleaser). And sometimes, even though we may be aware that it’s not in our best interest, we volunteer to carry other people’s bricks without ever being asked. If someone else is having a bad day, do you tend to think it’s your fault? If there is strife in your family, do you believe it’s your job to keep the peace? Are you constantly trying to live up to someone else’s expectations?

As you travel the path to recovery, take some time to take an inventory of what you’re carrying in your backpack. Which of those bricks truly belong to you and which belong to someone else? Some of those we tend to take on for others are:

• Our parents’ relationship with each other
• Maintaining peace in our family
• Being responsible for other people’s actions, destructive behaviors, and feelings

When you’re ready, one by one, start to chip away at those bricks and return the ones that don’t belong to you to their rightful owners, or just throw them away. Give yourself permission to walk away from the unnecessary burdens you have now unloaded. They are no longer your burdens to carry. As you do this, your own load will become a lot lighter and you’ll make the ascent a lot easier, and you will also be making room to accept support and take on behaviors that empower and support your own health and wellness.

© Life Beyond Your Eating Disorders, Johanna S. Kandel, Harlequin September 2010

Free Book Drawing for Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder

ENTER DRAWING
Please complete the contact form enter Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder in message, and you will automatically be entered into our December 1, 2010 drawing!

Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good

@ Johanna S. Kandel

There is life beyond your eating disorder—and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Johanna S. Kandel, founder and executive director of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, struggled with her eating disorder for ten years before finally getting help. Now fully recovered, Kandel knows firsthand how difficult the healing process can be. Through her work with The Alliance—leading support groups, speaking nationwide and collaborating with professionals in the field—she's developed a set of practical tools to address the everyday challenges of recovery.
Complete with inspiring true stories from others who have won their personal battles with eating disorders, this book provides the help you need to break free from your eating disorder and discover how wonderful life really can be.

Purchase here: Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good

November 15, 2010 Edition of Eating Disorder Hope Newsletter

~Contents~

News, Events, Articles, Treatment Center Information, Research and Announcements.

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Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center provides eating disorder treatment for women on 43 beautiful acres just outside of Chicago. We offer a nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older struggling to overcome eating disorders, with or without other co-occurring disorders such as substance abuse/drug addiction, mood disorders or anxiety disorders. A leader in eating disorder treatment, Timberline Knolls provides real and lasting help for anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders. Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center has helped hundreds of women and their families achieve long-term recovery, including many who have suffered repeated relapses because of previously unidentified or under-addressed co-occurring disorders. Timberline Knolls recognizes that each woman has a unique story, and we are committed to helping her harness her own distinctive strengths. Our expert treatment staff forms a collaborative partnership with the resident, her loved ones and outpatient treatment providers. Together, we craft an individualized eating disorder treatment plan for each woman so she may develop the skills she will need to experience the joys of lifelong recovery. View Timberline Knolls in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-timberline-knolls-residential-treatment-center.html ***Generous Partnering Platinum Sponsor of Eating Disorder Hope ~ Making our Work Possible! Timberline Knolls

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Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating Disorder and Anxiety Disorders 1-800-445-1900 One East Apache Street, Wickenburg, AZ 85390 www.remudaranch.com Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders provides intensive treatment to women and girls. We treat anorexia, bulimia, anxiety, and related issues. Women and girls stay for 45-60 days, which is the minimum time required for true and lasting change to occur. Treatment takes place in peaceful ranch-like settings in Arizona and Virginia. Separate, age-appropriate programs ensure that patients are surrounded by their peers and receive treatment from professionals specializing in that specific age group. Patients receive an individualized treatment plan designed to meet their precise medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. Each woman and girl has a multi-disciplinary treatment team dedicated to helping her get well. This team includes a psychiatric specialist, a primary care physician, a registered dietitian, a licensed master's or doctoral-level therapist, a psychologist, and registered nurses. In addition to individual and group therapy, patients engage in innovative treatment strategies such as equine, art, body image and challenge course. Remuda Ranch also offers an Emotional Eating Program. This 30-day residential program is designed to help women and girls struggling with obesity, compulsive overeating and binge eating disorder. And for those whose eating disorder symptoms are less acute, the Remuda Life Program offers residential treatment. The time spent in this program, with individual and group therapy, often proves exactly what women and girls need to commit to recovery. Since 1990, more than 10,000 individuals have trusted their care to Remuda Ranch. For additional information about our programs, please call 1-800-445-1900 today. View Remuda Ranch in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-remuda-ranch ***Generous Platinum Sponsor of Eating Disorder Hope ~ Making our Work Possible! Remuda Ranch

