Topic overview: The media portrays BMI as an accurate measure of health and “normal” weight. While it’s good to know that “normal” is not one set number, it still leaves us guessing as to what “normal” truly looks like. Perhaps “normal” is not as easy as assigning a number from an online calculator. It is surprising that so many of us believe that a number is gospel, even though it doesn’t take into account family medical history or a person’s frame size.
CED Docs’ Philosophy: Health is determined by lifestyle, not a number on a scale or chart. Unfortunately, people set these unrealistic “goal weights”, as determined by BMI or another measurement, and then they may become weak, tired, irritable and hungry. Maybe they are skinnier, but who wants to hang out with them?
Relevant tips/solutions: For long-term good health, you need to listen to your body’s natural cues, make healthy food choices and be physically active in things you find fun. By gradually making these lifestyle changes, people not only look better, but feel stronger mentally and emotionally.
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Topic Overview: Try to adopt the concept of a “set weight point.” For some, it’s your natural weight or the weight your body is most comfortable at. But how do we reach it and when do we know when we’ve hit the mark?
CED Docs’ Philosophy: Focus on yourself and your own needs, and you can make the transition from the weight you think you should be to the weight you actually should be. Instead of rejecting the weight that’s best for your body, embrace it and personalize it.
Reaching your body’s set weight point doesn’t mean meeting society’s norm. Rather, it’s the body weight that is right for you. Imagine that! A body weight all your own – one that’s based on your gender, medical history, genetics and even your immune system.
Tips/solutions: A good way to begin determining your natural set weight is by making small changes to what you eat and your exercise routine, while tracking your body’s responses. For example:
- Stop dieting
- Work on tuning into your body. Increase your awareness of hunger and satiety cues
- Eat consistently both with respect to times that you eat and the amount
- Eat throughout the day so you’re not overloading at night when hunger finally catches up with you
Relevant articles:
Topic Overview: Dieting is one of the leading risk factors in the development of an eating disorder. “Diet” means different things to different people. Typically, when we “go on a diet,” we lower our caloric intake by limiting what we eat. Sometimes we end up limiting it TOO much.
CED Docs’ Philosophy: The problem with dieting is that without guidelines or a support system in place, we can set unrealistic weight-loss goals for ourselves
Two examples of eating disorders that can potentially develop as a result of dieting spinning out of control: Anorexia Nervosa, a disorder that is caused by an intense fear of gaining weight, and Orthorexia – an extreme take on healthy eating where the individual will not allow him or herself to eat anything that is not deemed “healthy”.
Tips/solutions: Healthy ways to keep your weight and health in check:
- Stop dieting
- Make healthy lifestyle changes for long-term health and weight maintenance
- Meet with a nutritionist to set realistic goals and specific challenges
- As opposed to eating multiple small meals throughout the day where you never allow yourself to be really hungry or really full and therefore never really satisfied, we at CED recommend eating three square meals and one snack a day.
Relevant articles:
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) – GLOSSARY DEFINITION
BMI measures weight vs. height to determine an individual’s health; body weight divided by the square height. BMI was designed as a tool to determine latent vs. active patients, and is not meant to assess overall health. BMI does not take into account gender, muscle mass or family history.
Topic Overview:If you’re currently struggling with an eating disorder, you know how important family is in the treatment process.
CED is involved in a study to help find the best treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. The study will look into interventions and treatment for you and your loved one. Also, the study is outpatient which means your family will not be separated. Participation in the study will involve family therapy, a complete medical workup for the adolescent, and for some medication, that will be at no expense to you.
CED Docs’ Philosophy: This study will help us determine which family-based therapy works best in treating teenagers with anorexia.
If you decide to participate, you’ll take part in one of two different types of family-based therapy which vary in their approach but have the same desired outcome: a new happy and healthy way of life for you and your entire family.
As always, participation is completely confidential and will be used to help other teens and their families who are coping with eating disorders.
Relevant Tips/ Solutions:
#1 – Don’t go through this alone. Talk to someone and make a plan for recovery that works for you. A parent, sibling, coach…whomever you trust.
#2 – If you are interested in being a part of this study, call us (410-427-3854) or learn more about the study.
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Topic Overview: You know someone who wants to be thin, but how can you tell when they’ve crossed the line and moved toward an eating disorder? We know it can be a touchy subject, so we created this new assessment tool to help you identify if either you or someone you know is showing signs and symptoms of an eating disorder. Take the quiz now.
CED Docs’ Philosophy: We’re putting this anonymous tool out there for anyone who thinks that their behaviors or the behaviors of someone they care about have become unhealthy. It’s healthy to watch what you eat and exercise. What isn’t healthy is to obsess over what you eat (or don’t eat) and do harmful things to your body in order to be thin. Our hopes are that this quiz will start discussions for guidance about possible treatment options.
Relevant Tips and Solutions:
#1 – If you think that you or someone you care about is suffering from an obsession with food, weight, or general self-image, take this assessment. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
#2 – Talk to someone you trust about your concerns. Try to figure out what the best options are for you. OR, be the person that a friend with an eating disorder can confide in.
#3 – Call us, in confidence, with any questions or concerns at 410-938-5252.
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Our Take: Here’s a prime example of how the media distorts images to portray “perfection.” Even gorgeous Faith Hill was subject to airbrushing. It looks like they removed the bags under her eyes, lightened the color of her hair, slimmed her arms, softened her smile lines, added volume to her hair and erased her collarbone. Crazy that they found things to airbrush on a woman who has a Cover Girl contract.
The difference between the untouched photo (left) and the final Redbook cover photo (right) is an example of the media’s rejection of realistic beauty. The “art” of photoshopping creates a false sense of perfection. It’s time the media stopped setting unattainable standards and making readers feel like they don’t measure up.
What Others Are Saying: Online, everyone is talking. Check out
(Photo from The F-Word)
During the past year, there have been several deaths of models across the globe. The cause of their deaths: eating disorders. More recently, model Karlie Kloss has entered rehab for an eight-month recovery period from anorexia nervosa. In November 2006, Brazilian super model Ana Carolina Reston died after suffering complications associated with anorexia nervosa. Ana’s death prompted the Council of Fashion Designers of America to introduce health guidelines for models to achieve an objective measure of health, like a height-to-weight ratio, in February 2007.
Our Take: The American fashion industry needs to continue to acknowledge the dangers of extreme thinness in female fashion models and realize the negative impact on perceived body image for those who idolize these models. As Ana Carolina Reston’s story shows, eating disorders can kill, and while some models claim to be naturally skinny, their ultra-slender figures can come at a price. Different body types can look good in a variety of fashions. The human body is a beautiful thing, curves and all. With New York Fall Fashion Week happening this February 1-8, we watch to see if the fashion industry is in fact continuing to take a proactive stance on “model” behavior.
What Others Are Saying:
- Ways to empower yourself and your friends: About Face
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