Body image concerns are universal and, how the concerns are addressed, depend on the individual.
During my research on ED, I've discovered that some individuals eat moderately with a healthy lifestyle & exercise. While others, use various pills & or powders, some go under the knife, & those with ED are on a different level, with various issues that underlie their concerns with their bodies. Nonetheless, most of us at some time wanted to modify our bodies.
When organizing ywev, my mission was to help those not only with ED but, those with excessive body image concerns. In the future, such concerns will be addressed.
Please visit daily for updates & meet the ywev Board Members.
Catherine W. Pinder
Founder & Chairman ywev
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
JOURNEY
"Believe you can navigate through this time of darkness, fear or confusion. Visualize the fact that even on a cloudy night the moon is beyond the clouds trying to push back darkness and show you the way."
-Farber & Zerner
-Farber & Zerner
Sunday, August 23, 2009
My Story as an African American Woman with Bulimia Nervosa
Like a lot of people who are concerned about body weight and those who yo-yo diet, our weight tend to fluctuate. After my 24th birthday, I was determined and motivated to lose weight once and for all! My weight program began with me weighing 185 lbs (I'm 5'5" by the way). I did the Slim Fast diet while my exercise regime was working out with Richard Siimmons. I lost 25 lbs (we're not going to even go there with the haters who tried to sabotage me). By my 25th birthday, I was 160 lbs and upgraded my exercise routine a little, and by the age of 27, I was 150 lbs but, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get below 150 lbs! So, one day, I was watching a talk show, can't remember which one, and there were 3 women and 1 man on the panel with eating disorders. I became intrigued because I've never heard of such a disease. I totally dismissed all the negative side affects they wee discussing like, the male guest who wore a bag on his side, and I concentrated on everything they did to lose weight, from vomiting to laxative abuse. Finally, I found a diet that works!
At first purging was difficult and painful. I needed to find an easier way to get rid of my food intake. So, I researched people with eating disorders. One of the ways to get rid of the food was to purge right after eating and to eat foods that are easy to purge like, ice cream. Okay! That'll work! And, in deed it did. I abused laxatives, diet pills and cough syrups. I believed there was an ingredient in the cough syrup that helped weight-loss but, I think in reality it was the cold itself that contributed to me losing weight. So, I tried consistently to keep colds. Also, I looked through my mothers' "Vitamin Bible" by Dr. Earl Mindell and made a list of every vitamin that contributed to weight loss. I then, created a hefty bill for myself by purchasing every vitamin on the list.
I became a pro at vomiting. I no longer needed to stick my finger down my throat; all I had to do was put my head over the toilet bowl and allow the purging to happen naturally. After every major meal I purged. After all the snacks in between meals, I purged. I even purged 2 potato chips. I purged soft drinks, especially shakes. I purged and purged and purged! and, although my weight-loss was slow, I continued the madness. At least I was getting thinner. I didn't watch any talk shows that didn't consist of eating disorders. I only watched them because I wanted to learn new ways to loose weight. By the way, every show I watched, there wasn't a single African American telling his/her story.
Bingeing and purging, bingeing and purging, bingeing and purging! What am I doing to myself?! My stomach ached (today I take medication for acid reflux disease), my spine ached, I developed rashes on the back of my neck. I looked pale and my eyes sunken in. My short term memory, if I remembered anything at all, begun to be shorter. My voice, that once sounded like spun silk now sounds harsh and scratchy. My beautiful teeth that I inherited from my mother were dull and sensitive. But still, the obsession to be thin was way too important. So, I increased my work-out routine. Instead of working out twice a day, I now work-out 3 to 5 times a day.
The scale, toilette and compulsive exercising were my best friends. Sometimes, I would wake-up 2 in the morning and do a vigorous work-out. I would then work-out before I went to work. I would come home from work and exercise again before hitting the gym. After the gym, I would indulge myself in another vigorous work-out. By the time, I went to my 10th year class reunion, the pantyhose I wore at 185 lbs and a size 18 misses, I now was wearing as a body stocking and now a size 8. I was a hit at the reunion and smaller at age 28 than I was at age 18! But still, I wasn't thin enough at 135 lbs. My family and friends thought I weighed less, but with all the exercising, I believed it was more inches that were lost than weight. I began to get depress and wonder why the the weight wasn't coming-off faster. Through my research of bulimia, it is said that bulimics don't really notice a change in their body weight because although they purge, some of the food still get digested.