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Eating Disorder Services of Rogers Memorial Hospital As the largest nonaffiliated, behavioral health provider in Wisconsin, Rogers Memorial Hospital offers specialized eating disorder treatment. Rogers Memorial provides 24-hour inpatient care, residential treatment and partial hospitalization for men, women, adolescents, and children. We also offer specialized care for co-occurring anxiety disorders and were the first organization to offer a male-specific residential program. Treatment is comprised of small, age-specific groups yielding the most individualized treatment possible. The treatment team uses a number of therapies that take place mostly in a group setting, where individuals get feedback not only from the therapist but from their peers as well. Rogers Memorial uses evidence-based treatment components including: Family therapy,Nutrition therapy, Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Pharmacotherapy, Art therapy, Movement and fitness therapy (yoga), Experiential therapy, Substance abuse counseling, Spiritual counseling, One-to-one support, Daily living responsibilities, Community outings and therapeutic passes and a Specialized family and friends program. Rogers Memorial Hospital has treated thousands of patients and families affected by eating disorders. The staff of over 70 professionals, approach each patient, family, and referring outpatient treatment team with dignity and respect, and invite them to be contributors to the treatment plan. Rogers Memorial is a specialty not-for-profit hospital that has contracts with most major insurance providers in order to provide the best treatment options to the most people. In January 2009, Rogers opened a specialized inpatient eating disorder program for children and adolescents, ages 8 and up. Call Rogers Memorial outreach staff today at 1-800-767-4411 ext. 1310. to learn more or to schedule a tour. View Rogers Memorial in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-rogers-memorial-hospital.html ***Generous Platinum Sponsor of Eating Disorder Hope ~ Making our Work Possible! Rogers Memorial Hospital

