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Spring Time Blues

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Self Care.

The weather is warming, daylight lasts longer, and the world seems to be blooming…and it expects you to be doing the same.

This month, we feature a very important blog post by Carolina Partners in Mental HealthCare, PLLC that highlights the pressure we may feel to present ourselves to the world as happy, energetic, and carefree this time of year and how it is perfectly alright (and actually makes sense) if “happy-go-lucky” is not everyone’s reality during the Spring season.

Check the post out below!

IT’S SPRING! WHY YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL HAPPY

Spring is finally here. People are wearing shorts, the birds are infectiously happy, flowers are blooming everywhere. In the grocery store today, a man told me, “You look so sad. Be happy! The weather is beautiful.” While there’s always room for gratitude in our days, and nice weather certainly can be something to be grateful for, I’m here to tell you why you don’t have to be happy.

There are admittedly many proven mental health benefits to Springtime. The increase in daylight provides a boost in one’s serotonin levels (serotonin is a crucial ingredient for feelings of happiness). And during the new season, people don’t need to expend as much energy to fight off the drowsiness that occurs when it’s darker outside. Also, people tend to socialize in the Springtime more, which comes with other mood-enhancing benefits; for example, laughing with friends or hugging loved ones, both of which release important endorphins.

With all of this bright light, social bustle, and beautiful, blooming nature, there can be an unspoken expectation to be as happy as possible all the time. But, for a number of reasons, many of us don’t feel happy during Spring … or we don’t feel as happy as other folks seem to think we should. And I would like to detail a number of reasons for why we may not feel happy, despite the beautiful weather and chipper social milieu:

  • The expectation to be happy itself can be stressful, and can, perversely, end up making us feel less happy. It is very alienating to be pressured to feel a certain way when you don’t already feel that way to begin with, and this social pressure is severely heightened in Springtime.

 

  • The warmer weather can make it more difficult to think clearly on a physical level. Ideally, Spring is a time of moderate levels of warmth that help us adjust to the oncoming heatwave of the Summer. But in reality, Spring is often dramatically warmer than we expect or want it to be, and those changes usually happen without warning.

 

  • A third reason is that many of us need to spend our days indoors during these lovely Spring days. Students are busy studying for exams. Office workers continue to spend eight hours a day inside, regardless of the season. That disconnect between desire and reality can be very demoralizing.

 

  • Some people experience a problem with sinuses during this time, which can make simple things like going on a walk in your neighborhood very unenjoyable.

 

  • Perhaps most importantly, it is important to remember that the regular ups and downs of life continue to happen in Spring, despite the shifting climate. For some folks, Spring is the anniversary of a loved one’s passing. Other people are experiencing terrible illness. There are folks who lose their job in Spring, or get into a car accident. The mere existence of warm weather and budding cherry blossoms does not erase the usual tribulations of life.

While there are likewise many reasons to enjoy the season, it’s important that we be aware of our own impulse to assume that everyone else is happy, or that everyone else should be happy, or that we should be happy. Spring is a time of should-ing. We “should” all over each other during this season, a practice that often makes even the enjoyable aspects less enjoyable.

As you move about in the world during this season of opening and renewal, remember to hold yourselves and others in a place of understanding and compassion. If you find yourself feeling sad, angry, frustrated, hopeless, etc., remind yourself that those emotions are a part of life, no matter the season. The same goes with other people whom you interact with. Every season is the right season to treat yourself and others with compassion, and to reach out for the help that you need.

To access other posts from the Carolina Partners in Mental HealthCare, PLLC blog, follow this link: Be Well Blog

Is ‘National Nutrition Month’ a Recovery-Positive Campaign?

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Eating Disorder Recovery, Education.

