Body Image archive at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Blog

Less

« Older

Home

Newer »

Archive for the 'Body Image' Category

Suiting-Up for Battle: Waging War on Negative Body Image this Summer

bathing suit

free sex sites that 4a4l
free sex
free massive cock sex
free sex torrent
free gay man sex pics
videos lesbian sex free site hot download girl qua
free erotic sex stories archives
free video gallery sex no credit card
free videos real sex
free doctor adventures sex
hassle free full length sex video
free teacher sex videos
free no pop ups lesbian sex
free sex picture
live free sex web cam
sex addiction free help
teen sex videos free
brittney spears sex videos for free
free bondage sex movies
free pokemon sex videos
free video sex porn
free home videos sex
free sex addicts
free fist fucking sex mpg
free sex jokes
free hot sex group stories
150 effexor mg xr
effexor, clomid, levitra, cialis, viagra
25 mg of effexor
300 mg effexor
300 mg of effexor
300 mg of effexor xr
75 effexor mg xr
75 mg effexor
75 mg effexor xr
buy cell phone online effexor canada
buy cheap effexor online xr
buy cheap effexor xr
buy domain effexor
buy effexor

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
0 Comments

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
0 Comments

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
0 Comments

“Do More and Talk Less” – Dianne Neumark-sztainer, University of Minnesota

Parents always want to do the right thing for their kids. In this culture of obesity, that generally means helping them make the right food choices and teaching them about healthy diet and exercise - right? Well, that all depends on your definition of “diet.” According to a study by researchers at the University of Minnesota, parents who encouraged their overweight adolescents to diet (the most common strategy used when dealing with an overweight teen) reported five years later that their children were still overweight, further supporting that the dieting strategy is prone to backfiring.

With parents’ increased concern about their children’s weight, researchers of this study decided to focus on weight-related parenting behaviors, focusing on parents who accurately saw their children’s weight, as well as those who did not. The results of the study indicated that even if parents accurately understood that their child was obese, they were not more likely to engage in behaviors which might help their child to develop healthier habits in relation to food and exercise.

While some experts believe that school evaluations assessing a child’s weight are key components in fighting the rising rates of obesity, the Minnesota research study shows otherwise. The tried-and-true are still the best methods to help kids build healthy habits:

Provide and eat healthy foods in the house
Have regular family meals
Be physically active with your kids

For more information on this study, check out the Pediatrics Journal.

buy levitra
buy cialis
buy clomid
buy lipitor
online pharmacy

viagra, levitra, cialis, clomid

Published by Sarah Blake
July 2nd, 2008 in Body Image
Closed

Don’t You Judge Mii, Wii.

Last month, Nintendo launched Wii Fit, which uses the Wii Balance Board^TM to monitor a player’s movements during the wide variety of health-related games, including aerobic exercise, muscle conditioning, yoga and balance games.

Upon first setting up Wii Fit, the player is asked to enter his/her height and date of birth, and the Balance Board measures the player’s weight. This information is used to calculate the player’s Body Mass Index (BMI). This, along with the player’s Wii Fit Age - which is determined by the Balance Board measuring the player’s center of balance, body control and BMI - is used to chart a player’s progress in reaching a desired BMI. Once the BMI is calculated, the player’s Mii - a virtual caricature - physically changes shape as the player is categorized as being either “obese,” “overweight,” “normal” or “underweight.”

Our Take: The BMI is widely regarded as a limited measurement of health, as it does not take into consideration factors such as gender, family history, body frame size or muscle mass. As with the BMI health report cards, which have been implemented in public school systems in some states, the Wii Fit can harm an individual’s self esteem and body image. These factors can add to the immense pressure he or she already faces in today’s society of unrealistic perceptions of beauty.

An individual’s fitness should not be based on his/her BMI, as this reinforces the lack of size acceptance in society and negatively impacts an individual’s sense of self. We believe that Nintendo should change the program, as the premise of Wii Fit - helping people become fitter, while having fun - can still be obtained without the BMI and “obese” or “overweight” labeling.

Do you agree that this use of the BMI is another way that our culture is forcing unrealistic expectations of beauty?

Published by CED Editor
June 24th, 2008 in Body Image
0 Comments

A Perfect 10.

(Photo from NYMag.com)

Just look at her. Whitney Thompson is stunning, she’s poised, she’s a size 10…. and she’s the winner of America’s Next Top Model. Although this shouldn’t be shocking, with the recent onslaught of extremely thin fashion models in the media, it is unusual for a size 10 model to come out of ANTM. Whitney Thompson is already making strides in the modeling industry and is proving that an emaciated body isn’t the necessary ingredient for a great photograph.