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Featured Article: Eating Disorder Recovery and Overcoming Negative Thoughts @ Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC Eating disorder treatment and recovery requires a paradigm shift in thinking. If one chooses recovery, then one must begin to examine their internal dialogue and irrational conclusions about themselves and life, in general. Anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and compulsive overeating are often signs of a troubled internal relationship with oneself. Understanding the importance of the messages we give ourselves leads many to desire a more positive internal dialogue. Resolution of uncomfortable feelings and regrettable behaviors directly improves the quality of your life. The theory of cognitive behavior therapy empowers you to use your God given logical thinking capacity to improve your life. Using cognitive behavior therapy can inspire hope, self-esteem and empowerment within you. Here is a summary of the common thinking errors identified by this theory, developed by Dr. Aaron Beck (he earned his Ph.D. in psychiatry from Yale University in 1946): Arbitrary Inference This means to jump to conclusions without a factual basis for your determination. It means to expect the worst, when that is generally not the way things turn out. Actually, things more often than not turn out somewhere in the middle of our highest and lowest expectations. Selective Abstraction Only focusing on one piece of information and not taking the whole story into account. This means to select only parts of the whole picture to focus on. When we actually process things logically, it makes sense to take in the whole picture and not just an isolated incident. Overgeneralization To apply a negative paradigm about ourselves or our lives to every aspect of our lives. For example, to say “I always lose” is an overgeneralization. No one always loses. Heck, out of millions of little sperm competing for an egg, you are the one that made it! So, this is one success that already contradicts the “I always lose” theory. I bet you can come up with more winning scenarios in your life that refute irrational generalizations like this. Magnification and Minimization To view a situation as all good or all bad. Rather than appreciating that both good and bad exist in most human experiences. For example, I may focus on the poor economy and feel depressed and anxious about finances. But, if I do not solely focus on the economy, but also appreciate my stable employment, savings account and retirement plans, then I may find I feel more peaceful and less panicked. Labeling and Mislabeling “I am a fat pig”. Ouch! Name calling is never okay and least of all toward oneself in our internal dialogue. No human being is a pig, and this is ridiculous label to call oneself when it is exposed to rational thinking. Another indication of this thinking error is when one allows past experiences to determine our self esteem today. People change, evolve and grow. A failure in one’s past does not mean that you cannot be successful now. It just means that you’re human, like the rest of us. Personalization This means to take things personally. Someone else in a bad mood does not mean it is your fault! Someone else letting you down does not mean you are bad. We must remain clear on what is about us and what is not. Quite often, others behaviors and attitudes is about them, and doesn’t even involve us. Polarized Thinking Seeing life and ourselves in black and white is a common thinking error. Not much is that simple! Try to recognize it when you are viewing a situation in extremes and choose to moderate your view. For example, not getting an A on a term paper is disappointing when you have worked hard and done your best. However, one grade and even one class does not determine your academic success overall. The wonderful thing about recognizing and correcting these irrational thinking errors is that it empowers the individual struggling with an eating disorder to begin taking care of themselves emotionally. They learn self soothing skills through thinking things through in a more balanced way, thus lessening their need to practice disordered eating to cope. (Copyright © 2010 Eating Disorder Hope. All Rights Reserved.) Find more resources for building a positive outlook that enhances recovery

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Free Book Drawing: : Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders, 3rd Edition Win One of 10 Free Books Offered in Drawing to occur December 15, 2010 drawing! Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders By Dr. Gregory L. Jantz with Ann McMurray @ www.aplaceofhope.com When I first wrote Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders, I did so out of a deep desire to help those suffering from anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating. These were people with faces I saw every day at my practice. Writing the book allowed me to support people all over the United States and around the world in their recovery. This latest revision to that first edition still speaks strongly to those suffering from recognized eating disorders but it also includes those with what I call disordered eating. It’s no longer a question of whether someone has an eating disorder diagnosis but whether or not food has found its proper place as nutrition in your life. Food is meant to be your ally, meant to strength and sustain you; it was never meant to be your enemy, your lover, your friend, or whatever you substitute it for. Though the title has changed slightly, it still begins with the word, Hope. This remains to be what so many people want and need in order to change, to grow, to overcome and recover. Purchase @ A Place of Hope Bookstore @ http://clixtrac.com/goto/?30290 Dr. Jantz has generously donated 10 books to be given away in this drawing! ***************************************************** Learn more about The Center: A Place of Hope in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-library.html Visit the website of The Center: A Place of Hope @ http://www.aplaceofhope.com/ View additional eating disorder recovery and related issues books by Dr. Greggory Jantz at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/resources-books.html Enter Free Book Drawing