Irregular menstruation, paleness, low body temperature, dizziness, irregular heart beat, hair loss, compulsive exercising, abuse of laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics, mood shifts, social isolation, sore throat, frequent bathroom visits, fasting, and guilt were just some of my experiences as a bulimic.
The day my mother, found a bag of vomit in the trash can, was the most embarrassing moment of my life. I believed she felt a little responsible because she used to tease me about my weight. She had no clue that I allowed a number on a scale to determine my self-worth and that I avoided family and social functions because I thought I wasn't thin enough. Another embarrassing moment was when my ex-boyfriend, noticed that after we have dinner, I would quickly go to the bathroom. One night, after dinner, I did my normal routine of purging when there was a knock at the bathroom door. I quickly sat on the toilette. When he entered, he asked what I was doing. Of course I lied, he then asked me to get off the toilette. There it was my whole dinner right before his eyes! He was hurt and concerned and asked why. To this day, I can't recall what I said to him. Nevertheless, both embarrassing moments didn't change me; my goal to be thin remained my sole ambition.
By the age of 32, I was tired of being tired. I was tired about my constant thinking of food and that damn scale! So, instead of seeking help, I helped myself, well sort of. I no longer purged my whole meal just some of it. My exercise programs went back to twice a day. And, yes, the weight crept back on but, I was happy because I wasn't purging all my food and abusing diet and diuretic pills. Eventually, I stopped purging all together, I think at age 35. Sometimes I would think of a magic diet like, liposuction. I visited a plastic surgeon once regarding the procedure. He sounded like so many people when looking at me, "but you have such a pretty face." However, beauty to me, most of my life was, the less you weighed the more attractive you were.
Today, at age 42, married and a mother of 5 year old fraternal twins, to be thin is so far down my list of priorities. At times, I envision being a size 8 again but, to go through such drastic measures to achieve it, is so not cool (smile). I still exercise and eat in moderation; I've even joined Weight Watchers. My ambition today, is to be happy and healthy no matter what size I am or what the scale says. Besides, my family needs me; no one can give hugs and kisses like mommy!
Finally, I believe that the reason eating disorders in the African American community is hidden is because our pride would not allow us to expose ourselves to scrutiny and public embarrassment. But, I also believe, African American women who suffer or has suffered from the disease have an obligation to spread awareness about eating disorders and to reassure every man and woman that "no matter how fat or thin, the truest beauty lies within".
Please visit daily for future stories of African American women with Eating Disorders.
By: ywev Chairman/Founder
At first purging was difficult and painful. I needed to find an easier way to get rid of my food intake. So, I researched people with eating disorders. One of the ways to get rid of the food was to purge right after eating and to eat foods that are easy to purge like, ice cream. Okay! That'll work! And, in deed it did. I abused laxatives, diet pills and cough syrups. I believed there was an ingredient in the cough syrup that helped weight-loss but, I think in reality it was the cold itself that contributed to me losing weight. So, I tried consistently to keep colds. Also, I looked through my mothers' "Vitamin Bible" by Dr. Earl Mindell and made a list of every vitamin that contributed to weight loss. I then, created a hefty bill for myself by purchasing every vitamin on the list.
I became a pro at vomiting. I no longer needed to stick my finger down my throat; all I had to do was put my head over the toilet bowl and allow the purging to happen naturally. After every major meal I purged. After all the snacks in between meals, I purged. I even purged 2 potato chips. I purged soft drinks, especially shakes. I purged and purged and purged! and, although my weight-loss was slow, I continued the madness. At least I was getting thinner. I didn't watch any talk shows that didn't consist of eating disorders. I only watched them because I wanted to learn new ways to loose weight. By the way, every show I watched, there wasn't a single African American telling his/her story.
