Archive for June, 2010

CED’s Annual Professional Symposium – Look Who’s Coming to Baltimore…


The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt invites medical and mental health professionals from across the country, to join us on September 25th, 2010 for our annual symposium, Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment. We are incredibly excited to introduce the following lineup of internationally acclaimed speakers who will come together  in Baltimore, Maryland to share invaluable clinical insights, practical application techniques and cutting edge research.  This one-day,  professional training is designed to help attendees  enhance treatment and improve outcomes for individuals with eating disorders and their families.  Find out more about all six symposium presenters below and DOWNLOAD THE SYMPOSIUM BROCHURE for details about the agenda, hotel accommodations, and registration rates.  7 CME/CEUs will be offered.  Please note: space is limited!!  We recommend early registration to ensure your space prior to booking travel plans.

Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment
2010 SPEAKER BIOS

Scott Crow, M.D., is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and its Psychiatry Residency Training Program, where he was Chief Resident and a Consult-Liaison Psychiatry Fellow. He is currently a Professor of Psychiatry at The University of Minnesota, Director of the Midwest Regional Postdoctoral Training Program in Disorders Research, and Director of the Disordered Eating/Assessment Core of the Minnesota Obesity Center. Dr. Crow’s research interests include the causes, course and treatment of eating disorders.  He previously received a Mid-Career Independent Scientist Award from NIMH focused on the treatment of eating disorders.  Dr. Crow is a past President of the Academy for Eating Disorders and serves on editorial boards for multiple professional journals, including the International Journal of Eating Disorders. He has published extensively and is co-author of two books, including Binge Eating: Clinical Foundations and Treatment.  

Marcia Herrin, EdD, MPH, RD, is the founder of Dartmouth College’s nationally renowned nutrition programs. Currently, Dr. Herrin conducts a private practice in Lebanon, New Hampshire where she specializes in children and adults with weight issues and eating disorders. She received her master’s of public health from the University of California at Berkeley, and a doctorate in nutrition education from Columbia University.  Dr. Herrin has been featured in a variety of media outlets including, The Today Show, 48 Hours, and The New York Times and has served as a nutrition consultant to a variety of universities and school systems, including the school of the American Ballet Theatre.  Dr. Herrin is the author of several books, including Nutrition Counseling in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, a detailed treatment manual for professionals.

Daniel Le Grange, Ph.D.,is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience and Director of the Eating Disorders Program at The University of Chicago. He trained in family-based treatment at the Maudsley Hospital in London where he was a member of the team that developed the “Maudsley Approach”. Dr. Le Grange is the author or co-author of more than 175 articles, chapters, abstracts and books including the  Treatment Manual for Anorexia Nervosa: A Family Based Approach.  He is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders, a member of the Eating Disorders Research Society, and serves on the clinical and scientific advisory council of the National Eating Disorders Association. Dr. Le Grange is principle investigator for multiple NIMH-funded studies, and has lectured extensively in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and South Africa.

James Lock, MD, Ph.D. is Professor of Child Psychiatry and Pediatrics in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine where he also serves as Director of the Eating Disorder Program for Children and Adolescents.  Dr. Lock has published over 200 articles, abstracts, and book chapters.  He is the co-author of the only evidenced-based treatment manual for anorexia nervosa and has also co-authored a book for parents of children with eating disorders. One of his newest publications is a treatment manual for adolescent bulimia nervosa entitled: Treating Bulimia in Adolescents: A Family-Based Approach. Dr. Lock has lectured extensively across the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. His current research focuses on interventions for Anorexia and Bulimia in younger patients.

Lucy Serpell, PhD, DClinPsy is a Clinical Psychologist at North East London NHS Foundation Trust and a Lecturer for University College London.  Dr. Serpell was awarded her PhD in cognitive processes in anorexia nervosa from the University of London in 2000 and received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from University College London in 2004.  She has fifteen years of  experience working with individuals with eating disorders and is particularly interested in the roles of cognition, motivation and personality in anorexia nervosa.  Dr. Serpell is passionate about developing research to understand the perseveration of eating disorders and contributing to advancements in treatment for this population.  She has published and presented her work internationally and is uniquely qualified to speak on the topic of innovative therapies for individuals with complex and treatment resistant eating disorders.