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Eating Disorder Specialist Library ~ Features Newest Addition: Loma Linda University Behavioral Medical Center Nestled in the quiet town of Redlands, California, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center stands alone in its community as having the only Joint Commission accredited hospital-based outpatient eating disorder program. For almost ten years we have been providing treatment for adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia and bulimia and offer a safe and hopeful environment in which the individual can explore and examine the issues that contribute to their eating disorder. Our multidisciplinary team of experts helps individuals begin the healing process by addressing all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit using leading edge treatment. An individualized treatment plan is developed based on the needs and level of care unique to every patient that includes in part, dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills, nutrition education and monitoring, structured meals, spiritual care, as well as individual, group, and family therapy. Our Programs We offer both adult and an adolescent eating disorder treatment programs. Treatment usually begins with partial hospitalization, or ‘day treatment,’ which means that patients begin treatment at 7:45 am and are finished at 3:00 pm five days a week. The next level of treatment which is a step down from the partial level of care is IOP, or the intensive outpatient program, which begins from 10:00 am and ends at 2:00 pm, 3-5 days a week, depending on the treatment plan and the level of care the patient needs. With both of our programs, treatment usually begins at the partial level of care and then is decreased as people progress. Upon completion of the program, patients have access to continuing care services for up to one year where they can come anytime. *************************************************** Interested in featuring your treatment center in the popular Eating Disorder Specialist Library at www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-library.html? Contact: jacquelyn@eatingdisorderhope.com for more information Eating Disorder Center of Denver in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library Visit Loma Linda's Full Page Description in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library

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Oliver-Pyatt Treatment Centers 866-511-HEAL (4325) www.oliverpyattcenters.com The Oliver-Pyatt Centers’ programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, addressing the core issues driving the eating disorder while providing the tools needed to live a meaningful life, free from food and weight preoccupation. We believe that one-to-one therapy is the cornerstone of effective eating disorder treatment, and it is the primary reason to choose the Oliver-Pyatt Centers. Each client receives a minimum of six individual therapy sessions per week. Our comprehensive, naturalistic, and highly individualized approach to treatment is provided in an intimate environment with a high staff to client ratio. We have a maximum of ten clients in each of our programs. Our innovative protocols are grounded in a thorough understanding of eating disorders, incorporating state of the art approaches, outcome data, research, and current medical knowledge, all with the support of our compassionate multi-disciplinary treatment team. View Oliver-Pyatt Treatment Centers in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-oliver-pyatt.html Oliver-Pyatt Treatment Centers

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Help Produce an Online Film To Educate about Eating Disorders! For five years that the NORMAL In Schools national nonprofit has been delivering its live programming to educate children and families in at-risk, public AND private schools, in medical facilities and in theatre festivals worldwide about the facts relating to eating disorders and mental illness. Last year we were awarded the 2010 Champion in Women’s Health Award by The Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation. Most notably, our program assisted teenage patients into treatment for eating disorders and related illnesses due to the universal appeal of the gripping rock musical on which our program is based, and the shame-breaking talkback panel with expert clinicians and people in recovery. As a result of NIS’s ongoing success, in Fall 2010 we are partnering with NEDA, BEDA and top medical experts to produce a cutting-edge, online film version of our award-winning program. The NIS Online Educational Program will be comprised of three 40-minute segments compiled into an online portal so individuals can log in and experience the award-winning program instantly. It will target a worldwide audience via internet release and will expand the program’s reach beyond students and educators to touch patients in recovery, families, clinicians and athletic teams. Learn more