Bingeing and purging, bingeing and purging, bingeing and purging! What am I doing to myself?! My stomach ached (today I take medication for acid reflux disease), my spine ached, I developed rashes on the back of my neck. I looked pale and my eyes sunken in. My short term memory, if I remembered anything at all, begun to be shorter. My voice, that once sounded like spun silk now sounds harsh and scratchy. My beautiful teeth that I inherited from my mother were dull and sensitive. But still, the obsession to be thin was way too important. So, I increased my work-out routine. Instead of working out twice a day, I now work-out 3 to 5 times a day.
The scale, toilette and compulsive exercising were my best friends. Sometimes, I would wake-up 2 in the morning and do a vigorous work-out. I would then work-out before I went to work. I would come home from work and exercise again before hitting the gym. After the gym, I would indulge myself in another vigorous work-out. By the time, I went to my 10th year class reunion, the pantyhose I wore at 185 lbs and a size 18 misses, I now was wearing as a body stocking and now a size 8. I was a hit at the reunion and smaller at age 28 than I was at age 18! But still, I wasn't thin enough at 135 lbs. My family and friends thought I weighed less, but with all the exercising, I believed it was more inches that were lost than weight. I began to get depress and wonder why the the weight wasn't coming-off faster. Through my research of bulimia, it is said that bulimics don't really notice a change in their body weight because although they purge, some of the food still get digested.
Irregular menstruation, paleness, low body temperature, dizziness, irregular heart beat, hair loss, compulsive exercising, abuse of laxatives, diet pills, and diuretics, mood shifts, social isolation, sore throat, frequent bathroom visits, fasting, and guilt were just some of my experiences as a bulimic.
The day my mother, found a bag of vomit in the trash can, was the most embarrassing moment of my life. I believed she felt a little responsible because she used to tease me about my weight. She had no clue that I allowed a number on a scale to determine my self-worth and that I avoided family and social functions because I thought I wasn't thin enough. Another embarrassing moment was when my ex-boyfriend, noticed that after we have dinner, I would quickly go to the bathroom. One night, after dinner, I did my normal routine of purging when there was a knock at the bathroom door. I quickly sat on the toilette. When he entered, he asked what I was doing. Of course I lied, he then asked me to get off the toilette. There it was my whole dinner right before his eyes! He was hurt and concerned and asked why. To this day, I can't recall what I said to him. Nevertheless, both embarrassing moments didn't change me; my goal to be thin remained my sole ambition.
By the age of 32, I was tired of being tired. I was tired about my constant thinking of food and that damn scale! So, instead of seeking help, I helped myself, well sort of. I no longer purged my whole meal just some of it. My exercise programs went back to twice a day. And, yes, the weight crept back on but, I was happy because I wasn't purging all my food and abusing diet and diuretic pills. Eventually, I stopped purging all together, I think at age 35. Sometimes I would think of a magic diet like, liposuction. I visited a plastic surgeon once regarding the procedure. He sounded like so many people when looking at me, "but you have such a pretty face." However, beauty to me, most of my life was, the less you weighed the more attractive you were.
Today, at age 42, married and a mother of 5 year old fraternal twins, to be thin is so far down my list of priorities. At times, I envision being a size 8 again but, to go through such drastic measures to achieve it, is so not cool (smile). I still exercise and eat in moderation; I've even joined Weight Watchers. My ambition today, is to be happy and healthy no matter what size I am or what the scale says. Besides, my family needs me; no one can give hugs and kisses like mommy!
Finally, I believe that the reason eating disorders in the African American community is hidden is because our pride would not allow us to expose ourselves to scrutiny and public embarrassment. But, I also believe, African American women who suffer or has suffered from the disease have an obligation to spread awareness about eating disorders and to reassure every man and woman that "no matter how fat or thin, the truest beauty lies within".
Please visit daily for future stories of African American women with Eating Disorders.
By: ywev Chairman/Founder
Women of Color and Eating Disorders
How is it different for women of color?
Eating disorders among college women of color are often associated with very complex social status in the United States. Whether a woman of color is racially distinct, ethnically distinct, or comes from another country -- to the extent she is a minority, her experience in US society at large will be influenced by all the ramifications and implications of being "different." For many women of color, it is this difference that makes them subject to racism.
