FitSugar

Family Meals and Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:45:00 -0800

It is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and the subject can't really be contained to one week. When thinking about eating disorders, and frankly getting a little sad about them, I remembered a positive news story I read a while back. There was a study on family meals and eating disorders, that as mother of two girls I found heartening.

Researchers found that sitting down for regular family meals may actually help prevent eating disorders. Girls who ate five or more meals with their families weekly were one third less likely to practice extreme weight control behaviors. Extreme weight control behaviors range from vomiting, taking diet pills and abusing diuretics. Interestingly enough, family meals did not seem to lower unhealthy weight control behaviors like binge eating, smoking or skipping meals. It is important to note that the researchers did say that how the family acts during these meals is important, because they could also promote unhealthy eating habits. Enhancing the meal time atmosphere and saving possibly emotionally loaded topics, like potential prom plans, for other times might promote a healthy relationship with food too.

Online Help for Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:45:00 -0800

Being as this week is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I wanted to let you know about some great websites that can offer information, support, and help.

SomethingFishy: This is an active website with lots of forums, so it's a great way to get info in a supportive community. It recommends ways you can help a loved one who has an eating disorder, and it also has a comprehensive list of treatment centers so you can find one near you.

National Eating Disorders Association: If you're looking for someone to talk to, you can call its toll-free helpline at 800-931-2237, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific.

EatingDisordersOnline.com: This website is full of recent articles on eating disorders, and gives lots of valuable information on types of eating disorders, nutrition, and recovery. It can help you find treatment near you.

Eating-Disorder-Information.com: This inspirational website created by a recovered anorexic and bulimic provides information on eating disorders and related topics as well as poetry and interactive support.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 02:00:00 -0800

This may not be a sunny, happy topic, but it needs to be discussed. In fact, it merits an entire week of discussion. It is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. The eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating disorder, seem to work on a spectrum and doubtlessly touched many of our lives. This awareness week is an important tool for reaching people who are at risk of developing an eating disorder or are already suffering from one.

The National Eating Disorders Association sponsors the week of awareness, and events are held all over the nation. Check their website calendar to see if there is an event happening near you. The site has a wealth of information. Best of all, the NEDA website has treatment referrals for people at risk for eating disorders.

The theme this year for National Eating Disorders Awareness week is: "Be comfortable in your genes. Wear jeans that fit the REAL you." A sentiment we can all appreciate, especially since this is the year the dreaded "skinny jeans" became a fashion staple.

To read the inspirational poster text, just read more

Be comfortable in your genes.
Your genes play a role in determining your
body size and shape. Embrace your genes.
Stop trying to turn your body
into something it’s not.
Wear jeans that fit the TRUE you.

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