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EVENTS CALENDAR... November 16, 2010 NASW Book Chat Webinar at 1 pm (EST) Webinar event sponsored by NASW for CEU credits. about Doing What Works: an Integrative System for the Treatment of Eating Disorders from Diagnosis to Recovery.(NASW Press, 2009) The title of the Power Point Webinar is Discovering 'What Works' in Overcoming Eating Disorder Treatment Challenges. Facilitated by Abigail Natenshon, MA, LCSW, GCFP. www.empoweredparents.com/pages/free-webinars.htm to register November 19 – Timberline Knolls is a sponsor of The Elisa Project’s Annual Life Lessons Luncheon at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas. This year’s speaker is Kirsten Haglund, 2008 Miss America. Kirsten’s personal struggle with an eating disorder led her to establish the Kirsten Haglund Foundation, which provides hope, networking, and financial aid to those seeking treatment and recovery from eating disorders. For more information, contact Shannon DeVilbiss, 214.862.8040 or sdevilbiss@timberlineknolls.com. November 19 -- Timberline Knolls is a sponsor of the Florida Borderline Personality Disorder Association Conference on “Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Success Strategies for Patients.” TK will also be exhibiting at this event, which will begin at 8 a.m. at the St. Petersburg College’s EpiCenter in Clearwater, Florida. For more information, contact Rachael Soliman, 224.829.6949 or rsoliman@timberlineknolls.com. November 19, 2010 6th Annual Elisa Project Life Lessons Luncheon Hilton Anatole Hotel This remarkable event that increases awareness and raises much-needed funds for the Elisa Project's fight to eliminate eating disorders. Featuring Kristin Haglund, the former 2008 Miss America. contact: tep@TheElisaProject.org or visit: www.TheElisaProject.org December 3, 2010 The Renfrew Center Foundation Presents The 2010 Fall Seminar Series For Professionals (offering 6 CEUs). This fall, The Renfrew Center Foundation has planned an advanced, day-long training seminar addressing core issues in the treatment of eating disorders. Hungers of the Soul: Spirituality, Hope, and Forgiveness in the Treatment of Eating Disorders. Presented by Jennifer Nardozzi, PsyD, National Training Manager, The Renfrew Center Foundation. Dates and Locations: Omaha, Nebraska – October 22, and Albuquerque, New Mexico – December 3. For more information or to register, visit http://www.renfrew.org/news-events/events/fallroadshow2010.html or contact Debbie Lucker at dlucker@renfrew.org or 1-877-367-3383. January 28-29, 2011 Center for Change Eating Disorders Conference for Professionals: Putting the Pieces Together…An Integrated Approach registration and conference schedule February 23, 2011 NIS to Present at WSCA February 26, 2011 INSIDE OUT - by Normal In Schools. Celebrating Inner Beauty Through Theatre, Music and Art at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI. 6pm - 11pm. View entire calendar and further event details through June, 2011

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Puente de Vida - "Bridge of Life" A Place for Hope, Recovery and Healing from Eating Disorders P.O. Box 86020, San Diego, CA 858-581-1239 or 877-995-4337 www.puentedevida.com info@puentedevida.com Puente de Vida treats Anorexia and Bulimia; males and females, adolescents (ages 15 and up) and adults who live locally, nationally and internationally. Offering individual therapy, nutritional counseling, family therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, support groups, inpatient, residential treatment center. Puente de Vida is a place where therapeutic services are offered to those ages 15 years and older with eating disorders, including those with co-occurring substance use and other disorders. A private six bed, home-like facility, located in beautiful San Diego, provides an excellent setting for the sensitive, inner work that takes place. Puente de Vida's treatment philosophy addresses not just the symptoms but also the underlying issues beneath the surface of eating disorders. An individualized treatment approach includes traditional treatment interventions as well as experiential treatment by our multidisciplinary treatment team. Puente de Vida recognizes that every recovery journey is different and complex and assists the individual in finding their unique path and support in recovery. View Puente de Vida Programs in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library at: http://clixtrac.com/goto/?10330 Puente de Vida

