By Joy A. Davis, LCSW, Eating & Food Issues Topic Expert Contributor

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Natalie has been in recovery from Bulimia Nervosa for more than three years. She still, however, unfairly compares her body to other women in the room, tries on several outfits each morning, and sits on my sofa with a pillow across her stomach as we talk.

Long after eating patterns and weight have stabilized, many eating-disordered women continue to struggle with issues of body image. In fact, body dissatisfaction has become so prevalent many authors propose it has sadly become simply part of the female experience. Body dissatisfaction is believed to be one of the highest predictors in adolescent girls of going on to develop an eating disorder. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

The rising, and often startling, rates of obesity in the United States and many other parts of the world have led to an increased awareness of the health issues facing modern consumers, and of the issues facing their children, as well. Childhood obesity has recently been selected as a major national challenge by First Lady Michelle Obama, and a growing number of professionals in various fields are working towards helping children overcome this potentially debilitating concern. But in some cases, notes a counselor specializing in weight loss in a recent editorial, authority figures may approach childhood obesity in rash and embarrassing ways, potentially adding to the struggles of children attempting to work through their weight issues.

In particular, the counselor notes, weighing children in schools and sending judgmental notes home to parents about children’s weight may have a profoundly negative impact on self-esteem, and can also cause humiliation within the social setting of elementary, middle, and high schools. As some schools have proposed just such measures, the counselor suggests that some professionals have taken on unhelpful roles in the fight against childhood obesity, acting as disciplinarians rather than compassionate and insightful sources of information and support for children in need. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Oakland Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Gail Post, Ph.D., Women’s Issues Topic Expert Contributor

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National Eating Disorders Awareness Week occurs this month, and it is a necessary reminder of the role body image plays in women’s self-esteem. While women with clinical eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, typically have a distorted body image, even those without eating disorders often struggle with body image concerns ranging from mild dissatisfaction to outright self-hatred. Any woman can feel tormented, terrorized, and completely obsessed with the image reflected back in the mirror.

What perpetuates this assault on body-esteem? Well, one of the biggest offenders is the media. Air-brushed, photo-shopped images of models and celebrities create unattainable expectations of perfection. Ninety-eight percent of American women are heavier than most models (Smolak, 1996), yet they frequently aspire to these impossible standards. Billions of dollars are spent each year on anti-aging skincare, plastic surgery, and diet products. According to the Social Issues Research Centre (1997), 80% of adult women are unhappy with their appearance. Many women internalize the media’s standards of an ideal body, and this can be a risk factor for poor body esteem, dieting, negative mood, and binge eating (Vandereycken, 2006). And this dissatisfaction starts early. Collins (1991) found that 42% of girls in first, second and third grade want to be thinner, and by age 17, approximately seven out of ten girls have been on a diet (SIRC, 1997). Wardle and Marsland (1990) found that almost 40% of 11-12 year-old girls viewed themselves as overweight. Family dynamics, peer pressure, and emotional problems, such as depression, low self-esteem or even a history of trauma, can all contribute to a poor body image. However, societal expectations are the most insidious. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Noting the prevalence of weight loss programs and advertisements in modern media, organizers of awareness-raising events at the University of Kentucky suggested that more information about the impact of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia should be distributed throughout the population. This information can be particularly critical for women in college, the organizers report, as the specific pressures of the collegiate environment can lead to unhealthy eating and behavioral choices. Other universities and groups touched upon how eating disorders affect men and other age groups, all while taking part in National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Concord Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary

In many ways, eating behavioral concerns such as anorexia and bulimia are treated as issues that affect females. Many clinics and programs are marketed specifically towards women, and even some diagnostic criteria involves female physiology without providing any equivalency for males. But as awareness about eating issues becomes greater and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week takes place, a greater attention to the difficulties faced specifically by men is emerging among professionals and clients alike.

Men often must confront particular issues when suffering from the mental, emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms of eating concerns, including a higher prevalence of nutritional supplement abuse and increased stigmas surrounding the acknowledgment of the concern and the seeking of treatment. As men are typically expected to have a muscular, toned form, suggest some experts, taking muscle-building pills and other substances aimed at helping men obtain a certain look can be a tempting and compulsive habit. Some industry professionals note that because men with eating concerns may not present an especially thin look as is the case with many females, diagnosis can be difficult. Read the rest of this entry

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Encino Bureau - All Rights Reserved.