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The Truth Behind “Pregorexia”

photo courtesy of http://www.maternalwisdom.org/

In recent years a handful of unofficial terms have seeped into the existing eating disorder vocabulary. From “wannarexia” to “manorexia”, these trendy expressions have been popping up in articles and blogs across the internet. More recently, “pregorexia” has made appearances. This word attempts to diagnose the intersection of pregnancy and eating disorders. The term has been unofficially coined in response to the growing awareness of pregnant women acting on ED (eating disorder) symptoms in an attempt to avoid the weight gain and body changes that take place in normal, healthy pregnancies. Some propose that the trend is a result of the media’s increasing coverage of celebrities’ unrealistic pregnant and post-baby bodies.

The Center for Eating Disorders agrees that the media can play a role in the development and maintenance of people’s eating disorders but it does not cause eating disorders in and of itself. It is also important to point out that most women who would be described as having “pregorexia” have had body image problems and disordered eating (if not full-fledged eating disorders) long before they were pregnant.

Eating disorders are exacerbated by stress, and pregnancy is an intense physical and emotional stressor. It is no surprise that some women experience an intensification or return of ED symptoms during pregnancy. The “pregorexia” label is concerning because it distracts from the real and very serious eating disorder and implies that the problem will go away after nine months when the label no longer applies. It can also stigmatize a population of woman who already notoriously underreport their ED symptoms to doctors due to the guilt associated with having an ED during pregnancy.

Very simply put, a pregnant woman who is simultaneously suffering from anorexia, bulimia or any other eating disorder, needs support and professional treatment to ensure her health and the health of her unborn baby. What she doesn’t need is a fictitious label to disguise, excuse or further stigmatize the real problem.

The Center for Eating Disorders does not encourage the use of “pregorexia” or any other terms that make light of eating disorders. It can be very dangerous to replace official diagnoses with unofficial labels that could minimize, mask or distract from the underlying illness and might reduce one’s motivation to seek treatment. These invented terms do not exist as independent diagnoses for a reason and cannot, and should not, take the place of professional assessments and official diagnoses.

*****Eating Disorders during pregnancy can be particularly dangerous for both mother and child. Some of the risks include miscarriage, birth defects or abnormalities, premature or low birth weight babies, and an increased risk of post-partum depression. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder and need treatment, please contact the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt at (410) 938-5252 or email us at EatingDisorderInfo@sheppardpratt.org .*****

Published by CED Editor
November 18th, 2008 in Glossary Definitions, Body Image
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Less Than a Month Left to Submit Your Poster!!

It is not often that young people are given the chance, much less encouraged, to reflect kindly or positively on their bodies. The Center for Eating Disorders’ Love Your Tree poster campaign creates this opportunity by inviting all of Maryland’s middle school, high school, and college students to create a poster that celebrates their body and promotes a positive dialogue about the diversity of beauty.The Love Your Tree poster campaign was developed three years ago by The Center’s senior art therapist, Julia Andersen. She adapted the concept from a play written by Eve Ensler in which she travels the world and talks with different people about how we view our bodies. One of those people is Leah, a Masai woman in Africa who is puzzled by Ensler’s negative attitude toward her own body. In the play, Leah says:

“Eve, look at that tree? Do you see that tree? Now, look at that tree (pointing to another one). Do you like that tree? Do you hate that tree ’cause it doesn’t look like that tree? Do you say that tree isn’t pretty cause it doesn’t look like that tree? We’re all trees. You’re a tree. I’m a tree. You’ve got to love your body, Eve. You’ve got to love your tree.” (excerpt from The Good Body, 2004 by Eve Ensler).

The ‘Call for Posters’ encourages participants to respond to the phrase “Like a tree, my body is…” by creating a 2-dimensional design that celebrates their body and conveys a positive message about body image. Please be sure to submit a completed Registration Form and artist statement when you submit your poster design.