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Research: Mental Health Professionals With a History of an Eating Disorder If you are a mental health professional who works in the eating disorders field in the United States and you have a personal history of an eating disorder, then please consider participating in a web-based survey being conducted by Jeanmarie Infranco, a doctoral student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete an online survey that will take approximately 15 minutes. This dissertation research has been approved by the Human Subjects Research Board at George Mason University. For more information and to access the survey, please visit the following yrk: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/edprofessionals. You also may contact the principal researcher, Jeanmarie Infranco, at EDprofessionals@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns. Eating Disorders and Intimate Relationships Study The purpose of the study is to learn more about the intimate relationships of adult women who have eating disorders. We are looking for women: * Over 18 years old * Living with or married to a significant other * Currently in eating disorder treatment for anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa * medically stable * No DSM Axis II diagnoses. Participants will be asked to fill out a confidential online survey asking them to recall information about their intimate relationships and eating disorder symptoms. They will have the option of entering a drawing for one of four $25 Visa gift cards. The survey url is: https://www.novisystems.com/NoviSurvey/n/3io.aspx. Please contact Lisa Zak-Hunter, MS from the University of Georgia, Marriage and Family Therapy Program at lzak@uga.edu or Lee Johnson, PhD Marriage and Family Therapy Program Director The University of Georgia for ljohnson@fcs.uga.edu more information. Are you the parent of a child who is currently receiving outpatient treatment for Anorexia Nervosa? If so, researchers would like to invite you to participate in an anonymous study that examines the experience of caring for a child with Anorexia Nervosa. They are interested in how a child's eating disorder affects the parents and family – including coping reactions and significant relationships. Few medical or psychological resources are available to support parents who may face their own challenges with respect to the diagnosis of and treatment for their child's Anorexia. They hope their research findings will contribute to enhanced understanding of how a child's illness affects the families so that more support services for parents can be developed and provided. If your child is between the ages of 9-22, is receiving outpatient treatment for Anorexia Nervosa, and is currently living with you at home, they invite you to participate in this important study. Participation will involve completing a series of questionnaires online that will take approximately 15-30 minutes. Your name and any identifying information will not be linked to your responses. Publications or presentations emanating from the research will not include individual responses, only group data will be presented. Please visit the following url: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VN5VTDF and enter the password: participate (in all lowercase letters). You will be directed to an informed consent letter followed by a series of brief questionnaires for you to complete. If you would like further information contact Lauren F. Stack at lfstack@gmail.com or Dr. Merle Keitel at mkeitel@fordham.edu for information. NOTE: This research study has received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval from Fordham University and researchers will adhere to the American Psychological Association's Code of Ethics. Primary investigators for this study are Merle A. Keitel, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling Psychology, Fordham University, and Lauren F. Stack, M.S., Doctoral Candidate in Counseling Psychology, Fordham University. Additional eating disorders research information

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Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center 1710 Barton Road Redlands, CA 92373 (800) 752-5999 or (909) 558-9275 www.llubmc.org Nestled in the quiet town of Redlands, California, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center stands alone in its community as having the only Joint Commission accredited hospital-based outpatient eating disorder program. For almost ten years we have been providing treatment for adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia and bulimia and offer a safe and hopeful environment in which the individual can explore and examine the issues that contribute to their eating disorder. Our multidisciplinary team of experts helps individuals begin the healing process by addressing all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit using leading edge treatment. An individualized treatment plan is developed based on the needs and level of care unique to every patient that includes in part, dialectical and cognitive behavioral therapy, coping skills, nutrition education and monitoring, structured meals, spiritual care, as well as individual, group, and family therapy. For more information about our programs and services, visit us at: www.llubmc.org. Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center

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The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc. 888-771-5166 547 Dayton Street Edmonds, WA 98020 For 22 years The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc. has been treating individuals with eating disorders. Our unique whole-person approach to counseling helps individuals to see permanent success over an eating disorder. Our emphasis is on Emotional Balance, Intellectual Discovery, Relational Healing, Physical Wellness, Nutritional Support, and Spiritual Renewal. We offer a World Renown Specialized Intensive Treatment Program that lasts 4-12 weeks with a Transitional Care Program available after your Intensive Treatment. Unlike many other treatment programs, most of your time is spent in personalized individual counseling instead of group sessions. The Center is known for being A Place of Hope. Go to our website and read the numerous testimonials of our clients. Located a few miles outside of Seattle, Edmonds is a beautiful beach town with majestic views. Rather you like the city life or the great outdoors there is plenty to enjoy during your time in the great Pacific Northwest. View The Center in the Eating Disorder Specialist Library @ http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/eating-disorder-specialist-a-place-of-hope.html The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc.