Kathryn Zerbe, M.D.is Professor of Psychiatry & Obstetrics & Gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University and also serves as the Director of the Oregon Psychoanalytic Institute.  Dr. Zerbe has authored over 60 clinical papers and four books including, Integrated Treatment for Eating Disorders: Beyond the Body Betrayed (2008).  In 2005, Dr. Zerbe was recognized by the American Psychiatric Association and the Association of Women Psychiatrists with the Alexandra Symonds Award for “outstanding contributions to women’s health and leadership in advancement of women.” She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders. She has been repeatedly selected as one of “America’s Top Doctors” and is a frequently requested speaker both nationally and internationally.

You may also register for this event online at www.eventville.com/sheppardpratt

For further information call 410-938-4593

Never been to Baltimore?   Go to  Visit Baltimore! to find out all about the many exciting things to do in “Charm City” -  then register your group for the 2010 symposium and make a weekend out of it!

Published by Kate Clemmer
June 21st, 2010 in Celebrity Topical News
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National Men’s Health Week, June 14th – 20th, 2010

Reality and research have shown us that eating disorders do not discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, or gender.  No one is immune, yet males who struggle with eating disorders – sons, husbands, fathers, grandfathers - can often feel extremely resistant to asking for help or seeking treatment for an illness which, for so long, was viewed primarily as a women’s issue.  In recognition of National Men’s Health Week, we want to help men, and the people who support them understand the importance of pursuing recovery  and remind everyone that seeking help is a sign of incredible strength, regardless of gender.  

Over the last ten years, the number of males in the U.S. with serious eating disorders has grown to more than one million.  This rising number is likely representative of our culture’s ever intensifying focus on appearance, bodily perfection and the relatively newer trend of  diet, exercise and fashion industries heavily marketing to men.  Societal body pressures for males might be different in shape – for example, muscular for men versus thin for women - but the intensity of these messages is often just as pervasive.  However, eating disorders are not 100% about body image, and its important to remember that men are just as emotionally impacted by these illnesses as women.  Acting on symptoms of an eating disorder becomes a way to cope with stress, discontent and difficult or uncomfortable emotions which may be exacerbated by a trauma history, co-occurring substance abuse or interpersonal problems.   Likewise, men’s bodies are just as susceptible to the serious physical health repercussions of eating disorders including cardiac irregularities, electrolyte imbalances, bone loss, serious gastrointestinal problems, dental erosion, infertility and even death.  These are just a few of the consequences that make it an important topic for discussion during National Men’s Health Week 2010.   

While its certainly not a positive sign to see eating disorders on the rise in any segment of the population, its quite possible that part of the increase we’ve seen in males with eating disorders may actually not be an increase at all but just a more accurate sample as a result of decreasing stigma.   Improved treatment options for males has helped lessen stigma and the subsequent secrecy and isolation for those with the disorder.  As a result, it’s meant more males are speaking out about their struggle and more are being counted.  We are encouraged to see more boys and men seeking treatment for their eating disorders - overcoming  internal and societal resistance  to find their way into support group circles, therapy sessions and nutrition appointments in an effort to move towards emotional and physical health.  

As National Men’s Health Week culminates with the celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday, we encourage you to take time to recognize the men in your life.  Remind them to schedule regular check-ups, sreening tests and follow-ups with specialists as necessary.  Educate yourself and others on the signs and symptoms of eating disorders.  If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder and you’d like to ask questions or find out more about treatment, please call us at (410) 938-5252.

 

Visit The Center for Eating Disorders on the web:
Homepage:  www.eatingdisorder.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/eatingdisorderhelp 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CEDSheppPratt
Published by Kate Clemmer
June 18th, 2010 in Body Image, In the News, Males, Recovery
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Motivational Mini-Clips from Jenni Schaefer!

Each year, The Center for Eating Disorders sponsors a Fall Outreach Event to help promote messages about eating disorder recovery, awareness and prevention within the community.  Last October, we were proud to host best-selling author, advocate and recovery role model, Jenni Schaefer.  Jenni spoke about her own experience with an eating disorder and about her latest book Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life.  While its been almost eight months since Jenni’s presentation here in Baltimore, we know that the summer season can offer specific challenges related to eating disorder recovery, and so it seemed like a good opportunity for us to share some motivational moments from the presentation.  Check out these short, inspirational clips from Jenni’s talk – we hope that watching them might help others to stay focused on saying “Goodbye to Ed” too! 

