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The 2012 Symposium ~ CED welcomes five distinguished treatment experts from around the world

The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt is proud to present Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment, on April 21st, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.  This is an exciting opportunity for phsyicians, psychologists, social workers, counselors, nurses, dietitians  and other treatment professionals looking to expand and deepen their knowledge and expertise in the treatment of individuals  with eating disorders.  You can learn more about the 2012 distinguished panel of speakers below.

We hope you’re planning to join us in Baltimore on April 21st.  

 

2012 Speaker Bios

 

Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D.  ~ Dr. Wilson is an Associate Professor of psychology at the University at Mississippi. He is Past President of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, Representative-at-Large of the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology, and is one of the co-developers of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He is a devoted teacher and winner of the University of Mississippi Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teaching Award. Wilson has devoted himself to the development and dissemination of ACT and its underlying theory and philosophy for the past 22 years, and has published numerous articles and chapters, as well as 10 books including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: The Process and Practice of Mindful Change and his newest books Mindfulness for Two, and The Wisdom to Know the Difference: An Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Substance Abuse. He has central interests in the application of behavioral principles to understanding topics such as purpose, meaning and values, therapeutic relationship, and mindfulness. Wilson is the founder of Onelife Education and Training, LLC and has presented workshops and provided consultancy in 26 countries, and has participated in a wide range of research projects in the U.S., Sweden, Spain, and the United Kingdom.  At the upcoming Symposium, Dr. Wilson will be presenting two talks, including Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders and Body Image Disturbance as well as a breakout session aimed at helping clinicians to utilize ACT with their most difficult cases.

Timothy Brewerton, M.D.  ~ Dr. Brewerton is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, where he founded and directed the Eating Disorders Program (1987-2001) and was Medical Consultant at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center (1996-2001). Dr.Brewerton is triple board certified in general psychiatry, child/adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, and is currently in private practice in Mt. Pleasant. He is Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Founding Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED). He served on the AED Board of Directors and is Past-President of the Eating Disorders Research Society and the South Carolina Council for Child-Adolescent Psychiatry. He is also currently President-elect of the South Carolina Psychiatric Association. Dr. Brewerton has published over 120 articles and book chapters, and is Editor of the text, Clinical Handbook of Eating Disorders: An Integrated Approach(2004). Dr. Brewerton serves on the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, and Current Nutrition and Food Science. He is a well-recognized expert in eating and related disorders, having presented well over 300 lectures, workshops and symposia in the U.S. and around the world. Most recently, Dr. Brewerton’s work with trauma and eating disorders and his substantial contributions to the field were honored as he was awarded as IAEDP’s 2012 Honorary CEDS (Certified Eating Disorders Specialist).  At CED’s upcoming symposium, Dr. Brewerton will be presenting a keynote presentation entitled Trauma and Eating Disorders: Updates and Advances in Managing the Complex Comorbidity as well as a breakout session for clinicians who work heavily with this patient population.  Hear more about Dr. Brewerton’s research in this Q & A about the intersection of eating disorders & trauma.

Joanne Dolhanty, Ph.D. ~ Dr. Joanne Dolhanty has worked in the field of eating disorders for over 20 years. She completed her doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at York University, and trained and worked in the Toronto General Hospital Eating Disorder Program for 15 years. She currently works as a psychologist in the Eating Disorder Clinic at the Credit Valley Hospital, and at the Mt. Pleasant Therapy Centre, in Toronto. For the past several years she has been working with Dr. Les Greenberg to develop the application of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)to eating disorders and is committed to training other professionals in this approach.  Dr. Dolhanty has facilitated a number of professional workshops on EFT across Canada and the U.S., including presentations for the Academy for Eating Disorders’ International Conference, the World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Eating Disorders Research Society.  At the April 21, 2012 symposium, Dr. Dolhanty will be providing presentation entitled, Fat Is a Feeling: Emotion-Focused Therapy in the Treatment of Body Image Disparagement, as well as a breakout session for clinicians looking  for an Introduction to Skill-Development in Using EFT in the Treatment of Eating Disorders.

B. Timothy Walsh, M.D.  ~ Dr. Walsh is a graduate of Princeton University and of Harvard Medical School, joined the staff of Columbia University Medical Center in 1979 and established the Eating Disorders Research Unit at New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Walsh is currently the Ruane Professor of Pediatric Psychopharmacology in the Department of Psychiatry at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, and Director of the Division of Clinical Therapeutics at New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Walsh’s research group has examined biological and psychological abnormalities which contribute to the development and perpetuation of disturbances in eating behavior, and investigated both psychological and pharmacological treatments for Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder. Dr. Walsh is a member of the DSM-V Task Force and chairs the Eating Disorders Workgroup for DSM-V. He is a past president of the Academy for Eating Disorders, and of the Eating Disorders Research Society.  On April 21st, Dr. Walsh will be discussing the important topic of Eating Disorders in the DSM-V: Why the Criteria Have Changed and What it Means for You and Your Practice.  He will also facilitate a breakout session focused on Enhancing Recovery from Anorexia Nervosa.

Janet Treasure, Ph.D., FRCPsych  ~ Professor Janet Treasure is Director of the Eating Disorder Unit and Professor of Psychiatry at University College London. She has more than 25 years experience in the treatment and study of eating disorders and is currently director of the Eating Disorders Service. Professor Treasure is also Chief Medical advisor for BEAT and a fellow for the Academy of Eating Disorders. During her career, she has edited seven academic texts on eating disorders and authored multiple books for individuals, families and clinicians, including The Clinician’s Guide to Collaborative Caring in Eating Disorders: The New Maudsley Method. Professor Treasure has been active in research and has over 150 peer reviewed papers in print. Among the numerous awards she has received for her work, are the 1984 Gaskell medal from the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the 2004  Leadership Award in Research from AED. In addition to her considerable research into eating disorders, Professor Treasure has been highly involved in treatment trials for type 1 diabetes through CBT and motivational interviewing. Professor Treasure has trained over 20 PhD students in research on eating disorders and is one of the most highly decorated academics in this branch of research. We are excited to have her as part of the 2012 Symposium where she will present:  Accentuating the Positive and Enhancing Motivation to Change: Essential Tools to Help Patients with Eating Disorders Engage in Treatment.  Dr. Treasure will also conduct a breakout session entitled, Collaborative Care and Skills Sharing with Families to Facilitate Motivation to Change.

There are still a few spots left for the upcoming professional symposium, Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment, on April 21, 2012 in Baltimore, MD.  If you’d like to attend, please download the program brochure for details and complete your online registration here.