As registered dietitians dedicated to the prevention and evidence-based treatment of eating disorders and disordered eating, we found ourselves asking the following questions leading into National Nutrition Month®:

  • Does National Nutrition Month® (NNM) align with Eating Disorder/Disordered Eating (ED/DE) recovery?
  • As Health At Every Size® (HAES) informed professionals, to what extent might we ethically support participation in this month-long campaign focusing on nutrition and physical activity to our clients, our peers, friends, loved ones…ourselves?

The quick answers?

  • A little bit, kind of, sorta…
  • Proceed with caution

Here’s a more in-depth look at our perspective:

Let’s begin by explaining a little bit more about NNM!  NNM was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the largest organization of food and nutrition professionals in the United States. AND defines NNM as follows:

What is National Nutrition Month®?

National Nutrition Month® is an annual nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign, celebrated each year during the month of March, focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.

– Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)

We’ve done a thorough review of the National Nutrition Month website for 2019 and wanted to share some thoughts with you.

What we appreciated about this year’s theme:

  1. The 2019 NNM theme is self-titled (“National Nutrition Month®”) which makes it more inclusive of many different topics of discussion – including eating disorders and disordered eating! Win!
  2. Many of the educational materials encouraged making sustainable changes towards achieving balanced food and movement routines that are individualized. We love this approach!
  3. Mental health and motivation for change (which are totally intertwined with eating and moving our bodies) were not excluded from the conversation!

What we could have done without:

  1. The language! Reviewing the NNM website brought up a much larger conundrum – the way we speak about nourishment in our society. The language we use to address nutrition and movement is morally charged. The “good/bad” or “right/wrong” polarization is not recovery-positive and continues to drive us farther away from seeing food as just food and moving our bodies as joyful and drives the shame wagon. Shame does not motivate people to adopt health-promoting behaviors.
  2. Weight management. Encouraging weight management through portion control and calorie tracking is not an approach that is respectful and accepting of all body shapes and sizes and promotes the message that larger bodies are inherently in need of “fixing” or must be controlled in some manner. Nah, nah, nah. Not buying it. Weight management is not weight neutral. It’s not HAES-informed. It’s not recovery-positive. It’s oppressive and unethical to prescribe disordered eating behaviors to people living in larger bodies. Also, there is a body of evidence against it.

*Caveat: National Nutrition Month was not created specifically for those in recovery from ED/DE, but for the general United States public.  However, even so, language equating terms such as “weight management” and “portion control” as being “right” can be harmful for at-risk populations and creates unnecessary vulnerability to developing ED/DE behaviors.

Suggestions for observing NNM in ED/DE recovery:

  1. Celebrate how far you’ve come! Take this opportunity to reflect on how eating and movement patterns have become more sustainable and balanced.
  2. Set goals. How might you propel your recovery forward this month? What would it look like to take steps to strengthen our relationships with ourselves and with food, movement, and recovery?
  3. Increase your food variety – try some new foods this month!
  4. Take up space and use your voice. Be in a larger body. Be fat. Exist as you are.

We love our field, our colleagues, and the wealth of valuable knowledge provided by AND, and we hope to continue to shift the way nutrition and wellness are presented to the general public to be more inclusive and less stigmatizing!

Check out what other ED/DE clinicians have said about NNM over the years:

https://marcird.com/my-take-on-national-nutrition-month/

https://veritascollaborative.com/blog/blog-national-nutrition-month/

https://www.sovcal.com/recovery/having-an-eating-disorder-during-national-nutrition-month/

 

 

 

What is “Health At Every Size”?

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Education.

THE HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE® APPROACH:

Weight does NOT define Health.

The framing for a Health At Every Size (HAES®) approach comes out of discussions among healthcare workers, consumers, and activists who reject both the use of weight, size, or BMI as proxies for health, and the myth that weight is a choice. The HAES® model is an approach to both policy and individual decision-making. It addresses broad forces that support health, such as safe and affordable access. It also helps people find sustainable practices that support individual and community well-being. The HAES® approach honors the healing power of social connections, evolves in response to the experiences and needs of a diverse community, and grounds itself in a social justice framework.