Are you or someone you love working hard on recovery from an eating disorder?  Jenni speaks about “mediocre stages of recovery” in this clip and offers a little perspective on why its worth it to keep going. 

http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/schaefer1.flv

Have you ever felt that you have to be unhappy or that you were “born to be miserable”?   You certainly aren’t alone.  In this clip Jenni talks about breaking away from this belief and adding joy back into life. 

http://eatingdisorder.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/schaefer2.flv

What is recovery about for you? 

For everyone who could use a little ongoing motivation - check out Jenni Schaefer’s Recovery Support Blog  as well as her regular blog contributions to The Huffington Post  which often span the topics of eating disorders, recovery and dating.  And if you’re curious about that guitar she was talking about or the song she sang later in her presentation- check out her website for the lyrics.

Many thanks to Jenni Schaefer for continuing to inspire so many people and for being a role model not just in recovery but in living a balanced and joyful life. 

Appointed to the Ambassador Council of the National Eating Disorders Association, Jenni Schaefer is a singer/songwriter, speaker, and author of Life Without Ed: How One Woman Declared Independence from Her Eating Disorder and How You Can Too(McGraw-Hill) and Goodbye Ed, Hello Me: Recover from Your Eating Disorder and Fall in Love with Life(McGraw-Hill 2009). She is a consultant with Center For Change in Orem, Utah. For more information: www.jennischaefer.com

If you’d like to receive updates about future community events at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, please visit our website and sign-up on our mailing list.

Published by Kate Clemmer
June 11th, 2010 in CED Events, Celebrity Topical News, Editor's Picks, Recovery
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What is Reality?

 

A plethora of news stories developed overnight, placing “Real Housewife”  TV Star, Bethenny Frankel in the media spotlight for her drastic post-pregnancy weight loss three weeks after giving birth to her daughter via cesarean section.  Most sources are speculating that these rapid changes to her body are unrealistic, are the result of unhealthy behaviors and set an undeniably dangerous and negative standard for everyday, non-celebrity moms.  Even while suggesting the danger in this, magazines and news shows continue to flaunt photos of her in a bathing suit, promote her books and products, and proclaim her diet, exercise and weight loss to the world as though it is something to emulate.  Subsequently, the public is greeted with more mixed messages about health and weight loss that are confusing and difficult to sort through.

Our questions amidst this media frenzy differ from the slew of inquiries into how much weight was gained and lost or what Bethenny was eating or not eating.  We would rather ask why reporters and news media feel its appropriate to provide readers and viewers with the specific details of Bethenny’s weight loss regimen while simultaneously questioning its safety?  And why would someone who has publicly discussed a “former” unhealthy obsession with food, weight and exercise, support a publicity storm focused on weight just three weeks after the premature birth of her child? 

Its time to focus on reality instead of reality TV and on healthy moms and babies instead of weight loss.  Want some real-life tips for avoiding “the numbers game” of pregnancy and post pregnancy weight? Check out our newest guest blog from the authors of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby.  Click here to read, “Adding Up, Weighing In, and Counting Down: Five Ways to Cope with the Numbers Game of Pregnancy,” by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei

Published by Kate Clemmer
June 4th, 2010 in Celebrity Topical News, In the News, Nurture. Blog Series, Nutrition
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Adding Up, Weighing In, and Counting Down: Five Ways to Cope with the Numbers Game of Pregnancy

 

The Center for Eating Disorders is honored to be able to feature Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei as guest bloggers in our Nuture series for moms and mothers-to-be.   Their book, Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby, offers a refreshingly realistic and healthy perspective on body image during pregnancy. Recently, we asked Claire and Magali to offer their best advice to women, especially those who have struggled with eating disorders or disordered eating, on how to navigate the adventures of pregnancy without over-focusing on weight and size.

This is what they had to say…

 

 

Pregnancy is a time of great anticipation. It’s also a time that is measured meticulously from start to finish—in weeks on the calendar, milestones on the sonograms, and numbers on the scale. And for those with histories of disordered eating, all that counting can be dangerous territory. Here are five tips to help every expectant mother get beyond the numbers game.