The 3^rd annual Love Your Tree poster campaign began in September and will run through December which means students have less than one month to submit their posters! All posters must be received by December 12^th, 2008. Maryland teachers are also invited to get involved by working with their classes and students to submit posters. Teachers can request a free workshop to help educate students about body image and engage them in the creation of Love Your Tree posters. All participating students and teachers will be invited to attend the Love Your Tree reception and Poster Exhibit in February 2009. Several artists from each age group will be recognized with awards totaling $1200. One poster will be chosen for reproduction and used by the Center for Eating Disorders’ to promote positive body image throughout the year.

Please call Kate Clemmer at (410) 427-3386 for more information about submitting a poster or to request a Love Your Tree workshop for your school or organization. Details are also available on our Events page at http://www.eatingdisorder.org/events.php

Published by CED Editor
November 14th, 2008 in Celebrity Topical News
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The Fashion Industry Struts in the Right Direction

photo courtesy of www.everythingentertainment.com

The deaths of at least two runway models in 2006 from complications associated with anorexia drew heated attention to the unhealthy culture associated with modeling and with the fashion industry in general. It may have taken two years, but a recent article on Today’s website reports that some positive changes were apparent on the runway at New York Fashion Week this year. The article states that the body sizes of the models at Fashion Week had clearly increased from previous years. Despite this progress, the modeling industry still supports a body size significantly smaller then the average American woman. As a result, there is still a lot of work to be done before what is put out by the media is a message that can make us all feel good about the skin we are in.

The fashion industry is being encouraged to take greater strides to protect the health of its models. Currently, these efforts, described as “modest”, include workshops on eating disorders, age limitations for the runway, healthier snacks, and professional help for models identified as having an eating disorder. We hope that continued efforts by the fashion industry will not only help to produce healthier models but healthier role models for the young girls and women who admire them.

To find out more about this topic, read the full article, Not-quite-so-thin is in for Fashion Week models, at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26662601/

Published by CED Editor
November 6th, 2008 in Celebrity Topical News
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Dr. Gura Visits The Center for Eating Disorders

tricia gura

Following the presentation: CED staff shared a relaxing moment with the keynote speaker, Dr. Trisha Gura. Left to Right: Steven Crawford, M.D., Kate Clemmer, LGSW, Sarah Blake, LCSW, Dina Wientge, LCSW-C, Trisha Gura, Ph.D., Paula Goldberg, R.N., Julia Andersen, ATR-BC
.

The Center for Eating Disorders’ 2008 fall outreach event was a great success with more than 100 attendees! This year’s event featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Trisha Gura, medical journalist and author of the acclaimed book, Lying in Weight: the Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women.

During Dr. Gura’s presentation, she mixed anecdotes from her book, her own experiences with anorexia, and a solid message of hope. The audience was diverse, filled with those struggling with eating disorders, their family and friends, and eating disorder professionals. Gura leveled with her audience by describing her own struggles with disordered eating and drawing from stories of women she interviewed for her book, Lying in Weight. She described eating disorders through all of life’s stages and also outlined the major influences that cause disordered eating.

Dr.Gura left her audience inspired by encouraging people with disordered eating to conquer their fears and seek treatment. She assured attendees that it is never too late to get help.

After the presentation, a Q & A session gave the audience a chance to ask Trisha their own questions such as how to help a family member with an eating disorder, the best types of treatment and her opinions on the term “recovered.” The Center for Eating Disorders would like to thank everyone who attended this event!

In addition to speaking at Sheppard Pratt, Dr. Gura hosted a chat on the Center for Eating Disorders online forum. This chat gave participants the opportunity to ask Dr. Gura any questions that they had regarding eating disorders. To view the chat click here: Dr. Gura online chat

Want more information about Trisha Gura or her book, read the Center for Eating Disorders blog entry Eating Disorders in Adult Women: A Q&A with Dr. Trisha Gura or go to her website, www.trishagura.com

Published by CED Editor
October 13th, 2008 in Celebrity Topical News
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Eating Disorders in Adult Women - A Q&A with Dr. Trisha Gura

1.) In your book, Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women, you talk about the fact that the subject of eating disorders among adult women does not get the attention it deserves. Why do you think this is?