Published by Kate Clemmer
April 13th, 2012 in Celebrity Topical News
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Trauma and Eating Disorders: Updates & Advances in Managing the Complex Comorbidity

Dr. Timothy Brewerton

On April 21st, 2012 treatment professionals from across the country will gather in Baltimore for a day of advanced training and learning opportunities focused on improving treatment options and outcomes for their patients with eating disorders.  Dr. Timothy Brewerton, one of five distinguished experts presenting at the event, is widely respected for his contributions to the field of eating disorder treatment, particularly regarding his work with co-occurring trauma.  In advance of his presentations, we asked Dr. Brewerton to comment on this complex intersection between trauma and eating disorders.   Read on for his informative responses, and find his full bio here.  

 Q & A with Timothy Brewerton, M.D.

Q: There is a lot of conflicting information about the co-occurrence of trauma and eating disorders.  From your experience with the research regarding this population, what is the prevalence of trauma disorders among individuals who have an eating disorder?  And conversely, what percentage of individuals who’ve experienced trauma, struggle with eating disorders? 

Dr. Brewerton:

There has been enormous variability in the quality of methods in studies that have assessed trauma and eating disorders, including the size and nature of samples used and the assessment instruments employed. How and when a clinician assesses a trauma history is crucial to the outcome. Using behaviorally specific language, rather than vague, open ended questioning, is much more preferable. More importantly, most studies have not assessed for lifetime and current histories of PTSD and partial or subthreshold PTSD, the presence of which appears to be a crucial mediator between a prior history of trauma and the subsequent development of an eating disorder.  

Trauma histories and PTSD are exceedingly common in subjects with eating disorders. The National Women’s Study found that 54% of a non-clinical, representative sample of women in the U.S. with BN had lifetime histories of a major crime victim event, including rape, molestation and/or aggravated assault. In addition, 38% of this same sample of women in the U.S. with BN had lifetime histories of PTSD. In the more recent, National Comorbidity Replication Survey, 100% of men and women with BN reported a major traumatic event, most of which was of an interpersonal nature, and 45% of both women and men with bulimia nervosa (BN) had lifetime PTSD. 

When lifetime partial or subthreshold PTSD is factored in, the great majority of individuals with BN meets criteria for partial or complete PTSD. And it is these individuals with PTSD or partial/subthreshold PTSD that have the highest rates of comorbidity and have the highest rates of treatment refractoriness. Conversely, most traumatized individuals do not develop eating disorders, although in traumatized individuals with PTSD the odds ratio (OR) for developing BN is 10.2, for binge eating disorder (BED) it is 5.1 and for any binge eating it is 4.0.

Q: We know there is some positive correlation between eating disorders and trauma.  When broken down into anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS, do we see any trends in terms of their associations with trauma?

Dr. Brewerton:

Yes, there is a fairly consistent association between trauma history and all of the eating disorders that involve bingeing and/or purging, but not pure restricting. This link has been most clearly established for bulimia nervosa (BN) and secondarily for anorexia nervosa, binge-purge subtype. There are also several well-done studies showing higher rates of trauma history and PTSD in individuals with binge eating disorder and EDNOS associated with binge eating and/or purging, e.g., “purging disorder.”

Q: We know eating disorders can arise from a complex combination of factors.  How do you conceptualize and explain the role of traumatic life events in terms of its roll in eating disorder etiology?

Dr. Brewerton:

Eating disorders are highly heritable conditions in that genetics appears to account for 0.5 to 0.8 of the variance, regardless of the type of eating disorder. Given our increasingly expanding knowledge of gene x environment interactions, the old adage coined by George Bray holds true: “Genetics loads the gun, and environment pulls the trigger.” Traumatic life events presumably trigger gene expression in susceptible or predisposed individuals, which in turn leads to a cascade of events in brain that is associated with trauma-related thoughts, feelings, memories and behaviors, as well as associated symptomatology of anxiety, depression, and dissociation. In other words, traumatic experiences overwhelm the person’s internal (neurobiological) and external (psychosocial) resources such that there is a failure of integration of these experiences. In turn, behaviors typically associated with experiential avoidance develop, such as bingeing, purging and/or substance abuse, and represent attempts to not only avoid trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and memories but to reduce emotional arousal as well.   

Q: On April 21st you will be presenting Trauma & Eating Disorders: Updates and Advances in Managing the Complex Comorbidity.  What general questions can symposium attendees hope to have answered during your presentation? 

Dr. Brewerton:

Following the talk, attendees will walk away with the following questions thoroughly answered:

  • What are the best self-report and interview-based assessments for screening for trauma, PTSD and comorbid psychopathology?  
  • What is the research evidence from both female and male samples of all ages that supports the conclusion that traumatic experiences are significant yet nonspecific risk factors in the development of eating disorders and other related psychiatric conditions?  
  • What are best-practice, integrative treatment approaches for patients of all ages with both eating disorders, PTSD, and other comorbid conditions?

Dr. Brewerton recommends the following sites for additional information regarding the impact of trauma as well as resources for research and treatment:

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Many thanks to Dr. Brewerton for taking the time to respond to our questions and for discussing this important topic. Dr. Brewerton will be presenting the following sessions at the 2012 symposium, Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment, on April 21, 2012:

  • Morning Keynote ~ Trauma and Eating Disorders: Updates and Advances in Managing the Complex Comorbidity
  • Afternoon Breakout Session ~ Challenges to Therapists in the Long-term Psychotherapy of Traumatized Eating Disorder Patients

Interested in attending this professional event?  Please Note: there is limited space available as we approach the event.  View the full program agenda, download the program brochure and register online today to ensure your space at the symposium.  Questions?  Call (410) 938-4593.

www.eatingdisorder.org

 

 

 

Published by Kate Clemmer
April 13th, 2012 in Celebrity Topical News
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Social Networks ~ Building a Body Positive Presence Online

Developing a positive body image isn’t necessarily easy and often takes a lot of work.  Creating a body positive Facebook page, however, can be easy with a few simple steps…

If you haven’t done this yet, start by recognizing any negative or positive effects that  your Facebook use may be having on your self-esteem or body image.  How often do you publicly or privately criticize your own body while on Facebook?  How much time do you spend comparing your body to other people’s bodies online? Do your comments on other people’s photos regularly focus on weight or appearance?  Do you ever get overwhelmed by this?

If the answer to any of these questions has you concerned, you’re not alone.  As we’ve been discussing here on our blog, the resultsof a recent public survey indicate that Facebook and other online social networks can be a tumultuous environment when it comes to body image.  Many survey respondents shared that seeing photos of themselves and others on Facebook often makes them more self-conscious about their own body/weight, even to the point that they often feel sad about it.  It seems that a lot of Facebook time is spent comparing, criticizing and lamenting our bodies, so today’s post is all about changing this online culture of negative body image. 

Read on for tips and ideas that can help us as individuals, and as a community, move towards building a body positive presence online.

