Author: frivvy89

The Greater Los Angeles VA held its inaugural Food Security Resource Fair Sept. 10, aiming to connect Veterans with vital resources to combat food insecurity in the Greater Los Angeles area. The event took place at West Los Angeles VA, where VA and community partners gathered to address this pressing issue. Los Angeles ranks as the second most expensive city in the U.S for 2024, according to U.S. News and World Report. The high cost of living presents a significant challenge for Veterans to access nutritious food for themselves and their families. VA statistics indicate that Los Angeles is home…

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Australia’s eating disorder peak body and leading experts say a social media ban for under 16s is not enough to curb the scale of harm being done to young people on platforms, with one describing it as a “knee-jerk” policy response.They are instead calling on the government to make changes to the legislation governing platforms and forcing providers to be more transparent about algorithms, including allowing people to reset them, and for the removal of harmful content.The New South Wales premier Chris Minns has already come out in favour of a social media ban for under 16s, saying at the…

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More than 1.1 million Australians are estimated to be living with an eating disorder. Around one-third of these people are neurodivergent.So why are neurodivergent people, such as autistic people and those with ADHD, more likely to experience eating disorders than the broader population? And how does this impact their treatment?First, what is neurodivergence?Neurodivergence, or the state of being neurodivergent, is a term for people whose cognitive functioning differs from what society considers “typical”. Many conditions broadly fall under neurodivergence, including (but not limited to): autism attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) dyslexia Tourette’s syndrome. Our understanding of neurodivergence has come a long way. Neurodivergence used to be considered a linear “spectrum” ranging…

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One-third of food and beverage spending is focused on health-driven decisions, according to new research from Circana. According to the recent webinar from Circana, “A Pulse on Consumer Well-Being: U.S. Food & Beverage”, “health-focused consumers account for $638 billion in total food and beverage spending, split between $363 billion in retail and $275 billion in foodservice. This wellness-focused spending reflects a significant shift toward prioritizing physical, mental and social well-being in food and beverage purchases.” “Consumers are looking for wellness across every aspect of their lives, and food and beverages are playing a critical role in this transformation,” said Sally…

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Picture credit: Pixabay Running plays an important role in the life of Demi Op Heij (27). For years, the Eindhoven native was unhappy with herself and neglected her body, but then decided to put on her running shoes. Within eleven months, she changed from stuffing herself to running the Eindhoven Marathon this upcoming Sunday.  Struggles to Strength For eight years, she battled an eating disorder. “I engaged in extreme binge eating to suppress my emotions. Additionally, I had the bad habit of smoking and vaping. I thought I had to accept my emotions and binge eating since they had been…

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When I reflect on my recovery journey with my eating disorder, I’m reminded of the many ups and downs that have brought me to where I am today—a place of healing, self-discovery, and hope. Opening up about my experience feels both daunting and deeply important; I want to share my story in the hope that it resonates with anyone out there who might be struggling.  My battle with eating disorders and body dysmorphia began at age 12 when puberty brought weight gain, and with it, a whirlwind of emotions, and I was placed into Weight Watchers at the recommendation of a…

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Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV) congratulates the Victorian Government on the Eating Disorders Strategy 2024-31, particularly its focus on lived experience leadership and accessibility. The Strategy will work with various organisations including EDV to support Victorians impacted by all eating disorders. This includes access to peer-led, early intervention support. Peer support is a highly effective treatment option that complements clinical care.1 EDV CEO Belinda Caldwell says “eating disorders are harrowing mental illnesses that need a person-centred approach. The emphasis on lived experience leadership and peer support means the Victorian Eating Disorder Strategy will stay focused on the people it’s for.” “EDV…

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Fresh bread can be defined as an ‘ultra processed’ food. Photo / Getty ImagesQuestion: A recent article suggested some ultra-processed foods might not be as harmful as we’ve been led to believe. Are there any ultra-processed foods that can be considered “good”, or should we still avoid them altogether? Answer: Food processing isn’t as simple as “good” or “bad”. It’s a spectrum, from unprocessed and minimally processed foods at one end to ultra-processed foods at the other. In the past few years, many studies have linked ultra-processed foods to health risks, including a new Harvard study that linked two food…

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Family caregivers often are desperately searching for support when a loved one’s eating disorder and co-occurring diagnoses bring; sadness, crises, disappointment and a litany of other painful emotions to the family. Our natural inclination is to try and fix things, stop the behaviors and do something to stop this.The solution of radically accepting whatever YUCK is coming their way isn’t usually received well at first. Often we interpret radical acceptance as condoning and/or approving of, the dangerous behaviors. It is not.Today I’m sharing information from two leading experts on this topic. First I’ll introduce you to the work of Marsha…

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The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victorians with an eating disorder get the care and support they need to live a full and healthy life.Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt today launched the Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy 2024-2031 – developed to help address the rise of eating disorders across the state.This Strategy is more important than ever – eating disorders have been on the rise for more than a decade, with the global pandemic and social media both contributing to a significant rise in new eating disorders and relapses.Shaped by those with lived experience and…

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