The Health At Every Size® Principles are:

Weight Inclusivity: Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of specific weights.

Health Enhancement: Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.

Respectful Care: Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma, and support environments that address these inequities.

Eating for Well-being: Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.

Life-Enhancing Movement: Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.

What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Body Image.

En lieu of Valentine’s Day and with love on the mind, we thought to follow suite with February’s blog theme in a post about self love.

Except, we won’t be talking about self love.

Instead, we’re going to re-frame “self love” as “self acceptance.” Why? Hopefully the answer will be evident by the end of this blog post. In short: we don’t need to love every single thing about ourselves. That’d be unrealistic. A losing battle. Instead, making peace with our bodies through acceptance not only lifts a weight off our shoulders, but brings power through embracing uniqueness and diversity.

Merima Dervović is a public speaker and wheelchair user born with spina bifida. In her 2018 Ted Talk, Merima explains her body image difficulties and struggles with acceptance. She also shares her realization that while she doesn’t choose to love her condition, she chooses to embody her sexuality, her identity, her personality, etc. Merima identifies three steps in her path toward self acceptance. In this blog, we highlight, describe and expand on these steps.

Step 1: Acceptance means truth. “And that’s a truth that society now needs more than ever. The majority of you are not in my position, but you don’t have to be in a wheelchair to inspire change in the world. You just have to get comfortable with your imperfections, wherever those imperfections may be.” In other words, acknowledgement. Acknowledge YOU, all parts that make you, YOU. This includes parts you may believe to be flawed, less-than, imperfect to a societal-imposed standard. This blog frames self acceptance from a body image perspective, but the message is also applicable with respect to mental and emotional parts of our character as well. The first step to awareness is to acknowledge your truths.

Step 2: Become shameless. This step involves taking your power back. Now that we’ve identified our ‘flaws’ in step 1, let’s own them. Being shameless means speaking your mind and allowing yourself to be [and feel] who you truly are – completely and fully. You have all the right in the world to not fit in and still feel good about yourself.

Be more shameless by using the art of ignoring things. Merima challenges us to: “Take all the shame imposed by others, look at it, and just let it go. What has helped me navigate the world is the art of ignoring things – glances and comments from others, etc. The truth is, people will hardly ever change. You will always encounter people that will judge you, stare at you, and make you feel like you won’t fit in. The good thing is that we can change the perceptions that we have about ourselves.”

Step 3: Detach yourself with compassion. The key to this step is to switch the perspective that you have about yourself, focusing less about the things that you DON’T like about yourself, and instead emphasizing the things that you DO like.

“Acceptance is a process. You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Every change is uneasy. But once you follow through with the process, you will find that most of your fears are inside of your head. They are not real. Commit to compassion day by day. Energy is put into compassion just as energy is put into self-loathing – choosing one over the other is the challenge.”

Imperfection is the key to self-acceptance. You have to own your body from the roots of your hair to the toenails in your feet. You may not particularly like those hair roots or toenails (or other bodily feature in-between), but they are yours. Every flaw carries its own story, own uniqueness. They truly are what makes you, YOU! We don’t have to love our flaws, but simply acknowledging and accepting them allows our mind to feel content – and dare I say, empowered?

*This month’s blog post was developed and written by: Emma McVey, Dietetic Intern with University of Northern Colorado

OSFED & Additional Eating or Feeding Disorders: The Signs, Symptoms, & Impact

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Education.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder

According to the National Eating Disorder Association…

Formerly described at Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) in the DSM-IV, Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED), is a feeding or eating disorder that causes significant distress or impairment, but does not meet the criteria for another feeding or eating disorder.