The media perpetuates a myth: that eating disorders happen only to teenagers who want to look like fashion models. Society at large accepts that myth and doesn’t realize the older women suffer too, in fact doubly. Older women feel like two-time losers 1. Because they have an eating disorder and 2. Because they think they should know better due to age.

Finally, older women are less reluctant to seek help for the reasons above. Until recently, fewer were coming forward for treatment because they either were so embarrassed and/or did not realize they could have an eating disorder in the 40s, 50s even 70s.(The oldest women with anorexia in Lying in Weight was 92). The less that came forward, the less attention the issue received.

2) What do you want the audience to take away from your talk at Sheppard Pratt on Oct. 5?

Anyone male or female of an ethnicity or race can get an eating disorder. But at the same given the right treatment and support, anyone can heal.

3) What makes your talk at Sheppard Pratt relevant to everyone, not just those with disordered eating or those prone to developing eating disorders?

In only one instance have I met a woman who did not have some issue with her body size or image. Cindy Bulik’s group at the University of North Carolina found 75 percent of all American women endorse some unhealthy thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to food or their bodies. Men, particularly athletes and those involved in professions that value appearance, are joining the ranks of their female counterparts. Thus, a discussion of body image and food and exercise behaviors is relevant to a much larger group than those who have eating disorders.

4) In your book, you say that midlife events can trigger disordered eating. What types of events are you referring to and what role do they play in developing eating disorders?

In midlife there are no less than 15 major transitions that can affect a person’s life i.e. divorce, an empty nest, menopause. Those life changes pile up in midlife, much like the physical, emotional and hormonal changes of adolescence cumulate in teenagers to cause overall tumult. The sense of everything coming apart is what prompts many latent eating disorders to ripen.

5) What advice would you give to someone who thinks they may be at risk for developing an eating disorder as a result of midlife events?

Know that you are not alone. Early statistics show that the number of women in their 40s and 50s seeking treatment have tripled and quadrupled, respectively, in the last decade.

Reach out for help. Your body is not that of a teenager and will not bounce back from unhealthy behaviors as quickly. Also, if you have children and/or loved ones, they will suffer from your lack of attention to the problem and benefit beyond words from your courage in undertaking a journey toward healing.

Published by CED Editor
September 24th, 2008 in Celebrity Topical News
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Eating Disorders: All Grown Up

Eating disorders have long been recognized as a disease that only affects white, adolescent girls. And while those are often the faces you will see in documentaries and after school specials on the topic, it’s important to know that anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other eating disorders can, and often do, transcend this stereotype. Not only do eating disorders cross racial, ethnic and gender boundaries, they can also occur outside of the teenage years, developing or recurring during adulthood, mid-life and older adulthood. This may not be surprising considering the “fifty is the new thirty” cultural attitude which seems to keep extending the unrealistic physical demands placed on females by the media.

Adult women struggling with eating disorders can face a unique set of stressors and risks associated with the disease. Whether they are still battling an untreated eating disorder from adolescence, have had a recurrence of one that was previously under control or have developed one for the first time, the repercussions for themselves and their families can be overwhelming. Marriage, divorce, career, finances, or the death of a loved one can be contributing stressors in an adult woman’s life. The stress of pregnancy and parenting can be especially triggering, and yet, it is more important than ever at this time in a woman’s life that she is taking care of her body and modeling healthy behavior. Criticizing herself in the mirror or refusing to eat certain foods, or entire meals, will likely be observed and emulated in the attitudes and behavior of her own children. Wanting to break this cycle of negative self image and disordered eating can be a significant factor in motivating adult women to seek treatment.

Health complications associated with eating disorders are also likely to catch up with a woman in later adulthood and could motivate her to pursue treatment. Infertility, osteoporosis and severe tooth decay caused by years of acting on eating disorder symptoms are no longer just warnings from doctors but become painful realities as women age.