The challenges of being a student of color
Students of color will commonly have some of the following experiences -- experiences which are both stressful and not typically felt by white students:
* Isolation
* The "fishbowl" effect of feeling conspicuous and much observed
* Acts and attitudes of prejudice and discrimination against them
* Being the target of stereotypes
* The pressure to acculturate (to modify their cultural identification and practices)
These issues may cause ongoing and considerable distress that can show up in problems with eating or body image concerns.
Conflicting cultural standards for beauty and acceptance
The fact that many women of color are bicultural (meaning that they carry in them the influences and identifications of two different cultures) can complicate and stress their personal experience even more. A common trigger for eating disorders in a woman of color is conflicting cultural standards for beauty and acceptance. Your culture of origin, or the culture with which you mainly identify, may hold one set of standards for beauty; but outside of that environment, you are met with another set of standards altogether. You may have been very pleased with your full-figured body, which always seemed attractive in your world; yet now you are finding that thin and muscular is prized, while soft and round is criticized. You may feel you should change how you look--whether or not your body is actually suited to a different shape. Soon you may find your eating behavior has become disrupted and unnatural because you are going against your own natural inclinations.
Internalization of harmful messages
Ideas of beauty that don't fit the norm are often put down by people who can't relate to them and instead see them as strange. Women commonly internalize this as a devaluing of their images and ideals of attractiveness. Preferences which normally have brought you pride and a feeling of being appreciated, may become something you feel embarrassment about. If you lack sufficient validation of your own culture's ideas of beauty, your social identity (that based on culture, race, ethnicity), and even your sense of self, may be eroded. This may put you at risk for eating concerns.
Women of color who are most vulnerable to developing eating disorders
* Those who are or have been separated from their primary cultural group for a significant amount of time
* Foster children reared by white mothers
* Those acclimating to a different culture
* Those with a eurocentric/dominant culture perception of beauty and attractiveness
Keys to recovery
* Awareness of encountering the above social stressors and related emotional pressures which impact body image and eating
* Maintaining or establishing a positive connection to one's culture of origin
* Developing healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress
* Locating reliable nutritional information relevant to college life
* Talking with other supportive peers and/or a professional who can give support
Adapted from the Boston College Eating Awareness Team
Written by Boston College Counseling Services
Eating disorders among college women of color are often associated with very complex social status in the United States. Whether a woman of color is racially distinct, ethnically distinct, or comes from another country -- to the extent she is a minority, her experience in US society at large will be influenced by all the ramifications and implications of being "different." For many women of color, it is this difference that makes them subject to racism.
The challenges of being a student of color
Students of color will commonly have some of the following experiences -- experiences which are both stressful and not typically felt by white students:
* Isolation
* The "fishbowl" effect of feeling conspicuous and much observed
* Acts and attitudes of prejudice and discrimination against them
* Being the target of stereotypes
* The pressure to acculturate (to modify their cultural identification and practices)
These issues may cause ongoing and considerable distress that can show up in problems with eating or body image concerns.
Conflicting cultural standards for beauty and acceptance
The fact that many women of color are bicultural (meaning that they carry in them the influences and identifications of two different cultures) can complicate and stress their personal experience even more. A common trigger for eating disorders in a woman of color is conflicting cultural standards for beauty and acceptance. Your culture of origin, or the culture with which you mainly identify, may hold one set of standards for beauty; but outside of that environment, you are met with another set of standards altogether. You may have been very pleased with your full-figured body, which always seemed attractive in your world; yet now you are finding that thin and muscular is prized, while soft and round is criticized. You may feel you should change how you look--whether or not your body is actually suited to a different shape. Soon you may find your eating behavior has become disrupted and unnatural because you are going against your own natural inclinations.
Internalization of harmful messages
Ideas of beauty that don't fit the norm are often put down by people who can't relate to them and instead see them as strange. Women commonly internalize this as a devaluing of their images and ideals of attractiveness. Preferences which normally have brought you pride and a feeling of being appreciated, may become something you feel embarrassment about. If you lack sufficient validation of your own culture's ideas of beauty, your social identity (that based on culture, race, ethnicity), and even your sense of self, may be eroded. This may put you at risk for eating concerns.