Remember the basics while on Facebook:

  • People often go to great lengths to create a ”perfect” image of themselves online – be wary of comparing your real life or your real body to someone else’s online persona. 
  • There are many benefits of online social networks. Most importantly, they offer an incredible way to connect with and learn from other people and organizations.  That being said, do your best to present your authentic self instead of a “perfected” or fake online persona (see above).  Be mindful that you are using Facebook and other social networks for purposeful, real, positive connections with people and organizations that you respect and that give you respect in return. 
  • Don’t forget – people tend to be mostly focused on themselves; your Facebook friends are never looking at photos of you as critically or as closely as you are of yourself.  

Interrupt the body negativity  in your social network feeds by subscribing to some body positive organizations.  These are just a few great body image advocates on Facebook, many of them are also on Twitter and Pinterest: 

Proud2BmeUS -   Making it cool to be body positive! An online community for teens who want to change the way teens talk about food, weight, and body image. Written by and for teens but great messages for adults too!

The Illusionists - A sophisticated look at body image across the world and the global effects of the beauty industry… uncovering how mass media, advertising, and industries manipulate and exploit people’s insecurities about their bodies for profit. 

Linda Bacon HAES -  Shifting the focus from weight to health, giving people of all shapes the tools to achieve better fitness, health and even happiness – all without ever dieting again.

Adios Barbie - A daily dose of beautiful. Their mission: to promote healthy body image and identity in folks of all races, sizes, ages, sexual orientations and abilities.

End Fat Talk  - Eliminating fat talk, changing the conversation about body image.

By subscribing to at least a few of these organizations, you set yourself up for a boost of daily body positivity – when is the last time you set yourself up to succeed?  Read their posts and click on their links.  Over time, you will begin absorbing these positive messages, and it can help you shift your own focus away from weight, back to health and holistic well-being. 

Take a stand  and make a conscious decision NOT to engage in weight obsession or “fat talk” within your online communities.  Here’s your challenge: try only posting about or commenting on friends’ non-physical accomplishments and successes instead of immediately zeroing in on how they look or what they weigh. 

 Here’s a few common Facebook examples:

~ Your cousin just had a baby and posts a picture of herself with her new bundle of joy.   A  common [weight-focused] Facebook comment would be:  “Congrats! You look great – You don’t even look like you just had a baby!”  Instead of focusing in on her body, consider adding something to the online conversation that honors her feelings and her role as a new mom without drawing attention to her waistline:  “Congratulations! You are radiating the happiness of a new mom! Can’t wait to see you and meet the baby.” 

~ An old high school friend posts something about meeting his weight loss goal and is receiving tons of compliments for it in the comments below his post. Instead of joining in the chorus of, “Wow- you look amazing!…Congratulations!…I’m so jealous!”comments, think about what you might be condoning by doing so. Would you still leave a celebratory comment on someone’s Facebook page if you knew their weight loss was a result of fasting, obsessive exercise, purging or other behaviors that were putting their health at risk?  Hopefully not.  The truth is, you can’t tell a whole lot about some one’s health from a picture on Facebook so you may want to abstain completely from commenting on people’s weight.      

Unfortunately, we hear from individuals with eating disorders all the time who get a lot of positive feedback for their weight loss - online and offline – from friends, family and even health care providers who don’t know what they’re really doing to lose the weight.  This positive reinforcement often promotes an escalation of  unhealthy behaviors and can strengthen a person’s reliance on weight loss for maintaining self-worth.  As columnist Yashar Ali wrote for The Current Conscience,   Think Twice Before You Praise Someone for Losing Weight, becuase you just never know what’s going on behind the computer screen. 

Draw the line when it comes to protecting your own well-being while online.  If you find yourself continually triggered by a certain Facebook friend, do not be afraid to unsubscribe from their Facebook updates.  It can be very empowering, and beneficial to your body image, to hide comments or unsubscribe from people if they continually focus in unhealthy ways on weight, dieting or superficial definitions of beauty. 

Take a break if you find yourself unable to escape feelings of jealousy, sadness or comparison while online.  Experiment by logging off temporarily and see how your mood and body image respond.  Use the time that you would have spent on Facebook to acquire a new hobby, connect with body-positive friends by phone or in person, or engage in other activities that honor your body and mind in a healthy way.

Are you willing to ditch the diet and weight obsession online?  Ready to make the change to a body positive page? Please join us on Facebook and share your suggestions for promoting a positive body image within your online social networks.

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If at any time, you are engaging in disordered eating or dangerous behaviors seek professional help right away.  You can visit www.eatingdisorder.org for information about treatment and support or call us at (410) 938-5252.

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Published by Kate Clemmer
April 11th, 2012 in Celebrity Topical News
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What’s Really Going On with Faceboook & Body Image?

The results of our recent survey regarding the intersection of Facebook use and body image have been highlighted by various news outlets over the past two weeks.  We discussed the implications of the survey results here (and as a guest post over at The Illusionists), drawing attention to the fact that 51% of the 600 survey respondents said they often compare themselves to others while on Facebook and that seeing photos on Facebook makes them more self-conscious about their own body and weight.  Additionally, 32% endorsed feelings of sadness when they compare their body to other people’s photos on Facebook which, for most people, is at least once a day if not more.

Facebook: Body Image Friend or Foe? at The Illusionists.org

We originally set out to do this survey because we were finding that patients with eating disorders were meeting with great difficulty in the recovery process when it came to logging into their Facebook accounts.  In fact, before we released the full survey results, one user on our Facebook page left the following comment:

“Facebook definitely played a role in fueling my eating disorder symptoms and behaviors.  Most people only post pictures that glamorize their bodies and social life…There have been multiple times throughout my recovery that I have deactivated my account because the things I was seeing online were fogging my view of reality.  Realizing that the site was doing more harm than good for me has made me more aware of the things I post on my account.  I think it’s important to make sure we are trying to foster a safe and healthy community and we can only do that if we first change the way we act… .” -  Facebook User

While some media outlets have gone as far as to say that Facebook is a cause of negative body image and eating disorders, others have dismissed the significance of the results as par for the course in our  image and weight-obsessed culture.  Others, including this editorial assistant over at Allure Magazineonline, have spoken up in a personal, and humorous, way about the modern realities of  this pressure-to-be-perfect in Facebook photos. Despite the varied reactions, one thing became clear to us following the survey;   Individuals with eating disorders are not alone in their battle with body-obsession on Facebook.   

