By Deborah Klinger, MA, Eating & Food Issues Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Deborah and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

Two primary components of a disordered relationship with food that drive disordered eating are food deprivation: restriction of and compensation for food intake, and emotional and psychological issues: painful feelings with which one lacks adequate means of coping, and wounds experienced in the past that propel one to deal with emotional pain via abusing food. The latter speaks to a disordered relationship with one’s self. Although eating problems affect males as well as females, for simplicity’s sake, I will be using “her” and “she” throughout this article.

An eating disordered individual equates fat with worthlessness and “unloveability.” Someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa typically restricts her food intake because she has developed an intense fear of becoming fat, and by extension, a fear of eating an adequate amount of food. A bulimic individual is caught in a cycle of deprivation/restriction and bingeing/purging, which fuel one another and are driven also by a fear of weight gain and belief that “getting rid” of food taken in during a binge is necessary to ensure that she does not become obese. This is true also of individuals who do not binge, but induce vomiting after eating nonetheless. Binge eaters and compulsive eaters who overeat in ways other than bingeing share the same aversion to fat. They usually struggle constantly with dieting or restricting food intake, thus perpetuating the cycle of under-eating and overeating. Overweight binge eaters, and overweight eaters of other disordered stripes, assign the same negative significance to fat that those with anorexia and bulimia do, believing themselves gluttonous and of little worth. Most all disordered eaters value the restricting/depriving aspects of their relationship with food, seeing this as positive, while cravings for foods and desires to eat are viewed negatively. Ceasing to engage in the restrictive aspects of disordered eating does not automatically solve overeating, but it is a necessary step towards that end. Read the rest of this entry

By Lynn Somerstein, PhD, RYT, Object Relations Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Lynn and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

The hardware store on Third Avenue has a sign in the window that says, “Sharpen your knives for the holidays.”

Many of us are lucky enough to have joyful holiday celebrations, with loving family, friends, people who are positive, and that’s wonderful—but unfortunately not the universal experience; there’s a down side to many celebrations—not everyone is your friend, and some of those unfriendly people sharpening their knives for the holidays want you to be their turkey.

For example, food is love, right? Well, sometimes it is, when your friend cooks you something special and you are free to eat as much or as little as you want, and give a big thank you. But some friends and relatives aren’t satisfied with a compliment– they want to you to eat it ALL UP. Like the Clean Plate Club Kid I wrote about last month. He comes from a family of overeaters and controllers–they’re only happy if he eats so much he gets sick–that’s how he proves he loves them. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

Reasons for eating a healthy diet abound; from the purported feel-good benefits of chowing down on natural and nutritious foods to the potential to save money on groceries and of course, to lose weight when waist size is an issue, plenty of people are aware of the incentives for picking healthy foods. But it’s not just the case that certain items from the health food aisle can have a positive impact on overall health; picking foods that are over-processed and high in sugars and fats have a decidedly negative influence on health, and may particularly impact mental well-being. Searching for a way to underscore the importance of choosing good foods and straying from those that can be harmful, a research team from University College London in the UK has recently published work divulging the potential for fatty foods to lead to the development of depression.

The research worked with a respectable mass of participants; 3,486 people took part in the study, and had an average age of 55. The participants worked in London in various civil service capacities, and completed surveys in which they self-reported about their levels of depression and related symptoms, as well as their eating habits and food purchasing choices. The study found that those who reported eating high fat foods were more likely to also report thoughts and feelings of depression than those whose diets concentrated on a regular intake of fruits, vegetables, and fish. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Schaumburg Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Weight loss is something that scores of people attempt to achieve each year, and some approach the topic with a more positive outlook than others. Though there are options available for rational weight loss, many programs focus on treating non-idealized bodies as wrong or unacceptable, and suggest the restriction of certain foods –sometimes entire food groups– in order to cause a drop in pounds. The “Healthy at Any Size,” or HAES program, has recently been tested on women attempting to lose weight, and has taken a health, rather than a weight, centered approach. Concentrating on healing emotional issues surrounding eating, the program was found to be successful compared to a control group, but still needs further research to distinguish it from basic social support offerings.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Bethesda Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The weight loss industry is one which attracts several billion dollars each year from the United States alone, a fact which speaks to the national preoccupation with feeling and looking slim. A percentage of these funds are spent by those who suffer from obesity, which goes well beyond a basic inclination to lose a few pounds in preparation for a special event or to fit back into a favorite outfit. the quest to understand how those with obesity can best achieve healthy and successful weight loss has been ongoing for several years, and many different aspects of dieting, exercising, and daily living have been examined. The quest has had a particularly interesting spotlight recently in Japan, where researchers at Doshisha University have studied the effects of personality traits on weight loss among the obese.