Examples of OSFED Include:

  • Atypical anorexia nervosa (weight is not below normal)
  • Bulimia nervosa (with less frequent behaviors)
  • Binge-eating disorder (with less frequent occurrences)
  • Purging disorder (purging without binge eating)
  • Night eating syndrome (excessive nighttime food consumption)

The commonality in all of these conditions is the serious emotional and psychological suffering and/or serious problems in areas of work, school or relationships. If something does not seem right, but your experience does not fall into a clear category, you still deserve attention. If you are concerned about your eating and exercise habits and your thoughts and emotions concerning food, activity and body image, we urge you to consult an ED expert.

Symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa include:

  • Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low.
  • Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain.
    • Self-esteem overly related to body image.
    • Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation.
    • Binge-Eating/Purging Type involves binge eating and/or purging behaviors during the last three months.

Restricting Type does not involve binge eating or purging.

Symptoms associated with bulimia nervosa include:

  • Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.
  • A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eatingepisodes.
  • Self-esteem overly related to body image.

Symptoms associated with binge eating disorder include:

  • Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food but without behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.
  • A feeling of being out of control during the binge eating episodes.
  • Feelings of strong shame or guilt regarding the binge eating.
  • Indications that the binge eating is out of control, such as eating when not hungry, eating to the point of discomfort, or eating alone because of shame about the behavior.

 

Additional Eating or Feeding Disorders

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder

  • Failure to consume adequate amounts of food, with serious nutritional consequences, but without the psychological features of Anorexia Nervosa.
  • Reasons for the avoidance of food include fear of vomiting or dislike of the textures of the food.

Pica

  • The persistent eating of non-food items when it is not a part of cultural or social norms.

Rumination Disorder

  • Regurgitation of food that has already been swallowed. The regurgitated food is often re-swallowed or spit out.

Unspecified Feeding or Eating Disorder

  • When behaviors do not meet full criteria for any of the other feeding and eating disorders, but still cause clinically significant problems.
  • Alternatively, when clinician is unable to assess whether an individual meets criterion for another disorder, for example, when there is a lack of information in an emergency situation.

Binge Eating Disorder: The Signs, Symptoms, & Impact

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Education.

Binge Eating Disorder

According to the National Eating Disorder Association...

Binge eating disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often very quickly and to the point of discomfort); a feeling of a loss of control during the binge; experiencing shame, distress or guilt afterwards; and not regularly using unhealthy compensatory measures (e.g., purging) to counter the binge eating. Binge eating disorder is a severe, life-threatening and treatable eating disorder. Common aspects of BED include functional impairment, suicide risk and a high frequency of co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, affecting 3.5% of women, 2% of men,1 and up to 1.6% of adolescents.2

The DSM-5, released in May 2013, lists binge eating disorder as a diagnosable eating disorder. Binge eating disorder had previously been listed as a subcategory of Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) in the DSM-IV, released in 1994. Full recognition of BED as an eating disorder diagnosis is significant, as some insurance companies will not cover an individual’s eating disorder treatment without a DSM diagnosis.

BED Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria
The DSM-5, published in 2013, lists the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder:

  1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
    • Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.
    • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).
  2. The binge eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:
    • Eating much more rapidly than normal.
    • Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.
    • Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.
    • Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.
    • Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.
  3. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.
  4. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.
  5. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., purging) as in bulimia nervosa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.

Characteristics of BED
In addition to the diagnostic criteria for binge eating disorder, individuals with BED may display some of the behavioral, emotional and physical characteristics below. Not every person suffering from BED will display all of the associated characteristics, and not every person displaying these characteristics is suffering from BED, but these can be used as a reference point to understand BED predispositions and behaviors.

Behavioral Characteristics

  • Evidence of binge eating, including the disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or lots of empty wrappers and containers indicating consumption of large amounts of food.
  • Secretive food behaviors, including eating secretly (e.g., eating alone or in the car, hiding wrappers) and stealing, hiding, or hoarding food.
  • Disruption in normal eating behaviors, including eating throughout the day with no planned mealtimes; skipping meals or taking small portions of food at regular meals; engaging in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting; and developing food rituals (e.g., eating only a particular food or food group [e.g., condiments], excessive chewing, not allowing foods to touch).
  • Can involve extreme restriction and rigidity with food and periodic dieting and/or fasting.
  • Has periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling uncomfortably full, but does not purge.
  • Creating lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge sessions.