Since the survey, we’ve been asked multiple times about how body-pressure from online social media differs from the toxic messages we’ve been getting for decades from fashion magazines, commercials and weight-focused friends?   The answer: the content itself is nothing new to us as a society - conversations that are hyper-focused on weight loss, diets, bikini bodies, and who looks ”hot or not” – but the delivery and dissemination of it is new.  We’ve noticed the following characteristics of online communities are unique in how they can potentially affect the relationship we have with our bodies: 

  • Accessibility - Online social networks never turn off.  Even when you’re by yourself you’re often not far from your laptop, iPad or Smartphone and the lure of logging in to Facebook.  In the past, waiting in line at the store might have included…waiting in line.  With a smartphone it could easily be spent browsing Facebook pics from your old college roomate’s beach vacation or reading about Aunt Sally’s 37th time going on a diet.  For better or worse, we have a lot more visual information at our fingertips than ever before. 
  • Immediacy – your status update or photo can literally be seen (and commented on) around the world in a matter of seconds.
  • Lack of control over what other people post and how people comment on it.
  • Two-way street- unlike with magazines or commercials, Facebook not only allows you to see photos of other people, but allows them to see photos of you.  Maybe even more importantly, YOU are seeing public photos of you which can sometimes create the most body anxiety, especially if your instinct is to zero in on all of your supposed “imperfections” in each picture.
  • Business or Pleasure? – there’s a unique mix between the personal and business realms on Facebook.  Users often use one account to stay connected with friends/family but also occasionally promote a product or business in their posts and photos.  This means we get advertisement-like messages about beauty, exercise and weight-loss products from people we like and/or trust.  Confusing? Definitely.     
  • The sheer number of people you are connected to on Facebook is more than you would ever casually socialize with on a Friday night. The thought of hundreds or even thousands of people zeroing in on what you imagine to be “imperfections” can be overwhelming when it comes to body insecurities.  (It’s important to remember that no one else is ever looking at you or your body in photos as closely as you are!) 
  • Body Comparisons while on Facebook take on new meaning because you’re seeing real people.  Unlike magazines and advertisements which feature [heavily photoshopped]models and celebrities, photos of Facebook friends may, unfortunately, feel like a more realistic or welcoming comparison.  

The truth is, when you get caught up in comparing yourself and your body to other people (online or off) you can’t win.  Blogger, Margarita Tartakovsky, shares her journey out of this comparison trap in How To Stop Comparing Yourself To Others, in which she reflects:  

When you’re rarely satisfied with yourself, your self-worth is shaky, and you see others’ lives as almost perfect – or definitely better than your own. You  constantly search outside yourself, and as a result, you knock yourself down. For many of us, comparing ourselves just changes stripes from time to time. One day, we want someone else’s abs, biceps or hips. Another day, we want their smarts or style. A few days later, we want their family life or financial situation.  Until we can truly believe in ourselves, the comparisons will swirl and sabotage…It’s interesting that now that I accept, appreciate and believe in my body, the physical comparisons have mostly quieted.

The trap of body negativity and comparisons on Facebook can certainly be difficult to avoid, especially if your online social atmosphere includes a lot of people who place a high value on appearance-only qualities or happen to be caught up in the diet mentality themselves.  The impact can feel much more powerful if your body image is already in a fragile state as is often the case for individuals with eating disorders and those recovering from eating disorders.  

The great news is that you can mold a more positive online experience for yourself.  If you’ve reflected on your Facebook use,  assessed its impact on your body image and realized that too much of your social networking time is spent feeling worried or sad about how you look, than it may be time to set some changes in motion.

You can start by vowing to maintain a body positive Facebook profile - this means not engaging in fat talk, self-criticism, diet discussion or body snarking while on Facebook. Once you’ve made the decision to do so, you can find tips and suggestions for incorporating body positivity in our post, Social Networks ~ Building a Body Positive Presence Online.

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Published by Kate Clemmer
April 11th, 2012 in At-Risk Populations, Body Image, Celebrity Topical News, In the News, Media, Technology
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Body Image Friend or Foe? How is Facebook affecting the way you feel about your Body?

ABC-2 News Interview - Does Facebook Make You Feel Fat?

Over the last year, major social networking and blog sites have taken steps to protect users from  dangerous Pro-ana and Pro-mia communities online.  These are sites that promote eating disorders as a way of life, instead of a genuine mental illness, and create an atmosphere that normalizes and encourages extremely dangerous weight-loss behaviors.  Most recently the popular photo sharing site, Pinterest, updated their policies regarding inappropriate content to include Pinners and boards that feature “thinspo” or “thinspiration” – images of dangerously thin bodies meant to motivate or inspire users to pursue greater weight loss.   While banning this content won’t cure eating disorders, it can certainly help to protect vulnerable individuals from tapping into these dangerous websites. 

Though somewhat hidden in “underground” niches across the web, the dangers of online pro-eating disorder sites have been well-documented, and we commend Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr for taking a stand to protect their users from these sites.  But perhaps more unsuspecting in their effects, are mainstream social network communities: general sites like Facebook that we all use everyday to keep in touch with friends and family across the world, to post pictures of our kids and pets, to share birthday wishes or follow favorite organizations.  

Have you ever thought about how Facebook use is affecting your relationship with your body? 

Recently, The Center for Eating Disorders commissioned a public survey of Facebook users age 16-40 and found that, for most Facebook users, the answer to this questions is actually quite concerning.  In response to the survey we found:

  • 51% of respondents said that seeing photos of themselves on Facebook makes them more conscious about their own body and their weight
  • 32% said they feel SAD when comparing Facebook photos of themselves to their friends’
  • 44% spend time wishing they had the same body or weight as a friend when looking at photos on Facebook
  • 37% said they feel that they need to change specific parts of their body when comparing their bodies to a friend’s body in Facebook photos

Now consider that 80% of the respondents in our survey reported that they log on to Facebook at least once a day and more than half of them log on several times each day.   Thus, we see the set-up  for a daily stream of negative body image thoughts which could potentially impact one’s self-esteem.

Recent articles on CNN.com and NYTimes.com have drawn attention to the heightened role that online social networks play in adolescents’ relationship with their bodies, specifically with regards to the sexualization of teens’ online photos.  Most recently, the self-esteem website Proud2BMe.org  featured a collection of sobering quotes  from real teens regarding their body image and Facebook use, a few of which are excerpted below:

“People get positive attention in the world by losing weight. And you can do it to an even greater extent on Facebook.”-Anika, 18

“It’s only the ’standard beauty’ who gets the ‘likes’ I feel like to be the hot girl, you have to be like that, or wear your shirt too low and your skirt too high.” -Kirby, 18

“When looking at images of girls in a magazine almost all us know that they are altered electronically to appear perfect. When it comes to social media such as Facebook, most believe that they are looking at raw pictures, or ‘real girls.’ Whether this is true or not, they are ultimately used as a standard of comparison.    -Mary

What may be even more sobering is the reality that this mindset is not unique to adolescents. Survey results indicate that this is not just a phase we pass through or something teens will necessarily grow out of.   Respondents included adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s confirming that they experience similar patterns of body negativity and weight obsession when using Facebook.   

Body negativity on Facebook is not to be considered just a women’s issue either.  In this survey commissioned by CED, 40% of the male respondents agreed that they sometimes write negative comments about their own body in photos posted on Facebook (whereas 21% of females agree to doing so).

