Feb 2009
Eating Disorders Awareness Week: Dr. Joel Jahraus on KARE-11
24 February 09 Filed in: Eating Disorder
Risk
Click here to view this morning's
interview (click on "watch video" to the right
of the article text) on KARE-11 with Joel
Jahraus, MD of the Eating Disorders Institute
(soon to be the Melrose Institute) at Park
Nicollet who discusses early warning signs of
eating disorders.
Eating Disorders Awareness also means Eating Disorders Prevention (Part 2, what to achieve)
24 February 09 Filed in: Eating Disorder
Risk
In order to work toward preventing eating disorders,
we also need to work toward engaging in healthy acts
more regularly.
We can ACHIEVE these accomplishments:
Acceptance of a diverse range of weights and definitions of beauty
Reject Hollywood! Look to your family, friends and community to identify the beauty held by the people that are near and dear to you. Embrace their entire self, and your entire being, as wonderful. As Goldilocks would say, "You are just right!"
Education of others on all discriminations, including weight discrimination
When you overhear a conversation by others in which they are discussing weight, dieting, shape and appearance, take the time to educate them on how detrimental and discriminating this kind of talk can be. Encourage them to be more positive and accepting.
Promotion of overall self-esteem and building competencies
One of the reasons that body image can become so important to people is that they believe that their acceptance depends on looking a certain way. By celebrating achievements in areas not related to appearance, we can promote overall self-esteem. Challenge yourself and encourage others to build talents and competencies that are unrelated to shape and size. By doing so, we can celebrate the entirety of our being.
Media awareness
What messages do you glean from tv shows, magazine advertisements, billboards, internet pop-up windows and radio spots? In aggregate, these forms of media may lead us to believe that if we just work hard enough, purchase the right products, wear the right clothes, and deprive ourselves, we can attain a look closer to the cultural ideal. But if you spend that kind of energy, money, focus and time on that, you may have little left for yourself. Instead, become an advocate for media awareness - - know the dangers of media messages and how they can impact us all. The National Eating Disorders Association encourages us to become Media Watchdogs by educating ourselves on the media and advocating against media messages that promote thinness as beauty. Find out more about media awareness through NEDA!
We can ACHIEVE these accomplishments:
Acceptance of a diverse range of weights and definitions of beauty
Reject Hollywood! Look to your family, friends and community to identify the beauty held by the people that are near and dear to you. Embrace their entire self, and your entire being, as wonderful. As Goldilocks would say, "You are just right!"
Education of others on all discriminations, including weight discrimination
When you overhear a conversation by others in which they are discussing weight, dieting, shape and appearance, take the time to educate them on how detrimental and discriminating this kind of talk can be. Encourage them to be more positive and accepting.
Promotion of overall self-esteem and building competencies
One of the reasons that body image can become so important to people is that they believe that their acceptance depends on looking a certain way. By celebrating achievements in areas not related to appearance, we can promote overall self-esteem. Challenge yourself and encourage others to build talents and competencies that are unrelated to shape and size. By doing so, we can celebrate the entirety of our being.
Media awareness
What messages do you glean from tv shows, magazine advertisements, billboards, internet pop-up windows and radio spots? In aggregate, these forms of media may lead us to believe that if we just work hard enough, purchase the right products, wear the right clothes, and deprive ourselves, we can attain a look closer to the cultural ideal. But if you spend that kind of energy, money, focus and time on that, you may have little left for yourself. Instead, become an advocate for media awareness - - know the dangers of media messages and how they can impact us all. The National Eating Disorders Association encourages us to become Media Watchdogs by educating ourselves on the media and advocating against media messages that promote thinness as beauty. Find out more about media awareness through NEDA!
Eating Disorders Awareness also means Eating Disorders Prevention (Part 1, what to avoid)
23 February 09 Filed in: Eating Disorder
Risk
During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I
believe it is also important to focus on prevention
of eating disorders. Although there is research to
support that some individuals are born with a genetic
predisposition toward the development of an eating
disorder, it is environmental factors that "trigger"
that gene into action. By focusing on the
environmental factors that we can influence, we may
be able to help prevent eating disorders. Wouldn't it
be an amazing feat if in our lifetime we could
eradicate the eating disorders?!?
So what can we do, as a culture, as a society, as concerned people wanting to do something?
We can AVOID doing any of the following:
Engaging in "fat talk"
Whether it be about your own body or that of someone else, refrain from making any comments about size, shape, weight and attractiveness. Do you remember that mantra of "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all?" Well, it definitely applies here. If you can't say anything nice about your body or someone else's, then quiet that negative voice and search for something nice and uplifting to say.
Dieting
Research shows that one of the long-term effects of unhealthy dieting behaviors is that people gain weight! If you are concerned about your own weight, don't diet. Rather, eat foods from all of the food groups in moderation, develop a more active lifestyle, and take a stance against counting anything on a nutrition facts label! Count your blessings instead!
Categorizing foods as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy
Beware of labeling foods as good or bad, as it can alter how you feel about yourself if you eat something from one category versus the other. Instead, know that all foods have a place within a healthy lifestyle. Follow a balanced meal and snack plan, with foods from all of the food groups, and let go of the labels!
Rewarding or punishing actions with food
Did anyone ever bribe you to do something with food? Or if you fell and scraped your knee, did someone offer you a cookie to quiet the tears? Pairing actions with food should be avoided because it can become too difficult later in life to break the habit of rewarding or punishing your actions with food. Instead, motivate yourself with non-food rewards, such as a matinee movie or a new CD.
So what can we do, as a culture, as a society, as concerned people wanting to do something?
We can AVOID doing any of the following:
Engaging in "fat talk"
Whether it be about your own body or that of someone else, refrain from making any comments about size, shape, weight and attractiveness. Do you remember that mantra of "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all?" Well, it definitely applies here. If you can't say anything nice about your body or someone else's, then quiet that negative voice and search for something nice and uplifting to say.
Dieting
Research shows that one of the long-term effects of unhealthy dieting behaviors is that people gain weight! If you are concerned about your own weight, don't diet. Rather, eat foods from all of the food groups in moderation, develop a more active lifestyle, and take a stance against counting anything on a nutrition facts label! Count your blessings instead!
Categorizing foods as good or bad, healthy or unhealthy
Beware of labeling foods as good or bad, as it can alter how you feel about yourself if you eat something from one category versus the other. Instead, know that all foods have a place within a healthy lifestyle. Follow a balanced meal and snack plan, with foods from all of the food groups, and let go of the labels!
Rewarding or punishing actions with food
Did anyone ever bribe you to do something with food? Or if you fell and scraped your knee, did someone offer you a cookie to quiet the tears? Pairing actions with food should be avoided because it can become too difficult later in life to break the habit of rewarding or punishing your actions with food. Instead, motivate yourself with non-food rewards, such as a matinee movie or a new CD.
National Eating Disorders Awareness Week: February 22-28, 2009
12 February 09 Filed in: Eating Disorder
Risk
There are several events in Minnesota to enhance the
awareness of eating disorders. If you or someone you
care about is struggling with an eating disorder, of
if you want to learn more about eating disorders -
either from a support or prevention standpoint -
please click on this link to see some of the events
that are in your area.