Women of color who are most vulnerable to developing eating disorders
* Those who are or have been separated from their primary cultural group for a significant amount of time
* Foster children reared by white mothers
* Those acclimating to a different culture
* Those with a eurocentric/dominant culture perception of beauty and attractiveness
Keys to recovery
* Awareness of encountering the above social stressors and related emotional pressures which impact body image and eating
* Maintaining or establishing a positive connection to one's culture of origin
* Developing healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress
* Locating reliable nutritional information relevant to college life
* Talking with other supportive peers and/or a professional who can give support
Adapted from the Boston College Eating Awareness Team
Written by Boston College Counseling Services
How do I Help a Friend who has an Eating Disorder?
When You Worry About a Friend's Eating
What do I say? What do I do? Who can help? I What can you say? I What can you expect? I What if there are medical concerns?I What if they will talk about it? I What is not helpful? I What can we do about cultural attitudes about weight? I Resources at Brown I Links you can use
What do I say? What do I do? Who can help?
If you have a friend with an eating disorder, or you worry about what might be an eating disorder, you are not alone. Some estimates are that as many as 1 in 3 college women have struggled with weight, food, body image, disordered eating or an eating disorder by the time they graduate from college. Certainly, among your friends and acquaintances there are women and possibly men who have eating concerns.
Perhaps you have become aware of your friend's problem because you have observed their weight changes, or you feel uncomfortable with his preoccupation with dietary restriction, or you have become aware that she abuses laxatives or vomits to purge herself of what she eats. You feel concerned and wonder how to bring up the subject. You worry that your friend will feel "accused" or "diagnosed" and will be angry with you. It's important to keep in mind that hearing honest concern from others helps break denial and often is the first step on the path to acknowledging the problem and getting help.
What can you say?
First of all, you can make sure your friend knows that you care about them. You might say:
"I'm here for you if you need me. I know you're struggling with a lot of stress lately. Let me know how I can help."
You may want to go further and share with her/him what you have observed and talk about your specific concerns. For example:
"I've noticed you've lost so much weight and that you're still dieting and losing. I'm worried about your health."
"It seems like we're always talking about weight and food and exercise. You seem so worried about it and so unhappy with the way you look. I'm worried that maybe you don't feel too good about yourself and that maybe you're depressed."
"I heard you throwing up 3 times last week. I know when that happened before you said you had the flu. I'm really worried that it's more that. I'm scared something will happen to you."
What can you expect?
Your friend may deny or minimize or may say "I used to have a problem but I'm better now," or she may acknowledge the difficulty and want to talk about it. If she denies it and wants to avoid it, you may have to be satisfied to have expressed your concerns directly and let it be, for now. Let her know that you are still her friend and are there to talk if she wants to. If your friend's constant discussion of weight and what s/he eats interferes with your relationship, you may have to put some limits on that behavior. Those topics can be declared off-limits in your conversations with each other. If you are disturbed by your friend's restrictive eating, for example, you may decide not to have meals together.
What if there are medical concerns?
If you are concerned that your friend may be in some medical jeopardy and feel you must do more than just express your concerns to them, you may need to ask for additional help -- from family, a medical provider, or other professionals. You can also talk to a dorm counselor, a Dean of Student Life, Psychological Services, Health Services or Health Education for more advice.
What if they will talk about it?
If your friend is willing to talk and be open about the problem, it's important to listen with empathy and without judgment. It may be hard to understand why someone who is attractive and well-liked would think they are "fat and ugly" or why someone would feel they needed to vomit if they had been "bad" by eating a chocolate chip cookie. It is so tempting to try to use logic, reality, and reason to talk someone out of these "irrational" ideas.
One of the most helpful things you can do is facilitate the person's accessing professional help. For Brown students, this is where Health Education, Health Services, and Psychological Services come in. At Health Education, a registered nutritionist is available to see students individually to help evaluate their nutritional status and eating patterns. Health Services provides medical evaluations and Psychological Services evaluates the overall eating disorder in the context of the person's current and past life, providing treatment recommendations.
What is not helpful?
One thing is almost NEVER helpful: monitoring what someone eats. To be told what to eat, how much to eat, to be watched while eating, etc. would create a problem with food for any of us. Imagine how it affects someone who is literally thinking about food all the time. Resist the pull to monitor, comment or advise about eating.
What can we do about cultural attitudes about weight?