What do we gain from publicly, or privately, criticizing our bodies and constantly comparing our bodies to one another?  Does anyone really benefit from congratulating or praising people when they post about weight loss or diets in their Facebook updates?  Weight obsession and body shaming certainly isn’t new, but online social networks are creating a new frontier that seems to be publicizing our body insecurities while magnifying society’s love affair with diets and weight loss. CED’s associate director Dr. Steven Crawford had this to say in response to the survey results:

As people spend more time thinking about what’s wrong with their bodies, less time is spent on the positive realm and engaging in life in meaningful and fulfilling ways.  When people become more concerned with the image they project online and less concerned with holistic markers of health in real life, their body image may suffer and they may even turn, or return, to harmful fad diets or dangerous weight-control behaviors. We hope the results of this survey encourage people to really look at how their online behavior affects their outlook, and we caution them against being overly critical of their own bodies or other people’s bodies while on Facebook and other social networking sites.

Consider reflecting on your own Facebook use and how it could possibly be affecting your relationship with your body.   We suggest asking yourself the following questions to discern whether certain online behaviors or patterns are harming your self-esteem or body image:

  • How often do you publicly or privately criticize your own body while online?
  • How much time do you spend comparing your body to other people’s bodies online?
  • What percentage of your status updates focus on weight, diets or exercise? 
  • Do your comments on other people’s photos regularly focus on weight or appearance in a negative or positive way?  
  • How do you feel when you look through friends’ online albums? Do you ever get overwhelmed by this?  

It’s important to remember that Facebook, and social networking in general, is a wonderful way to stay in touch with and connect to other people and organizations.  Facebook certainly doesn’t cause negative body image in and of itself.  It does however, provide lots of fuel for the weight-obsession and body criticisms that already burn out of control in our larger culture.  This can be particularly worrisome for individuals who already struggle with severe negative body image or eating disorders.  During a recent interview with ABC-2 News regarding the survey results, CED Director, Dr. Harry Brandt added that,     

Facebook may be another step in our culture that promotes self-consciousness about appearance and feelings of low self-worth around [the] body, and those are significant factors in the proliferation of eating disorders.

If you find that you’re using Facebook as an outlet for feeling badly about your body, comparing yourself to others physically, or hyperfocusing on appearance and weight in your posts, it may be time to renovate your page.  Check out these follow-up posts:

Do you have suggestions? Want to share about you own experience?  Join the conversation, and start the movement towards online body positivity on our Facebook page.

You can findmore information about The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt on our website, www.EatingDisorder.org

Published by Kate Clemmer
March 28th, 2012 in At-Risk Populations, Body Image, Celebrity Topical News, In the News, Media, Media Literacy, Technology
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Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment

A Professional Symposium sponsored by The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt

Saturday, April 21, 2012
Baltimore, MD
7.5 CME/CEUs

Download the Symposium brochure or Register Online

Five internationally renonwned keynote speakers

Learn from five international experts in one intensive training day.

Keynote Presentations:

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) for Patients with Eating Disorders and Body Image Distortion
Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D.

Trauma and Eating Disorders: Updates & Advances in Managing the Complex Comorbidity
Timothy Brewerton, M.D.

Fat is a feeling: Emotion-Focused Therapy in the Treatment of Body Image Disparagement
Joanne Dolhanty, Ph.D.

Eating Disorders in the Upcoming DSM-V: Why The Criteria Have Changed and What it Means for You and Your Patients
B. Timothy Walsh, M.D.

Accentuating the Positive and Enhancing Motivation to Change: Essential Tools to Help Patients with Eating Disorders Engage in Treatment
Janet Treasure, Ph.D.

Breakout Sessions:

Using ACT with Your Most Difficult Eating Disordered Patients
Kelly Wilson, Ph.D.

Collaborative Care and Skills Sharing with Families to Facilitate Motivation to Change
Janet Treasure, Ph.D.

Challenges to Therapists in the Long-Term Psychotherapy of Traumatized Eating Disorder Patients
Timothy Brewerton, M.D.

Introduction to Skill-Development in Using Emotion-Focused Therapy in the Treatment of Eating Disorders
Joanne Dolhanty, Ph.D.

Discussion: Enhancing Recovery from Anorexia Nervosa: Any Science to This?
B. Timothy Walsh, M.D.

Registration:

Online Registration is available here: Eating Disorders: State of the Art Treatment – REGISTRATION

Download the Symposium brochure for a detailed agenda and speaker bios.  You can also download and print the brochure to register by fax or mail.

Registration fees include event attendance, all program materials and handouts, 7.5 continuing education credits, continental breakfast, catered lunch, coffee/refreshments and networking opportunities.

More info:

The Center for Eating Disorders’ annual symposium is designed to bring cutting-edge, innovative treatment knowledge to the professionals caring for people with eating disorders. Hear from five international eating disorder experts on a variety of treatment topics designed to strengthen your knowledge of comprehensive eating disorder treatment, and help improve patient outcomes.

The symposium will be of interest to all professionals who make up the treatment team, including psychiatrists, internists, family practitioners, psychologists, registered nurses, social workers, registered dietitians and expressive arts therapists. 7.5 CMEs/CEUs are offered. If you’d like to receive additional announcements about events like this in the future, please subscribe to our professional mailing list.

QUESTIONS? Call (410) 938-4593

Published by Kate Clemmer
February 3rd, 2012 in Celebrity Topical News
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A Holiday Packing List

Given all of the long-distance traveling, last-minute shopping,  family gatherings and high expectations that are associated with the holidays, it’s no surprise that this time of year can often be simultaneously stressful and joyful.  If you take care of yourself and find balance within the two experiences, you can usually come out on the other side of the New Year with lots of memories of joy and little recollection of everything that had you totally stressed out.  But when you’re working on recovery from an eating disorder(ED), the stress of holiday times can feel overwhelming, which can be quite  triggering, even in the midst of what could be very joyful traditions for everyone else.   That being said, an important part of recovery from an eating disorder involves learning to navigate the stress of the holidays without turning to the ED symptoms.

We were inspired by all of the wonderful sharing on this topic in our weekly support group this week and decided to put together a last-minute packing list  for your holiday travels.  If you’re headed out of town, consider using this checklist to make sure your suitcase is full of the recovery tools.  If you’re hosting or staying home this holiday, grab the proverbial suitcase anyway and keep some of these things on hand for a healthy, joyful holiday at home.

Packing List for Recovery:

1. Your Motivation.  If you’ve ever written a list of all the reasons why recovery is important to you, make a copy and keep it someplace where you will see it repeatedly over the holiday.  If you’ve never made one of these lists, grab a pencil and get started.  Each time you make it through a triggering moment without acting on symptoms you can put a star next to one of the items on your list for positive reinforcement that you are moving away from the ED and towards the things in life that matter most to you.