The study administered a series of questionnaires to participants aimed at evaluating their psychosocial profiles prior to beginning supervised weight loss regimens. For a period of six months, participants worked through a weight loss program, including diet and exercise assistance as well as counseling, after which they were once again asked to complete a survey evaluating the same aspects of personality. The results found that those participants who exhibited an ability to improve their self-awareness through counseling were more successful with weight loss. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Santa Monica Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

There have been many positive effects reported by those who maintain strict Mediterranean diets, from lowered cholesterol and related heart problems and risks to greater longevity and beyond. Recently, however, a study has suggested that this specific type of diet –rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish–, may have a major impact on mental health, as well.

The study examined participants from Spain and obtained self-reported information on diet, ranking each participant’s adherence to the ideal Mediterranean meal plan. Those participants who exhibited a strong link with this ideal were thirty percent less likely to develop depression in a follow-up session than those who ate differently. While the mental health industry has long been aware of the potential of diet to influence mood and behavior, this study may make the case for better eating even stronger.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Allen Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Lynn Somerstein, PhD, RYT, Object Relations Topic Expert Contributor

Click here to contact Lynn and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

When three year old Susan had a nightmare, she didn’t go to her mother or father for help; instead she ran through the dark hall right past her parent’s bedroom, and headed straight to the kitchen, where she opened the refrigerator, grabbed a loaf of bread, sat down on the floor and started eating. This became a habit, and sometimes she fell asleep on the floor; if her family found her the next morning they told her she was cute, and called her CarboMama. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

As a growing number of people tackled the challenges of losing weight and developing healthier lifestyles, those in the mental health professions and diverse medical fields are paying rapt attention to the ways in which people are able to generate self-control and find inner motivation. Recently, a study at Brown Medical School examined the link between successful weight loss and brain activity, scanning participants who were shown high and low calorie foods as part of healthy weight, overweight, and successful weight loss groups. Those participants who had shed pounds and kept them off showed an increase in areas of the brain associated with complex tasks and control, suggesting to researchers that physical help for those overcoming addictions and compulsive behaviors may become more advanced in the future.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Westlake Village Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

A donut shop may seem like an unlikely venue for a hot debate about the rights of those with mental health difficulties and related social stigmas. After all, such eateries are usually expected to be a fun and relaxing spot to dig into a deliciously sinful treat. Of course, not all donut shops take on such a creative theme as San Francisco’s “Psycho Donuts.” The unusually named shop specializes in a range of donuts and other sweet items, aimed at creating a fun and different atmosphere by making use of a mental health institution theme. The servers are donned in lab coats and other standard clinical items, and the goodies for sale are aptly named, in keeping with the theme. The “Bipolar” donut features half nuts and half coconut; the “Manic Malt” provides sweet liquid refreshment. Though the shop may have had the best of intentions in mind when visualizing its theme, a group of mental health advocates, the Community Alliance United to Seek Equality, has taken quite a bit of offense to the idea.

Protesting in front of the shop, the group expressed anger over the use of names associated with social stigmas about mental health services and those who are treated for relevant health issues. Maintaining that the community should be educated about the reality of the topic, the group clearly disapproves of any argument for creative license. For some, the shop is clearly an indication of ignorance about mental health, while for others, the theme is a fun and casual way to grab a bite to eat, and perhaps enjoy a jab at the facts of life. Whether the protests are a valuable and appropriate response to the store or are over-concerned about a bit of culinary creativity seems to remain largely a matter of opinion.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Charlotte Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Anorexia may be expected to experience higher rates of occurrence in stressful times, and as the financial crisis tightens its grip on the United Kingdom, stress is certainly a predominant result. Unfortunately, however, this stress seems to be contributing to an alarming rise in the rate of anorexia in British men, as a recent survey suggests. Citing heightened concerns about personal appearance in the wake of job layoffs and decreases in the ability to spend, researchers note that increased mental and physical health services for men struggling with the complications of the financial crisis are needed to help keep men from starving themselves.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Phoenix Bureau - All Rights Reserved.