Author: frivvy89
“Less than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as ‘underweight’” – National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) Let’s reflect on this statistic. There is still a widespread FALSE belief that eating disorders are visible and that it looks like someone in an emaciated or very thin body. The statistic above tells us that more than 94% of people with an eating disorders are not medically “underweight.” This means eating disorders are not visible and cannot be determined simply by looking at someone. The belief that a body’s shape or size can help in determining…
Teens say social media is stressing them out. Here’s how to help them.About 95% of U.S. teens today use some type of social media, and about a third say they use it “almost constantly,” the Pew Research Center found in August. At the same time, teens and tweens are facing a mental health crisis. And research indicates that these two trends are intertwined: that social media can cause depression and lower life satisfaction.A study on youth insight about social media effects, published in September, reveals a striking awareness about the potential harms social media can have on teenagers’ mental health, but also their persistent attempts to…
A multicenter study indicates that an elevated proportion of children and adolescents around the world, particularly girls or those with high body mass index (BMI), experience disordered eating. The high figures are concerning from a public health perspective and highlight the need to implement strategies for preventing eating disorders. These disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and eating disorder–not otherwise specified. The prevalence of these disorders in young people has markedly increased globally over the past 50 years. Eating disorders are among the most life-threatening mental disorders; they were responsible for 318 deaths worldwide in 2019. Because…
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Demi Lovato is continuing to use their platform to shed light on their difficult journey with eating disorders, suicidal ideation and substance abuse. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “The very first time that I went to treatment was when I was 18,” Lovato told NBC News NOW’s Savannah Sellers in an interview on Thursday (May 18). “I went from my eating disorder, and I went for self-harm and emotional issues. And when I came out with that experience, I was faced with the decision…
Jerod Harris/Getty Images May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Demi Lovato is continuing to use their platform to shed light on their difficult journey with eating disorders, suicidal ideation and substance abuse. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news “The very first time that I went to treatment was when I was 18,” Lovato told NBC News NOW’s Savannah Sellers in an interview on Thursday (May 18). “I went from my eating disorder, and I went for self-harm and emotional issues. And when I came out with that experience, I was faced…
Does your child get anxious when they eat? Here are some things your child might do when they feel anxious about eating: Avoid eating with other people Get angry and/or cry during meals Try to negotiate ways to avoid eating Refuse to eat no matter what you say or do Say they feel nauseated at mealtimes Feeling anxiety is mentally terrifying and physically awful. And you know what people want to do when they feel anxious? They want to avoid doing the thing that makes them anxious. It makes perfect sense that kids who feel anxious about eating want to…
“Food gives me ‘hugs,'” Ms S* said as her eyes lit up. Finally, after weeks of working together, she could articulate her complex relationship with food. She had been struggling to explain why she continued to eat when she was full or consumed foods she knew wouldn’t help her health. Sylvia Gonsahn-Bollie, MD Like millions of people struggling with their weight or the disease of obesity, Ms S had tried multiple diets and programs but continued to return to unhelpful eating patterns. Ms S was an emotional eater, and the pandemic only worsened her emotional eating. As a single professional…
Recovery from an eating disorder is challenging. If you or a loved one has an eating disorder, you may be wondering: Can medication help? The answer is complicated. Unlike most other mental health disorders that can be treated successfully by medication, eating disorders are not as responsive to medicine. However, some medications may help treat eating disorders and other co-occurring illnesses. For eating disorders, food (and the normalization of eating patterns) is the primary medicine. This is combined with therapy to help distorted thoughts (or unhelpful thoughts) surrounding food, weight, eating, and body image. In some cases, psychiatric medication (such…
Australian research has for the first time established a link between diets high in ultra-processed foods and an increased risk of depression. The recently published findings in the Journal of Affective Disorders show the risk of depression jumps markedly among people whose daily diet includes more than 30% ultra-processed food. Dr. Melissa Lane, who completed the research as part of her Ph.D. studies at Deakin University’s Food and Mood Center, said the results provide further evidence of the wide-ranging harms of diets loaded with cheap, well-marketed but often nutrient poor convenience foods. “While Australians eat a lot of ultra-processed foods,…
Military caregivers provide essential support to their loved ones who have served in the military. They often face unique challenges and can benefit from various forms of support. Here are eight tips on how to support military caregivers: Educate yourself: Learn about the challenges that military caregivers face and the resources available to support them. This will help you understand their needs and offer appropriate support. Offer emotional support: Listen actively and empathetically to the caregiver’s concerns and offer emotional support. Let them know that you care and are there for them. Provide practical help: Offer to help with household…