2. Your cell phone. Its true, most people don’t go anywhere without their phone these days but if you’re away from your primary support people and your not seeing your treatment providers this week, you phone can become your lifeline.   Have several people identified in advance that you can call if things get overwhelming or you simply need to do some reality checking and get outside of your own head.  Talk to them ahead of time to confirm that they will be available to answer your call or return a text during the holiday.  Don’t forget your phone charger.

3. Comfy, cooperative clothes that show off your festive style but also feel good to you.  If you’re stuck out-of-town with clothes that don’t fit well, aren’t comfortable, or make you self-conscious, you may be setting yourself up for physical sensations and/or thoughts that are triggering.

4. Playing cards, word games or MadLibs – If things are tense or awkward you’re feeling like too much attention is on you or your eating disorder, be ready with an activity that can serve as a distraction.  You’ll be surprised how quickly everyone, you included, starts focusing on verbs  and adjectives instead of the ED when invited to join in a game of MadLibs.

5. Healthy Boundaries. Many people you see or spend time with around the holidays may not know that you’re in recovery from an eating disorder or even understand what that means.  If you are put in charge of a holiday task or invited to participate in something that is not in your best interest or puts your recovery at risk, don’t be afraid to say no – you have the right to do that.  If your cousin is joining a gym as part of her new year’s resolution and keeps begging you to come along with her for moral support, find a way to let her know that at this time the gym would not be a healthy place for you.  You could add that you support her in her efforts toward better health and hope she can understand and support you in your efforts too.

6. Your pet. Not only do they offer unconditional affection and a great distraction, but they  can also set a good example for balance and structure during the holidays.  Everyone else might be stressed, overwhelmed, or irritable, but Fido still needs to eat, drink, get fresh air and sleep the same as any other day.  Follow his lead, just make sure you’ve okayed the furry visitor with your hosts.

7. A sense of humor, perhaps obvious, but it truly can offer a way to manage your own stress and de-stress everyone around you.

8. Your old standbys. If you have coping skills or items that help you on a daily basis don’t leave home without them.

  • an iPod with a motivational playlist
  • your journal
  • positive affirmations
  • deep breathing techniques or meditation tools
  • painting or drawing supplies
  • CED’s online recovery forum - available 24 hrs a day
  • Recovery-focused books like ”Life Without Ed” by Jenni Schaefer and “Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder” by Johanna Kandel.

What other essential coping techniques or stress-relief strategies will you be packing for the holidays?  Share your ideas on our Facebook page.

You may also be interested in these posts:

Tips for Overcoming Holiday Stress & Anxiety – Part I: The Food

Tips for Overcoming Holiday Stress & Anxiety – Part II: The Stress

The Resolution Solution

Wishing everyone a healthy and happy holiday season from all of us at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt!

Published by Kate Clemmer
December 23rd, 2011 in Celebrity Topical News
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Surviving & Thriving through Mid-Terms & Finals

This is the final post in our 8-part Blog Series  for college students.

It seems like many colleges and universities have moved away from the standard exam schedule. In fact, it can seem like you are constantly studying for exams or writing papers, with no downtime or lull in the semester at all. Midterms and finals just mean a heightened level of existing anxiety or stress. Unfortunately, for many college students, that means there comes a point in the semester when it seems like there are way too many obligations and way too little time to manage them all.  If you are simultaneously working on recovery from an eating disorder this can be incredibly frustrating, particularly if everything seems to be equally important on your to-do list. While it can be easy to lose sight of how critical your recovery is in the midst of these academic priorities, its crucial to remember the potential consequences.  Turning to your eating disorder behaviors will only intensify the stress you’re body is under, making it mentally and physically harder to concentrate, harder to interact and connect with other people (i.e. study groups, roommates, support people) and much harder to accomplish that long list of study tasks.

Self-care, nourishing your body, following treatment recommendations and practicing your new healthy coping skills is what will eventually get you through the stress of mid-term or final exams.  While the hectic nature of college academics can’t be completely avoided, we can offer some tips to help make it feel more manageable and less likely to derail your progress in recovery.

Prioritize: Make a list of all of your upcoming responsibilities. Pull out the larger projects and see if you can break these down into smaller, more achievable tasks. For example, break down “10 page research paper” into: print articles; read articles; write an outline; write the rough draft; write the bibliography; and revise the paper. Write deadlines next to each item on your list and then organize your to-do list by due-date or high priority items. Don’t forget to breathe.

Eliminate unnecessary responsibilities: Do you really have to do everything on your list? You might have some things on there that are optional projects, or possibly some student organization meetings that are not imperative for you to attend. Perhaps you can ask for less hours at work during exam weeks. Remember that you can also always talk to your professor; if you have 3 exams scheduled on one day, one of your professors may actually be willing to allow you to take the exam for their class on a different day. If you just can’t adjust your schedule, know that this stress is temporary. Focus on the end point and plan a reward for yourself after big assignments are turned in.

Don’t give up on the basics: As tempting as it may be, you still need to prioritize sleeping, eating and self-care. In fact, it is even more important that you take care of yourself during this stressful time. Always strive to get as close to 8 hours of sleep each night as possible, remembering that lack of sleep can have a significant effect on hunger and eating patterns.  Make sure you are scheduling times to eat your meals and snacks and that you are thinking ahead. If you know you won’t have time to go back to your room for a meal, remember to pack your food with you or bring money to eat while you are out. 

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”   

~Sydney Harris

Relaxation is vital. Take some time every day to take a deep breath and be still. Enjoy what the season has to offer.  Consider setting aside 30 minutes or an hour during your busy time to catch up with a friend or roommate – no multi-tasking or studying allowed during that time.

Keep your appointments: When things get hectic, it may be tempting to cancel your therapy or nutrition appointments so that you can spend more time studying.  This often makes sense in a moment of panic or stress but can easily lead towards losing sight of  recovery’s importance.   Cancelling appointments during high stress or high pressure times can be a risk  factor for relapse.  Consider a rock climber choosing to take off her safety harness right when she gets to the highest and steepest part of the cliff.  You’d probably question that decision right?  The same applies to your “safety harness” and your support system during difficult times.  If you are struggling to get to your appointments, speak to your therapist about this and decide together what is the best way to balance your responsibilities with your recovery in mind.

Reach Out:  Recovery can feel like a full-time job sometimes, and college is a full-time job for many students.  You may be realizing that you are struggling so much with both that you just can’t focus on your academics the way that you want to. You may have missed a number of classes, gotten behind in lectures or just feel too overwhelmed to truly focus. Don’t be afraid to talk with your professor and see if there is any way that you can catch up, delay some deadlines, or work with a tutor to help you in that class.  You don’t have to go through this on your own.  Ask for help and explore your options for support on campus. If you think you need to withdraw from a class and have missed the Drop/Add deadline, or if you are thinking about taking a medical leave of absence, schedule an appointment with the Dean of Students, an Academic Advisor, or someone at the Counseling Center – that is what they are there for!  