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Cedric Centre 307 - 1005 Broad Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 2A1. 250-383-0797 or Toll Free: 1-866-383-0797 ~or 2nd location~ 1449 West 38th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6M 1R4. 778-990-4606 www.cedriccentre.com The CEDRIC Centre’s sole purpose is to show you how to quickly and simply step free of the food and body image power struggle, forever. CEDRIC Clinical Counsellors all have longstanding recovery from eating disorders with specialized training in eating disorders, and related concerns such as alcohol and drug dependency, depression, anxiety and trauma. The CEDRIC Centre has many options for you to access their successful programs and resources, regardless of your location, budget and time constraints, including: * Individual Counselling worldwide (via telephone, internet, or in person at their Vancouver and Victoria BC facilities); * An innovative and comprehensive Web Based Counselling program, providing the perfect blend of individual and peer support, teleclasses and lessons to move you quickly past your food and body image preoccupation; * Individual Healing Retreats, created just for you; * 3 day Intensive Workshops; * CD’s, DVD’s, Workbooks; and * The book, Food is Not the Problem, Deal with What Is! An easy-to-read complete recovery guide for stepping free of restricting, binging and/or purging forever. Visit the Cedric Centre website

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The EATING DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM at SeaSide Palm Beach specializes in helping individuals who suffer from a dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders, which is when an individual suffers simultaneously from both a psychiatric disorder (like an eating disorder) as well as a substance abuse problem (like alcohol abuse or drug abuse). Most people are very surprised to learn that eating disorders have little to do with food. Especially when one considers that many people who suffer from eating disorders actually have an unhealthy obsession with food. In the majority of cases, eating disorders have more to do with a lack of emotional well-being resulting from their inability to identify and communicate their own needs and wants effectively to others. To find out more please call us 24/7 toll-free at (888) 432-2467 today for help! The EATING DISORDER TREATMENT PROGRAM at SeaSide Palm Beach

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Free Book Drawing: Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder: Reclaim Yourself, Regain Your Health, Recover for Good @ Johanna S. Kandel There is life beyond your eating disorder—and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it. Johanna S. Kandel, founder and executive director of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, struggled with her eating disorder for ten years before finally getting help. Now fully recovered, Kandel knows firsthand how difficult the healing process can be. Through her work with The Alliance—leading support groups, speaking nationwide and collaborating with professionals in the field—she's developed a set of practical tools to address the everyday challenges of recovery. Complete with inspiring true stories from others who have won their personal battles with eating disorders, this book provides the help you need to break free from your eating disorder and discover how wonderful life really can be. ENTER DRAWING Please complete the contact form enter Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder in message, and you will automatically be entered into our December 1, 2010 drawing!

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MentorCONNECT MentorCONNECT is the first global eating disorders mentoring community. In addition to mentor matching services, we offer free monthly teleconferences with nationally-known eating disorders experts, weekly live moderated support groups, personalized recovery blogs and member pages, a 100% pro-recovery online community, and more! Membership and all services are offered on a no-fee basis. MentorCONNECT is open to members ages 14 and up, female and male. Our services support individuals struggling with the full spectrum of eating disorder issues. MentorCONNECT is a pending 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. www.mentorconnect-ed.org Visit MentorCONNECT

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Eating Disorder Jobs EatingDisorderJobs.com – Looking for a job? We have everything dedicated to careers in the field of eating disorders. Find current job openings, career opportunities, continuing education, advice from the experts… everything eating disorders all in one site. For recent grads, seasoned professionals and students. Our mission: to connect job seekers with employers, to keep current professionals enthusiastic about the field and what it has to offer, and to guide students into careers where they can make a difference. Visit Eating Disorder Jobs website

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Thank you for being a friend of Eating Disorder Hope. We will continue to provide you with important information, resources and encouragement regarding eating disorder recovery in our newsletters.

Sincerely,

--Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC
Director @ Eating Disorder Hope

www.EatingDisorderHope.com