There is something else we can do to help friends who are suffering from eating disorders; something that can enhance our well being and that of the community at large, as well. We need to do all we can to eradicate "fatism." It is a form of prejudice and discrimination just like racism or sexism. It is based on the assumption that there is only one "right" or acceptable way to look. It equates thinness with attractiveness, intelligence, ambition, success, and worthiness. There is no room for variety, for difference, for valuing how we REALLY look instead of how we're "supposed" to look. What a wonderful world it would be if we focused on how each other FELT instead of how we looked. What if there were other ways to know deep inside we're O.K., besides how much we weigh, or how small our waist is, or how big our biceps are? It will take a lot of effort on all our parts to change the way we think. Let's start now. We can create an environment where our self-doubt and unfulfilled longings don't have to be expressed in a war against our bodies.
Adapted from the Boston College Eating Awareness Team
Written by Boston College Counseling Services
What do I say? What do I do? Who can help? I What can you say? I What can you expect? I What if there are medical concerns?I What if they will talk about it? I What is not helpful? I What can we do about cultural attitudes about weight? I Resources at Brown I Links you can use
What do I say? What do I do? Who can help?
If you have a friend with an eating disorder, or you worry about what might be an eating disorder, you are not alone. Some estimates are that as many as 1 in 3 college women have struggled with weight, food, body image, disordered eating or an eating disorder by the time they graduate from college. Certainly, among your friends and acquaintances there are women and possibly men who have eating concerns.
Perhaps you have become aware of your friend's problem because you have observed their weight changes, or you feel uncomfortable with his preoccupation with dietary restriction, or you have become aware that she abuses laxatives or vomits to purge herself of what she eats. You feel concerned and wonder how to bring up the subject. You worry that your friend will feel "accused" or "diagnosed" and will be angry with you. It's important to keep in mind that hearing honest concern from others helps break denial and often is the first step on the path to acknowledging the problem and getting help.
What can you say?
First of all, you can make sure your friend knows that you care about them. You might say:
"I'm here for you if you need me. I know you're struggling with a lot of stress lately. Let me know how I can help."
You may want to go further and share with her/him what you have observed and talk about your specific concerns. For example:
"I've noticed you've lost so much weight and that you're still dieting and losing. I'm worried about your health."
"It seems like we're always talking about weight and food and exercise. You seem so worried about it and so unhappy with the way you look. I'm worried that maybe you don't feel too good about yourself and that maybe you're depressed."
"I heard you throwing up 3 times last week. I know when that happened before you said you had the flu. I'm really worried that it's more that. I'm scared something will happen to you."
What can you expect?
Your friend may deny or minimize or may say "I used to have a problem but I'm better now," or she may acknowledge the difficulty and want to talk about it. If she denies it and wants to avoid it, you may have to be satisfied to have expressed your concerns directly and let it be, for now. Let her know that you are still her friend and are there to talk if she wants to. If your friend's constant discussion of weight and what s/he eats interferes with your relationship, you may have to put some limits on that behavior. Those topics can be declared off-limits in your conversations with each other. If you are disturbed by your friend's restrictive eating, for example, you may decide not to have meals together.
What if there are medical concerns?
If you are concerned that your friend may be in some medical jeopardy and feel you must do more than just express your concerns to them, you may need to ask for additional help -- from family, a medical provider, or other professionals. You can also talk to a dorm counselor, a Dean of Student Life, Psychological Services, Health Services or Health Education for more advice.
What if they will talk about it?
If your friend is willing to talk and be open about the problem, it's important to listen with empathy and without judgment. It may be hard to understand why someone who is attractive and well-liked would think they are "fat and ugly" or why someone would feel they needed to vomit if they had been "bad" by eating a chocolate chip cookie. It is so tempting to try to use logic, reality, and reason to talk someone out of these "irrational" ideas.
One of the most helpful things you can do is facilitate the person's accessing professional help. For Brown students, this is where Health Education, Health Services, and Psychological Services come in. At Health Education, a registered nutritionist is available to see students individually to help evaluate their nutritional status and eating patterns. Health Services provides medical evaluations and Psychological Services evaluates the overall eating disorder in the context of the person's current and past life, providing treatment recommendations.
What is not helpful?