While academics and exam stress can be overwhelming, just remember that you have options regarding how you handle that stress and how you let it affect you. You have already accomplished so much this semester.  Reflect on what has been working well so far and praise yourself for a job well done. If there are things that have been a struggle, now is a good time to evaluate what aspects of your self-care and stress tolerance could be improved.  Try  coming up with a reasonable plan to put into action for the rest of the semester and continue reflecting on it to see what is working and what isn’t. If you are stumped as to how to do this, reach out to others for support and additional ideas.

CED wishes you a memorable semester of academic success, balance and self-care.  For more insight on the intersection between college and eating disorder recovery, check out our whole blog series at: Battling Body Image Concerns & Disordered Eating on Campus .  

If you are struggling with an eating disorder and need help or support, please call The Center for Eating Disorders at (410) 938-5252.  You can also reach us by email at EatingDisorderInfo@sheppardpratt.org .

 

Written by Jennifer Moran, PsyD, CED Therapist & College Liaison

Published by Kate Clemmer
November 11th, 2011 in At-Risk Populations, Celebrity Topical News, College Students, Recovery, Support
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Mindful Eating on Campus ~ Part 2

This is the 7th post in an 8-part blog series for college students.


Learning to eat mindfully is a key step in repairing the relationship between your mind and body and trusting your body to guide your eating choices. However, it’s important to point out that not every college student is ready to fully embark upon a mindful eating approach.  Individuals who’ve struggled with an eating disorder may require a period of more structure, meal plans and guidance from a professional dietitian in order to help their bodies return to a place of health and re-establish trust in feelings of hunger and fullness.

When you, with input from your treatment team, feel ready to move towards mindful eating one helpful resource is Mindful Eating 101 by Dr. Susan Albers. In the first part of her book, Dr. Albers differentiates between mindful eating and mindless eating and outlines the seven main habits of mindful eaters which we reviewed in part 1 of this post. In this follow-up, we take a look at some of the specific strategies that Dr. Albers offers to help make mindful eating a reality on a college campus.

First, it is important to pay attention to the language that you use, as language can ultimately shape your behaviors. For example, imagine trying on a pair of pants in a department store fitting room and noticing that they feel too tight. You might think “I am so fat,” which may lead you to decide to diet or deny yourself of proper nutrition in order to lose some weight. Alternatively, you might think “This brand really sizes their pants in a funky way,” which may lead you to try on a bigger size or even try to find pants from a different designer. It’s the same situation, with two very different results. Imagine how one’s self-esteem would be affected in both scenarios. In the first scenario, you can see how someone might start to feel badly about themselves and their body, perhaps even leaving the store without purchasing anything (or buying pants that don’t fit but vowing to fit into them by a specific date).  In the second scenario, the person has not been personally affected, will likely maintain positive self-esteem and will most likely go on to buy a great pair of pants that they feel good wearing. Starting today, be mindful of your speech to others and to yourself. Be aware of the language that might lead to unhealthy choices and try to use more affirming statements.

Similarly, avoid using the word “fat” to describe what is actually an emotion. Have you ever heard someone say that they are having a fat day? The person is most likely actually having a frustating day, an angry day or a sad day. Think about the difference in how someone might cope if they label their feelings as fat versus sad.  Someone who is sad might reach out to others for support, while someone who is labeling themselves as fat may come up with a new unhealthy diet plan. It is so important to identify the true emotion so that you can more accurately address it.  Think about it this way…if your best friend came up to you and said she was feeling sad you would probably not tell her to go try a new diet or hit the gym for an extra 2 hours.  Most likely you would comfort her, listen to her and maybe offer to take her somewhere to cheer her up.  After you identify your own emotions, try being compassionate towards yourself and comforting yourself as you would a best friend in a similar situation.

Once you have started paying attention to your language and emotions surrounding food and weight, you may be  ready to work on practicing mindful eating. Here are some tips from Dr. Albers’ book.

Get out of your rut: Sometimes we follow routines so mindlessly that we don’t stop to consider that there is an alternative to the same foods that we eat every day. Instead of automatically reaching for that oatmeal packet, consider what you might actually like to eat for breakfast and prepare that instead. You might want to try the dining hall instead of packing your lunch or vice versa to add some instant variety to your eating patterns.

Commit to mindfully eating one bite of your food during each meal. Try to savor the food using all of your 5 senses to really be present and in the moment. Its no secret, college can be pretty chaotic and stressful.  But one mindful bite per meal sounds like a pretty reasonable goal, right?

Rate your hunger level. Before you eat, try to gauge just how hungry you are. Let this guide you in making choices about what you put on your plate. Pay attention to how you are feeling physically while you are eating so that you can stop when you are satisfied and not when you are either too full or still hungry. This is especially helpful when confronting the dining hall buffet; ask yourself what you are actually craving so that you have a specific meal in mind instead of mindlessly grabbing food because it looks good.

Be Flexible: If you’ve ever struggled with an eating disorder or fallen victim to fad diets, you may have adopted some very persistent thoughts that tell you to avoid certain foods.  Unfortunately, when you follow rigid rules about eating, it becomes very hard to eat mindfully.  Notice your thoughts about food without judgment, and try not to let them influence the food choices that you make or how you feel about yourself for eating them.  Be flexible at each meal and eat what you are truly hungry for, stopping when you are full.

Don’t skip meals. Ever. It’s as simple as that. By skipping meals, you are setting yourself up to overeat or to make impulsive food choices.  Dieting and skipping meals also lowers your metabolism. Your body does not operate well without consistent energy, so it is very important to offer yourself balanced, consistent meals throughout every day.

Accept your emotions: It’s completely normal to experience a full range of feelings, from sadness to anger to joy. Emotions are temporary states that help to give you information about the situation that you are in. Some people try to act on their eating disorder symptoms as a way to avoid emotions, but this is not a healthy or successful strategy and often makes a situation much worse.

Create a safe environment. Do you notice that you tend to eat mindlessly in the same places or at the same times everyday?  Maybe you frequent the vending machine outside your Calculus class. If you are hungry, then eating that snack is a healthy response to your body’s signal.  But if you tend not to be hungry at that time, think about whether you are eating purely because you’re bored, frustrated or overwhelmed by the math class or simply out of habit?  Consider some alternatives.  Focus on allowing extra time for a very fulfilling and enjoyable breakfast just before your class so you’ll be better able to pay attention and less likely to turn to food for distraction or coping purposes.
 

