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10 Truths About Eating Disorders
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It’s National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and in honor of this year’s theme, “Let’s Get Real,” here are 10 Truths About Eating Disorders you should know:
1. Eating disorders do not discriminate – they affect people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, ethnicities, body weights, and socioeconomic statuses.
2. You can’t tell if someone has an eating disorder by looking at them.
3. Genetics and the environment both play a role in the development of eating disorders.
4. Eating disorders are not a choice.
5. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness.
6. You don’t have to feel fully ready to give up your eating disorder to get treatment.
7. Dieting is a common (and preventable!) catalyst for developing an eating disorder.
8. Disordered eating (unhealthy eating behaviors that do not meet the full criteria for an eating disorder) should not be dismissed as “not that bad.” It's a serious health concern that needs attention and treatment.
9. Full recovery is possible, and the sooner someone gets help, the better the chances of recovery.
10. Recovery isn't easy, but it is worth it.
Inspired by these posts from AED and NEDA.
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Reader Question
Q: My friends are all on different diets. How do I know which one is best for me?
A: Unless going on a diet is medically necessary (for example, following a gluten-free diet if you have celiac disease or eating nut-free if you have a nut allergy), the best thing to do is NOT diet. Dieting (i.e., restricting food intake, usually in an effort to lose weight or change the body) has unfortunately become the norm in our society, but it is not a normal or healthy way of eating.
People often go on diets to feel better, lose weight, or improve their health, but it’s much more likely that the opposite of these goals will occur. Research has found that dieting is associated with weight gain (yes, diets lead to weight gain, not loss), increased preoccupation with food, lower self-esteem, more body dissatisfaction, and depression. Dieting can also lead to developing disordered eating or a full-blown eating disorder. I think if more people knew that these were the likely outcomes of going on a diet, dieting would be a lot less common (at least I hope so).
Diets are ineffective and potentially harmful and I'm obviously not a fan. Wondering what I recommend instead of going on a diet? I'm a big believer in the Intuitive Eating approach, which you can read more about here.
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Do you have a burning nutrition question? Email your question to: question@msnutrition.com and it may be answered in the next newsletter!
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News and Updates
2018 is off to a great start! Dawn Theodore, LMFT and I had a wonderful time presenting our Head to Pointe Wellness Workshop to dancers, teachers, and parents at the LHQ Danceforce studio in Massachusetts last month.
As former dancers, we are both passionate about teaching dancers and those who train and care for them how to be healthy from Head to Pointe. We would love to speak at your studio, college, company, or intensive soon! Contact us to learn more.
More News:
-I received my iaedp Approved Supervisor designation! I'm now offering professional supervision to dietitians pursuing the Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian (CEDRD) credential as well as other providers working with (or interested in working with) clients with eating disorders. Contact me for more information.
-The ms nutrition Facebook page is up and we'd love for you to connect with us!
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