In the United States it is estimated that about 10 million women, throughout all ages, struggle with an eating disorder. Eating disorders can negatively impact all areas of adult life including intimacy, decision-making, social relationships and parenting competence. The good news is that more and more adult women are reaching out for help and getting the treatment they need to recover.

Want to find out more about this topic? Come hear Trisha Gura the acclaimed author of Lying in Weight: The Hidden Epidemic of Eating Disorders in Adult Women, speak during a special symposium at Sheppard Pratt on Sunday, October 5^th from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Admission is free but pre-registration is required. Please call Iris Fisher at (410) 938-3157 to register.

Want to interact with Trisha Gura online? Chat with her live at the Center for Eating Disorders online discussion forum on Sept. 30th at 8 p.m. Check back soon for more details

Written by Kate Clemmer, Outreach Coordinator at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt

Published by CED Editor
September 17th, 2008 in Editor's Picks
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Hungry for Gold: The Hidden Epidemic of Disordered Eating Among Athletes

Eating disorders affect 5 to 10 million men and women, so it is no wonder that athletes are not immune to developing one.

The 2008 Olympic Games remind so many of us what we enjoy about sports - the excitement, the competition, the love of the game. For many, underneath, there are secret obsessions, including disordered eating or eating disorders that some athletes use to “stay in the game,” when in reality, they are harming themselves and ultimately their sports performance through their eating behaviors.

Those particularly at risk are athletes who compete in judged sports where they are required to wear revealing uniforms or costumes. These generally include sports like gymnastics, diving, figure skating, etc. but an eating disorder can affect an athlete competing in any sport. This silent wave of disordered eating seems to come from the dual pressures to not only perform well, but also the pressure look good while competing, especially when the event is televised.

Certain sports carry individual expectations (and sometimes stereotypes), of weight, body size and shape that can be hard to achieve. For example, basketball players are often tall and lean, distance runners are expected to be thin, jockeys are thought to be short, and so on. At times athletes can go to extreme lengths to reach these expectations, and not without consequences.

The practices of disordered eating and exercise abuse in athletes can lead to health problems, such as decreased immunity, loss of bone density, stress fractures, menstrual irregularities, overuse injuries, and the list goes on…

Because athletes often appear to have things so “together” on the outside, it can be difficult for outsiders to pick up on disordered eating and the underlying health issues. For this reason, and because of their power and influence, coaches may be the most important factor in promoting or preventing poor eating and training habits in athletes. Thus, it is especially important for coaches to be able to identify the signs of disordered eating early so that athletes who need treatment can get it when the likelihood of success is at its highest.

In a previous entry, Dr. Ron Thompson sheds some light on key signs to look for when trying to identify an athlete with an eating disorder or disordered eating. In that same entry, Dr. Thompson offers advice to athletes and coaches on how to minimize the risk of creating or developing unhealthy food relationships.

If you think you or someone you care about may be showing signs or symptoms of an eating disorder, take this quiz. Or, if you prefer, you can call the Center for Eating Disorders at 410-938-5252 to speak with someone in confidence about any questions or concerns you may have.

Published by CED Editor
September 12th, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image
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Suiting-Up for Battle: Waging War on Negative Body Image this Summer

bathing suit

Does just the sight of this make
you feel anxious?
During “bathing suit season”, many feel the pressure to meet standards of physical “perfection”, especially with demands to bare more skin throughout the summer months. The media and celebrities exacerbate these pressures by contributing to an unrealistic (and many times, unhealthy) representation of the human body.Feelings of negativity and anxiety are common among both teens and adults during this period, keeping many from just having “fun in the sun.”So how can we help cure this epidemic of negative body image and free people from the fear of the bathing suit?