Emotional and Mental Characteristics

  • Experiencing feelings of anger, anxiety, worthlessness, or shame preceding binges. Initiating the binge is a means of relieving tension or numbing negative feelings.
  • Co-occurring conditions such as depression may be present. Those with BED may also experience social isolation, moodiness, and irritability.
  • Feeling disgust about one’s body size. Those with BED may have been teased about their body while growing up.
  • Avoiding conflict; trying to “keep the peace.”
  • Certain thought patterns and personality types are associated with binge eating disorder. These include:
    • Rigid and inflexible “all or nothing” thinking
    • A strong need to be in control
    • Difficulty expressing feelings and needs
    • Perfectionistic tendencies
    • Working hard to please others

Physical Characteristics

  • Body weight varies from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
  • Weight gain may or may not be associated with BED. It is important to note that while there is a correlation between BED and weight gain, not everyone who is overweight binges or has BED.

BED Population and Demographics
Binge eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States; it is estimated to affect 1-5% of the general population.1 BED affects 3.5% of women, 2% of men,1 and up to 1.6% of adolescents.2

Demographic Information

  • Binge eating disorder affects women slightly more often than men—estimates indicate that about 60% of people struggling with binge eating disorder are female and 40% are male.
  • In women, binge eating disorder is most common in early adulthood. In men, binge eating disorder is more common in midlife.
  • Binge eating disorder affects people of all demographics across cultures.

Physical and Psychological Effects of BED
Binge eating disorder has strong associations with depression, anxiety, guilt and shame. Those suffering from BED may also experience comorbid conditions, either due to the effects of the disorder or due to another root cause. Comorbid conditions can be both physical and/or psychological.

Physical Effects

  • Most obese people do not have binge eating disorder. However, of individuals with BED, up to two-thirds are obese; people who struggle with binge eating disorder tend to be of normal or heavier-than-average weight.
  • The health risks of BED are most commonly those associated with clinical obesity. Some of the potential health consequences of binge eating disorder include:
    • High blood pressure
    • High cholesterol levels
    • Heart disease
    • Type II diabetes
    • Gallbladder disease
    • Fatigue
    • Joint pain
    • Sleep apnea

Psychological Effects

  • People struggling with binge eating disorder often express distress, shame and guilt over their eating behaviors.
  • People with binge eating disorder report a lower quality of life than those without binge eating disorder.
  • Binge eating disorder is often associated with symptoms of depression.
  • Compared with normal weight or obese control groups, people with BED have higher levels of anxiety and both current and lifetime major depression.

BED Treatment
Effective evidence-based treatments are available for binge eating disorder, including specific forms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and pharmacotherapy.

All treatments should be evaluated in the matrix of risks, benefits, and alternatives. Decisions regarding treatments should be made after consulting with a trained medical professional and eating disorder specialist.

To find a treatment provider who specializes in binge eating disorder, please visit NEDA’s Treatment Referral database.

Social Stigma of BED
Many people suffering from binge eating disorder report that it is a stigmatized and frequently misunderstood disease. Greater public awareness that BED is a real diagnosis—and should not be conflated with occasional overeating—is needed in order to ensure that every person suffering from BED has the opportunity to access resources, treatment, and support for recovery.

NEDA’s shareable binge eating disorder infographic offers an easy way to spread the word about BED. It is important to underscore that BED is not a choice; it’s an illness that requires recognition and treatment.

Sources
1. Hudson, J.I., Hiripi, E., Pope, H.G. et al. (2007)The prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biol.Psychiatry, 61, 348–358.
2. Swanson SA, Crow SJ, Le Grange D, Swendsen J, Merikangas KR. Prevalence and correlates of eating disorders in adolescents. Results from the national comorbidity survey replication adolescent supplement. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2011;68(7):714–723

Bulimia Nervosa: The Signs, Symptoms, & Impact

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Education.