 Tip # 1:

Take weight out of the equation. This might seem like a radical suggestion considering that pregnancy weight gain and post-baby weight loss are such hot topics of conversation among mothers-to-be and new moms. To add fuel to the fire, weigh-ins are often the center of every visit to the doctor. But truthfully, there really isn’t any reason you need to keep track of your weight. If you know that it could become an unhealthy fixation, tell your OB or midwife that you prefer not to discuss the number unless it becomes a medical issue. Step on the scale backwards and remind the physician’s assistant that you don’t want to be told your weight. Then enjoy the looks on people’s faces when they ask you how much you’ve gained and you respond, “I don’t know.” As a bonus, you’ll soon discover that there are plenty of other interesting—and more substantive–things about becoming a mother that you can talk about.

Tip # 2:

Choose a health care provider who is sensitive to food, weight and body image issues. Women who have struggled with poor body image and/or disordered eating need to find prenatal healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and compassionate when it comes to these issues. We’ve heard from many women who ended up in the examination room—and sometimes even the delivery room—feeling belittled and unsupported by their own doctors. The best way to avoid this scenario is to push through whatever shame you might be feeling and be upfront with your OB or midwife about your history and your pregnancy-related body image fears. If you’re met with criticism or any other reaction that makes you feel uncomfortable, remember that you are well within your rights to walk out that door and find another doctor who will treat you with more respect. Of those we surveyed, 73% of pregnant women with body image issues and histories of eating disorders and disordered eating said they had not discussed this history with their OBs or midwives. It’s time to break that dangerous silence.  

Tip #3:

Clean out your closet. One of the kindest things you can do for yourself is to pack up anything in your wardrobe that would qualify as “form-fitting” as soon as you see that plus sign on the pregnancy test. You will start gaining weight before you start showing, so this is a surefire way to avoid the agony of trying to squeeze into something that’s too small. And we’re not kidding about packing it up. Put those clothes in a box, and seal it up tight. Personally, we advise you not to open it again until a year after you’ve given birth. You know what they say about nine months to gain the weight, nine months to take it off? Well, we’re adding a few extra months for good measure. That’s a lot of seasons in fashion-speak, so chances are good that you won’t even be interested in some of those clothes once you dig that box out again. For sanity’s sake, pregnancy is a time when you must let go of your attachment to a specific clothing size. As someone who is about to become a mother, your sense of self-worth cannot hinge on whether you can fit into whatever size you think is “ideal” for you. Is that a belief you would want your child to absorb? What’s really ideal is to find clothes that are flattering, comfortable, and versatile. Sizes vary from store to store, so don’t have a heart attack if you end up wearing sizes that seem beyond what you imagined you would wear. That goes for pregnancy and it applies for after delivery, too. The number on the scale doesn’t define any of us, and neither does the number on the tags of our clothes. If it’s making you that miserable, take a pair of scissors and cut those labels out of sight and out of mind.

Tip #4

Be aware of the triggers of pregnancy. The incessant counting, comparing, and measuring that happens during those nine months and beyond can tap into some of the very vulnerabilities that are linked to eating disorders and food and weight obsessions. Perfectionism, loss of control, feelings of isolation, and memories of childhood often bubble right to the surface. But if you’re getting the support you need, you’ll have a better chance of weathering those storms without resorting to self-destructive habits. Resist the urge to shut down or close off.  Remember that there is nothing shameful about asking for help. It’s the most courageous thing you can do for yourself and your baby. Look at your recovery as an ongoing process that will help you reach your full potential as an individual and as a mother.

Tip #5

Break the cycle of body hatred. Allow yourself to celebrate the fact that your body is working some serious magic right now. Before you get stymied by stretch marks or focused on flabby skin, take time to reflect on how you will teach your child—in your words and in your actions—that you appreciate your body because it brought them into the world. We have the power to help future generations grow up placing a higher value on good health than on weight and physical appearance. But before we can pass along those positive attitudes, we must first embrace them for ourselves.

Make your commitment now by signing the  Healthy Beauty Pledge for Mothers and Mothers-to-Be.

Visit Claire Mysko’s website  for more empowering and encouraging blogs about body image.

* * *

Adapted from Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei

Published by Kate Clemmer
June 4th, 2010 in Body Image, Editor's Picks, Glossary Definitions, Nurture. Blog Series
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