One thing is almost NEVER helpful: monitoring what someone eats. To be told what to eat, how much to eat, to be watched while eating, etc. would create a problem with food for any of us. Imagine how it affects someone who is literally thinking about food all the time. Resist the pull to monitor, comment or advise about eating.
What can we do about cultural attitudes about weight?
There is something else we can do to help friends who are suffering from eating disorders; something that can enhance our well being and that of the community at large, as well. We need to do all we can to eradicate "fatism." It is a form of prejudice and discrimination just like racism or sexism. It is based on the assumption that there is only one "right" or acceptable way to look. It equates thinness with attractiveness, intelligence, ambition, success, and worthiness. There is no room for variety, for difference, for valuing how we REALLY look instead of how we're "supposed" to look. What a wonderful world it would be if we focused on how each other FELT instead of how we looked. What if there were other ways to know deep inside we're O.K., besides how much we weigh, or how small our waist is, or how big our biceps are? It will take a lot of effort on all our parts to change the way we think. Let's start now. We can create an environment where our self-doubt and unfulfilled longings don't have to be expressed in a war against our bodies.
Adapted from the Boston College Eating Awareness Team
Written by Boston College Counseling Services
Monday, August 17, 2009
How Can Treatment Centers Help You?
If you have an eating disorder:
Anorexia and Bulimia are disorders characterized by preoccupation with food, weight and shape. Compulsive over eaters , as well as others without a full-blown eating disorder, may also suffer some of the symptoms listed below. All may benefit from treatment and should seek specialized care.
Anorexia Danger Signals
Many patients with eating disorders can make a complete recovery. Effective care usually involves a professional team of specialists - physicians, therapist and dietitians - who develop and coordinate specific approaches that best suit the needs of the patient and his/her family. The following types of treatment may be useful:
Below is a sample list of Eating Disorder Treatment Centers by State.
- You feel all alone - no one cares or understands;
- You are confused with what is going on;
- You want to find help;
- You need support along with your therapy.
- You feel frightened, confused by the behavior and physical changes you are witnessing;
- You want to know what you can do to help;
- You want to know what kind of help is necessary and where it is available.
- Support Groups for people with anorexia and bulimia.
- Separate Support Groups for families and friends,.
- Monthly informational meetings with guest speakers.
- Telephone Help Line for those seeking support, information and referrals.
- Referrals for medical and psychological services.
- Information regarding current activities and publications for people with an eating disorder and their family and friends.
- Speakers Bureau.
- Outreach Program for schools.
Anorexia and Bulimia are disorders characterized by preoccupation with food, weight and shape. Compulsive over eaters , as well as others without a full-blown eating disorder, may also suffer some of the symptoms listed below. All may benefit from treatment and should seek specialized care.
Anorexia Danger Signals
- Losing a significant amount of weight.
- Continuing to diet (although thin).
- Feeling fat, even after losing weight.
- Fearing weight gain.
- Losing monthly menstrual cycle.
- Preoccupation with food, calories, nutrition and/or cooking.
- Preferring to diet in isolation.
- Exercising compulsively.
- Bingeing and purging.
- Bingeing or eating uncontrollably.
- Purging by strict dieting, fasting, vigorous exercise, vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight.
- Using bathroom frequently after meals.
- Depression or mood swings.
- Irregular periods.
- Developing dental problems, swollen cheek glands, heartburn and/or bloating.
- Experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs.
Many patients with eating disorders can make a complete recovery. Effective care usually involves a professional team of specialists - physicians, therapist and dietitians - who develop and coordinate specific approaches that best suit the needs of the patient and his/her family. The following types of treatment may be useful:
- Medical Care - to deal with physical problems such as low weight, abnormal menstrual periods, and bloating
- Nutritional Counseling - to develop healthier eating patterns
- Individual and Family Therapy - to resolve conflicts, build self-esteem, improve relationships
- Group Therapy - to understand and manage symptoms and feelings
- Medication - to lessen bingeing, depression or obsessive thinking
- Hospitalization - to provide safety for patients in medical danger
- Support Groups - to offer additional help to patients and families
Below is a sample list of Eating Disorder Treatment Centers by State.