Already, Whitney has received letters from boys and girls, claiming that she has motivated them to seek help for eating disorders and body image issues. She is working to further debunk the wildly popular belief that a young woman’s body should be altered to fit the clothes, rather than the clothes altered to fit the woman.

We’re glad ANTM has selected a woman who is more representative of the typical American woman. But positioning Whitney as plus size is simply inaccurate. Size 10 is not plus-size! While we applaud Whitney for being comfortable in her own skin, we would urge her to distance herself from the plus-size label she has received and seems to accept. As she states in the interview linked above: “It’s about being healthy. Being obese is no better than being emaciated, and I have to keep telling people that. I don’t sit around and eat donuts all day. I still wear bikinis and look good in them. It’s just about being the best you can be, and you can’t do anything other than that. Another myth is that being a plus-sized model means you’re fat. Guess what: it doesn’t. It means that you’re normal…”

It’s clear that Whitney plans to knock down barriers within the fashion industry, but we’d like to see her start by first breaking herself out of the plus-size label. When clothing size dictates beauty and defines a person, it undermines individuality and uniqueness. Why must Whitney be referred to as a “plus size” model and not just a model?

Published by CED Editor
June 3rd, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image, Celebrity Topical News
0 Comments

Eating Disorder Epidemic: We Want to be FREED.

There’s been a lot of international news about eating disorders. From the French moving toward legislation to prosecute any promotion of extreme thinness, to former British deputy prime minister, John Prescott, coming forward about his past struggles with bulimia. And now, The Eating Disorders Coalition and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) are working on The FREED ACT, a Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders, the first piece of comprehensive Eating Disorders legislation in U.S. history.

The FREED Act will serve to address eating disorders through research, treatment, education and prevention. Among a number of action items, the FREED Act is structured to determine the prevalence of eating disorders within today’s society. Additionally, it will work to determine mortality rates associated with all eating disorders and provide a public report of this data annually. In an effort to increase training opportunities for research, fund research programs, and coordinate the development of a research infrastructure nationwide, centers will be established through an integrated system. The bill will also aim to educate health and higher education professionals and will serve to inform society about eating disorders through Public Service Announcements.

We applaud the actions of Rep. Kennedy and the Eating Disorders Coalition in bringing eating disorders to the attention of our national leadership through the FREED Act. The FREED Act will enable countless individuals to receive early diagnosis and treatment to bring greater chances for survival and complete recovery. Now, we like the sound of that.

More information about the FREED Act and what you can do to support it can be found at www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org.

Published by CED Editor
May 30th, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image
0 Comments

Family and the signs of eating disorders

Sarah Blake, Social Worker and Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, offers insight on what factors may cause eating disorders, and associated with signs and symptoms.

Eating disorders can develop for a number of reasons, and loved ones should be watchful for the signs that may lead to a family member developing such a condition.

Although the physical signs of having an eating disorder may vary depending on which condition your child or family member may have, here are some potential characteristics, or historical personal issues, that may lead to the development of an eating disorder:

Interpersonal signs
• Troubled family and personal relationships
• Difficulty expressing emotions and feelings
• History of being teased or ridiculed based on size or weight

Psychological signs
• Low self-esteem
• Feelings of inadequacy or lack of control in life
• Depression, anxiety, anger or loneliness

It’s important to note, that while all of these signs should be closely monitored, there’s no exact recipe that dictates which specific factors may lead to an eating disorder. The more we can do to build awareness of the causes and risks, the better.
The following are tips for parents to help prevent eating disorders among their children:

• While it is wonderful to praise your child, it sends a mixed message when you tell them they are beautiful and then negatively critique your own body in front of them
• Do not allow family members to tease one another or those outside the family about body size, shape or appearance
• Encourage and engage in healthy eating
• Educate your children about the media images they see, and teach them to be informed consumers

Most importantly, get help and support for yourself and if necessary, for your child and/or family. Getting into a treatment program at an early stage of the disorder, increases ones chances of a positive experience in the recovery process.

Please call the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt at 410-938-5252 to speak with someone in confidence.

Published by CED Editor
April 23rd, 2008 in Body Image
0 Comments

“Your Child Registered at Miss Bimbo.”

Here lies the subject line of a confirmation email sent after registering at Miss Bimbo - the world’s first virtual fashion game, approved for nine year old girls, where young women aspire to become the world’s most famous and beautiful bimbo.