Focus on the reason you put your suit on in the first place: to unwind and spend valuable time with friends and family.
Take the pressure off of yourself by taking the pressure off of others - if your friends and family don’t feel like they’re being held to the unrealistic standards of celebrities and the media, then you won’t feel like you have anyone to please, but yourself, either.
Join together to limit the purchase of popular magazines that can influence negative body image
Agree to stop commenting on people’s bodies, appearance and clothes.
Nip it in the bud: negative body image can spin out of control, playing a contributing role in the development of eating disorders. If you’re feeling anxious about putting on a bathing suit, talk to someone you trust who can help you cope, rather than turning to an alternate form of coping.
Focus on non-physical compliments - ex. human skill or personality. Once you start focusing on the positives attributes of others’, you’ll stop concentrating on your own perceived “negatives.”
Take your time and choose a suit that fits your body. If you love your blue eyes, wear a suit that compliments their color; If youlove beach sports, opt for a two piece with boy shorts that allows you to get active in the sand or by the pool;
Find the right suit that fits and is made for your body. Seventeen Magazine’s Body Peace expert Jess Weiner offers some more tips.

For more information, check out Jill Zimmerman Rutledge’s book, “Picture Perfect: What You Need to Feel Better About Your Body” which deals specifically with the topic of body image.

Published by CED Editor
August 8th, 2008 in Body Image
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The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Kicks Off Third Annual “Love Your Tree” Campaign at Artscape

Girls With Posters

You may recall one of our previous entries entitled, “The Center for Eating Disorders Receives More Than 80 Posters for ‘Love Your Tree’ Campaign” which highlighted the success of the Center’s second annual campaign. Well, the campaign was so successful that we’ve decided to do it again.

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt recently kicked off this year’s poster campaign at Artscape. In connection with the Maryland Art Therapy Association, the center hosted a booth where festival goers could create their own “Love Your Tree” drawing. The booth was such a popular attraction at the festival that approximately 150 individuals created posters. Of those individuals, more than half chose to submit their artwork to the competition. With approximately 75 beautiful posters already submitted, our campaign is off to a great start and its time for you to get started on your poster.

The contest is open to all Maryland middle, high school, and college students and all entries will be accepted September 15 - December 12, 2008. Posters entries must be no smaller than 9″ X 12″ and no larger than 18″ X 24″. Only two-dimensional media will be accepted. Selected posters will be put on display during the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which runs from February 22-28. Of those selected, one winning poster will be chosen for reproduction.

“Love Your Tree” is a body image campaign based on the work of Eve Ensler, the author of the award-winning play “The Good Body.” For more details, contest rules, and a registration form, please click below

Downloads:

Love Your Tree Registration Form

Love Your Tree Contest Poster

Published by CED Editor
August 1st, 2008 in Body Image
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Food Rituals: When Weird Becomes Harmful

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt partnered with Seventeen Magazine to conduct a survey to look at disordered eating among young women between the ages of 13 and 20-years-old. Seventeen’s recent article, Are You a Freaky Eater?, published in the August 2008 issue, brings to light results gathered from the survey and also explores the nuances of, and behaviors associated with, “freaky eating” - systematic eating patterns categorized as “weird” and most frequently used as a coping mechanism to mask underlying mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety.

Certain experiences can trigger the onset of ritualistic eating patterns, such as a trauma or stressful event in a person’s life. One way an individual may cope with personal issues is by developing coping mechanisms like the one known as “freaky eating.” If not treated, these bizarre, yet calculated eating habits can spiral out of control, resulting in full-blown eating disorders.

When determining if an individual has developed obsessive regimented “rules” for eating, it’s best to look for common signs and symptoms that characterize their love/hate relationship with food. Recognizing these specific signs and symptoms can help individuals and families identify the need to seek appropriate professional treatment. “Freaky” eating behaviors and patterns to look out for include:

Cutting food into tiny pieces
Showing discomfort when eating in front of others
Labeling certain foods as good and other foods as bad - strictly avoiding the ‘bad’ foods
Not allowing certain foods to touch each other on the same plate
A desire to keep food habits or patterns as secretive or low-key as possible

A tumultuous relationship with food can cause an individual to experience low self esteem, cause social isolation due to avoidance of eating with others and can impair an individual’s mood as a result of decreased intake and/or concerns about intake.

If you’re concerned that a friend or family member may be developing an eating disorder as the result of unusual eating patterns, please take our online assessment.

Published by CED Editor
July 21st, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image
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