Bulimia Nervosa

According to the National Eating Disorder Association…

Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.

Symptoms

  • Frequent episodes of consuming very large amount of food followed by behaviors to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting.
  • A feeling of being out of control during the binge-eating episodes.
  • Self-esteem overly related to body image.

The chance for recovery increases the earlier bulimia nervosa is detected. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of bulimia nervosa.

Warning Signs of Bulimia Nervosa

  • Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or finding wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
  • Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.
  • Excessive, rigid exercise regimen–despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the compulsive need to “burn off” calories taken in.
  • Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.
  • Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.
  • Discoloration or staining of the teeth.
  • Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.
  • Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
  • In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
  • Continued exercise despite injury; overuse injuries.

Health Consequences of Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa can be extremely harmful to the body.  The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles can damage the entire digestive system and purging behaviors can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions.  Some of the health consequences of bulimia nervosa include:

  • Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death.  Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium and sodium from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
  • Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
  • Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
  • Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
  • Gastric rupture is an uncommon but possible side effect of binge eating.

About Bulimia Nervosa

  • Bulimia nervosa affects 1-2% of adolescent and young adult women.
  • Approximately 80% of bulimia nervosa patients are female.
  • People struggling with bulimia nervosa usually appear to be of average body weight.
  • Many people struggling with bulimia nervosa recognize that their behaviors are unusual and perhaps dangerous to their health.
  • Bulimia nervosa is frequently associated with symptoms of depression and changes in social adjustment.
  • Risk of death from suicide or medical complications is markedly increased for eating disorders

Anorexia Nervosa: The Signs, Symptoms, & Impact

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Education.

Anorexia Nervosa

According to the National Eating Disorder Association…

Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

Symptoms

  • Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low.
  • Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain.
  • Self-esteem overly related to body image.
  • Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation.
  • Binge-Eating/Purging Type involves binge eating and/or purging behaviors during the last three months.
  • Restricting Type does not involve binge eating or purging.

Eating disorders experts have found that prompt intensive treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery.  Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa.

Warning Signs

  • Dramatic weight loss.
  • Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
  • Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
  • Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
  • Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.”
  • Denial of hunger.
  • Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
  • Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
  • Excessive, rigid exercise regimen–despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
  • Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
  • In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.

Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation.; The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all its processes to conserve energy. This “slowing down” can have serious medical consequences:

  • Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing.  The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
  • Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
  • Muscle loss and weakness.
  • Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
  • Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
  • Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
  • Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.

About Anorexia Nervosa

  • Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women.
  • Between 0.5–1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa.
  • Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women.
  • Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die.  The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition.
  • Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.
  • Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence.

Resolutions…or Revolution?

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Self Care.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

…And welcome to “resolution” season.  As we turn the page to a new chapter – 2019 – it is likely we will all have some exposure to the concept of changing something (or things) about oneself “for the better”.

Traditionally, resolution setting tends to revolve around our bodies and our behavior.  Commercials for diet and weight loss programs become more pervasive, the local gym puts up a shiny new billboard offering $20 off membership, we are encouraged to pick apart the pieces of ourselves that we find unsatisfactory, and we ride off into the sunset on the new trendy wellness bandwagon.

While there is nothing wrong with desiring change and embracing a collective opportunity to kick-start it all, we invite you to challenge the typical narrative this time of year and consider the idea of a revolution rather than a resolution.  What would it be like to look at goal setting from a place that wasn’t appearance-focused?  What other aspects of life are there to look at when considering working on oneself?  What if the resolution was that you are enough…let’s repeat that…You. Are. Enough. as you are without making a single change whatsoever?

We chose a few of our favorite perspective-shifting articles and blog posts to share with you this month that are centered around self-acceptance, body respect, and revolutionizing what it means to resolve to take better care of ourselves.  Enjoy!