Be wary of alcohol. It’s no secret that drinking alcohol impairs your judgment. Sometimes people will eat more when they are drinking because they are not able to clearly follow their body’s signals. Others may be tempted to restrict to compensate for the calories from alcohol and find themselves even more impaired because there is no food to help their body process the alcohol. If you are of age and choose to drink, drink responsibly and in moderation.

Plan for the holidays and breaks. During this time of year, there is probably Halloween candy around everywhere you look, and in just one more month the “official” holiday season will be in full swing.  Special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s seem to lead to an even more intense emphasis on eating and weight for those who are already struggling.  For some college students, the trips home will be extra stressful because of the family culture around food, meals and social gatherings.  Plan ahead – try to predict what might be triggering for you during the holidays and put support in place that will help you continue to eat in a mindful way. More tips for holiday eating and recovery can be found here.

Find a friend.  How many diets have recommended that you find a friend to go on the diet with so that you can have someone to keep you accountable? Instead of spiraling down the diet hole with a buddy, why not apply the same social technique but with a positive focus? Find a friend who is also interested in learning about mindful eating and encourage each other to practice these skills together.

Use your treatment team. If you are working on recovery from an eating disorder or from negative body image concerns, it is important to work with a trained professional who can help guide you through the process. The members of your treatment team are well-versed in mindful eating and can help you to set goals for achieving positive change, while also being able to point out obstacles that are posing a challenge to achieving your goals.

Whether you eat most frequently in your college dining hall, at a restaurant, or in your own dorm room or apartment, there is no secret formula for exactly what you are supposed to eat and how. The trick is simple: if you can work towards trusting your body and eating mindfully, your body will get just the right nutrition that it needs and your weight will naturally reach its healthy set point.  Your body is very smart and knows what it wants and needs at any given moment. Pay attention, follow its cues, and you may find that you suddenly have more physical and emotional energy than you have experienced in quite a long time.

If you are interested in learning more about mindful eating, visit Dr. Albers’ website, www.eatingmindfully.com for further tips and information.

If you are worried that you have an eating disorder and would like to find out about your treatment options, please call us at (410) 938-5252 or visit us on the web at www.eatingdisorder.org

Written by Jennifer Moran, PsyD., College Liaison at The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt

Published by Kate Clemmer
October 24th, 2011 in Celebrity Topical News
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Making a Difference ~ Fat Talk Free Week 2011

This is the 6th post in an 8-part blog series  about eating disorders on campus.

Fat Talk Free Week 2011

“I’m having a fat day.”

“Does this outfit make me look fat?”

“I can’t go on that date until I lose more weight – I’m so disgusting.”

Have you ever uttered these words? Have you thought them? Heard other people say them? These types of statements have become far too acceptable as part of our every day speech and social conversation. In an effort to combat this way of speaking to ourselves and others, Tri Delta Sorority launched their fourth annual Fat Talk Free Week going on right now, October 16-22, 2011.

The following description of this initiative is posted on their website:

Fat Talk describes all of the statements made in everyday conversation that can contribute to women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies by reinforcing the thin ideal. Examples of fat talk may include: “I’m so fat,” “Do I look fat in this?” “I need to lose 10 pounds” and “She’s too fat to be wearing that.” Statements that are considered fat talk don’t necessarily have to be negative; they can seem positive yet also reinforce the need to be thin –“How do you stay so skinny?” or  “You look great! Have you lost weight?”

Fat Talk Free Week, our cause campaign in support of Reflections, is an annual week-long event to raise awareness about the damaging effects of Fat Talk. We’re encouraging everyone to change the conversation to create a more positive body image for women everywhere!

Negative body image is one of the most persistent symptoms of an eating disorder. In fact, for many people, their eating disorder symptoms will be well under control before their body image begins to improve. This is a frustrating experience that can also be very triggering, leading some, unfortunately, to revert to their eating disorder behaviors. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to actively work on nurturing and accepting your body. There’s still time to enlist some friends or family members to take part in Fat Talk Free Week to support you in creating a world less focused on appearance and unrealistic body ideals.

Stop Fat Talk: Instead of talking with others about your appearance, start conversations about which classes you are taing, your weekend plans or how you are feeling that day. Compliment others on their accomplishments, style, or humor instead of highlighting their appearance or weight. If others are engaging in fat talk, politely redirect the conversation or let them know about your goal for the week and encourage them to join in.  You can connect with others on the End Fat Talk Facebook Page.

Make a List, Don’t Check it Twice: On one half of a piece of paper, write a list of the things you dislike about your body. On the other half write the things that you like about your body, you accomplishments and your personality. Tear off the half that details the negatives and rip it up into pieces. Throw it in the trash where it belongs! Put the positive half somewhere that you can look at it frequently to remind yourself of your great qualities.

Treat Your Body: This would be a great week to schedule a massage or a pedicure. Strapped for cash? Check out local spas that might have student discounts or get some friends together and swap accessories that emphasize your favorite feature. Sometimes, it is a treat to simply take a nice, long shower at home and actually take time to enjoy the scents of the shampoos and soaps that you use.

Apologize: It may seem silly, but every time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought about your body, pause and apologize to your body for being so harsh. Instead, try to express your gratitude for what your body does for you. For example, if you are thinking your thighs are too big, stop and thank your legs for giving you the ability to walk from place to place.  You might even want to write your body an apology letter for having been so critical in the past. Then write your resolutions for how you will treat it better in the future.

Get Creative: Tap into your inner artist and create a poster for CED’s 6th Annual Love Your Tree positive body image and poster campaign.  Colleges and  student organizations in the state of Maryland can even request a free Love Your Tree creative workshop for your campus facilitated by the program’s creator, Julia Andersen.  More details here.

Out with the old, In with the new: This would be a great week to do your body a favor and get rid of any old clothes that don’t fit or simply don’t make you feel great when you wear them. What is the point of holding onto jeans that don’t cooperate with your body? They’re only taking up space in your closet, and you could be focusing on the jeans that fit you and flatter you now. Host a clothing drive in your dorm or with your friends; donate those clothes to Goodwill or take them to a consignment shop. Everyone wins!

We at The Center for Eating Disorders encourage you to sign the Fat Talk Free Week Pledge.  Over 3,000 other people have already made the commitment to befriend their bodies, will you?

Remember, Fat Talk Free doesn’t have to end on Friday.  See how much better you feel when you focus on life outside of clothing sizes, diet goals and the media’s harmful messages about beauty. You may find that you want to make it a daily commitment.  Need a little extra motivation?  Check out Positive Body Image is Always In Season: 7 Tips for Year-Round Body Image Boosting and join us on Facebook.

***

Written by Jennifer Moran, PsyD. as part of CED’s 8-part college blog series for students struggling with disordered eating and body image concerns on campus.

Published by Kate Clemmer
October 19th, 2011 in At-Risk Populations, Body Image, Celebrity Topical News, College Students, In the News, Media Literacy, advocacy
0 Comments