Miss Bimbo allows girls as young as nine years old to choose outfits, accessories and boyfriends for their respective Miss Bimbo avatars. Once they have settled on a boyfriend who “brings them money for all their girlie needs - earning them more bimbo attitude,” they can flirt or dance with them at Club Bimbo. They can also search for an apartment, enlist a personal trainer and visit a plastic surgeon for a face lift or even breast augmentation, if they’re feeling adventurous.

Numerous news outlets have gotten word of the website and developed their own take on it. The site recently removed the option to purchase diet pills for one’s respective bimbo, citing an influx of negative media attention.

But we’ve seen at least one comment, praising the site, arguing that it teaches young children how to take care of their bimbo and instills values concurrent with the “real world.”

Although the removal of the diet pill feature is a step in the right direction, Miss Bimbo still refers to young women as “bimbos” and touts an unrealistic weight standard, encouraging the use of a personal trainer to get rid of “love handles, packed on by excessive eating.”

As we write this post, it’s our intention to bring to the forefront the negative impact this controversial site could have on young women. We believe values such as responsibility and taking care of oneself can be instilled in ways other than channeling a website that infiltrates negative body image within the impressionable mind of today’s youth.

We’d like for our readers to sound-off about this website. Does this website sound like the “real world” to you? Having our voices heard will strengthen the online community as we resist the “values” society places on young women and men.

Published by CED Editor
April 4th, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image
0 Comments

Athletes and Disordered Eating – Q&A with Ron Thompson

On April 12, 2008, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt will host a symposium to educate the professional community on how they can support and promote eating disorder prevention efforts. Check out the Q&A with Dr. Ron Thompson, one of the five internationally renowned experts in eating disorders who will be presenting. Keep an eye out for interviews with other experts as we get closer to the date!

What is unique about the athlete’s environment that places them at risk for development of an eating disorder?

There are several factors that make athletes a special population at risk. Athletes have the same risk factors as non-athletes as well as factors that are specific to sport participation. The greatest risk has to do with the belief in the sport world, held by both coaches and athletes, that the leaner athlete performs better, which leads to dieting.

Significant risks also lie in the aesthetic, judged and endurance sports. “Good athletes” have similar traits to those who suffer from anorexia nervosa, which may predispose them to potential development of an eating disorder. Additionally, some athletes who wear revealing uniforms are more at risk for body dissatisfaction and competitive thinness.

Although these are all significant risk factors, I believe that the greatest risk to athletes is the challenge to identify an eating disorder within the sport world. If an at-risk or symptomatic athlete isn’t identified, they cannot be treated.

Another issue that complicates identification involves “sport body stereotypes” in which the stereotype of thinness is not only accepted as “normal,” but is also desirable. In such a situation, the athlete who may be too thin would be difficult to identify because she fits the stereotype. Another issue complicating identification is the presumption of health with good performance. Many in the sport world do not suspect an eating disorder if the athlete is performing well.

Finally, many in the sport world do not identify eating disorder symptoms such as weight-loss, amenorrhea and excessive exercise as symptoms, as they are oftentimes viewed as desirable.

What are a few key signs that an athlete may be developing and/or struggling with an eating disorder?

Although many athletes are able to perform well for quite some time despite their disorder, the disorder will eventually affect their health and performance. A decrease in sport performance may be the first sign. For female athletes, one of the first signs is often menstrual irregularity. The combination of too much training and inadequate nutrition leads to what has been termed “low energy availability,” which has been adopted in the sport world as the explanation for exercise-induced menstrual dysfunction. Stress fractures and overuse injuries can also be an indicator, as well as if the athlete is doing more training than is recommended by his/her coach.

What advice can you offer for either an athlete or a coach on how to minimize the risk for this population?

I have always believed that the coach is the most important and most influential person in the process. Coaches first need to recognize their power and influence with their athletes, which can either be used to promote or prevent eating disorders. They must commit themselves to learning the risks involved in their sport and more importantly how to prevent them, part of which has to involve de-emphasizing weight.

Athletes and coaches are most receptive to discussions about performance. Performance, however, cannot become subordinated to health. I suggest to coaches and athletes that, other than genetics, the most significant contributor to good sport performance is good health and the most significant contributor to good health is good nutrition.

Dr. Ron Thompson works for the Bloomington Center for Counseling and Human Development where he specializes in the assessment and treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, specifically with athletes on their psychological issues, relating to eating and exercise. He has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1986.

If you are a mental health professional and are interested in hearing Dr. Thompson speak on this subject you can register for the April 12th symposium online at www.eventville.com/sheppardpratt

Published by CED Editor
March 27th, 2008 in Editor's Picks, Body Image
1 Comment