Julie Dillon’s two-part take on why it makes sense to want to lose weight…and how to navigate these feelings from a place of self-respect:

it’s not body love or acceptance that’s first, it’s respect.

weight loss is a seductive fantasy…here’s why.

Ragen Chastain’s (Dances With Fat) notes on sustainable personal goal setting:

Non-Diet New Year’s Resolutions

Eating Disorder Therapy LA’s suggestions for alternatives to typical resolutions:

Don’t Diet! 10 Alternative New Year’s Resolutions

 

 

Don’t Give It All Away

Written by nutritiousthoughtsblog on . Posted in Self Care.

Hello, Everyone!

This month we are breaking up the holiday chatter (but also…Happy Holidays!) to share with you all a candid, quite raw rendition of one’s experience of navigating relationships in recovery and traversing the journey of healing from co-dependency.  We love this timeless reminder that no matter what type of relationships we are fostering at the moment, we must always hold space for ourselves, nurture ourselves, and remain present with ourselves.

This piece was gifted by an Anonymous Recovery Warrior.

To my sister-

There will be someone that promises you the life you’ve always imagined having.  Constant, unwavering assurances of safety, security, and happiness will dance from their lips, forming the most entrancing, tempting ballet.  They will do it all right, and I mean everything.  From flowers, love notes, and elegant dinners to warm embraces and kisses as soft as the clouds.  These are all beautiful things to treasure, but love, don’t give it all away.

There will be someone that snatches your attention so violently and abruptly that they send you spinning into a whirlpool of your own thoughts.  For a while you’ll think you’re drowning in that perfect something.  You’ll immerse yourself in their cool, refreshing pool in an attempt to cleanse yourself, but please promise to stay where your feet can touch the bottom.  The deep end is colder, darker than you’d expect it to be- every time.   Darling, try to keep that beautiful head above the water.  Don’t give it all away.

There will be someone that you love to hate.  They will be your flame, you will be their gasoline.  You will pour your body over them like hot, melted wax just begging for a shape to take.  You will sugar yourself until they deem you the sweetest candy they have ever tasted.  You’ll surrender to the fire.  Passion is part of the game, but sissy, don’t give it all away.

There will be someone that changes your life.  You’ll think, speak, act, and do things differently than ever before.  You’ll set this new you into motion with a force so strong you’ll convince everyone you’ve had a revelation.  Your mind will shift, your attitudes will be altered, your dispositions will transform. Old habits will die, new ones will be born.  Perspective is powerful and changes are good, but look before you leap, baby.  Don’t give it all away.

There will be someone that makes themselves your project.  They will latch on, and you will mother their insecurities.  You’ll stroke their fragile ego.  You will find yourself cleaning up the foul waste of their childlike outbursts, uncontrolled and unpredictable.  You’ll wipe the floor of their mess and your tears of exhaustion, sanitize with affection, and you’ll wait for the next explosion.  You’ll hope that these nightmarish times will pass and that like the flu, it will get worse before it gets better.  My sister, I am here to tell you that there will always be another explosion, always another mess that will keep you on your knees.  Don’t give it all away.

There will be someone you love.  You’ll know it when you know it.  Your head will turn to them, and you’ll meet each other on an even playing field.  You’ll overlook things that are slightly inconvenient to preserve the pleasure of being a pair.  You’ll share yourself with them and they will reciprocate.  You’ll want them feverishly and vehemently.  You’ll experience compromise.  You’ll sacrifice genuinely but my god- don’t ever give it all away.

You see, there will always be someone.  There will always be high highs and low lows but whatever you do, don’t give it all away.  Don’t give all of yourself.  Don’t drain yourself dry.  Don’t burn yourself until the wick disappears.  Not ever.  If you ever take a piece of my advice, please let it be this one.  Leave some of you for you, no matter what.