Eating Disorder Treatment Centers by State
Treatment Centers
When a treatment team is no longer enough, you may consider a more protective treatment environment, such as residential or a hospital program. The following list is intended to provide a starting point to learn more about treatment options. We believe that all facilities listed here are reputable, however Gürze Books is not responsible for the treatment provided. Use your own good judgment when deciding where to get help, and we wish you success in recovery!
The facilities listed below are by state.
To see them listed in alphabetical order click here.
United States:
Alabama:
Magnolia Creek
Residential Treatment Center for Eating Disorders
P.O. Box 391
Chelsea, Alabama 35043
205 678 4373 or
888 7MAGNOLIA
The Pinnacle Schools
500 Governors Drive
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-518-9998
Arizona:
Healthy Futures
9449 N. 90th St. Suite 210
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-451-8500
The Mandel Center
11811 N. Tatum Blvd. Ste 3031
Phoenix, AZ
480-734-1199
Mirasol, Inc.
7650 E. Broadway, #303
Tucson, AZ 85710
1-888-520-1700
ReddStone
A Remuda Program for Boys
1 East Apache Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-445-1900
info@remudaranch.com
Remuda Ranch
Programs for Eating & Anxiety Disorders
1 East Apache Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-445-1900
email: info@remudaranch.com
Rosewood
36075 South Rincon Road
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-845-2211
Sierra Tucson
39580 S. Lago del Oro Parkway
Tucson, AZ 85739
1-800-842-4487
California:
HOPE for Eating Disorders
Alta Bates Summit-Herrick Campus
2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley CA 94704
Inpatient (510) 204-4405
Outpatient (510) 204-4560
Balanza
1761 Hotel Circle South
San Diego, CA 92108
619-297-4499
The Bella Vita
Los Angeles, CA Woodland Hills, CA
and
La Canada Flintridge, CA
877-912-3552
Casa de Lago
22590 Canyon Lake Drive South
Canyon Lake, CA 92587
1-800-824-4936
Casa Palmera
14750 El Camino Real
Del Mar, CA 92014
1-888-481-4481
info@casapalmera.com
Center for Discovery
4281 Katella Avenue
Suite 111
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
800-760-3934
info@centerfordiscovery.com
www.centerfordiscovery.com
Whittier, CA
Lakewood, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Downey, CA
1
CRC Health Group
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd.
6th Floor
Cupertino, Ca. 95014
(866)549-5034
Del Amo Hospital Eating Disorders Program
23700 Camino Del Sol
Torrance, CA 90505
800-533-5266
Harmony Grove:
Supportive Living for Eating Wellness
San Diego, CA 92130
(858)342-1514
Healthy Within
4510 Executive Dr. 103
San Diego, CA 92121
(858)622-0221
Loma Linda University Behavioral Med. Center
Redlands, CA
1-800-752-5999
Mandometer Treatment for Eating Disorders
11777 Bernardo Plaza Court, Suite 208
San Diego, CA 92128
858-451-1008
Montecatini
2524 La Costa Ave.
Rancho La Costa, CA 92009
760-436-8930
Monte Nido
27162 Sea Vista Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-9958
New Dawn Recovery
2320 Marinship Way Suite 240
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-1383
New Directions Eating Disorders Center
14542 Ventura Blvd. Suite 211
Sherman Oaks, Ca 91403
818-377-4442
Oceanaire
866.406.1066
info@oceanaireinc.com
www.oceanaireinc.com
Ohlhoff Eating Disorders Outpatient Program
2418 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-221.3354
Puente de Vida
La Jolla, CA
1-877-995-4337
Rader Programs
Pacific Shores Hospital
2130 N. Ventura Road
Oxnard, California 93036
1-800-841-1515
rader@raderprograms.com
Reasons
4619 Rosemead Boulevard,
Rosemead, CA 91770
626.270.4226
Rebecca's House
23861 El Toro Road, Suite 700
Lake Forest, CA 92630
800-711-2062
info@rebeccashouse.org
Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
7850 Vista Hill Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 694-8434
Shoreline Center for Eating Disorder Treatment
Satori House
Long Beach, CA
562-434-6007
Sober Living by the Sea Treatment Centers
CRC Health Group
Newport Beach, CA
(949) 554-1114
South Coast Medical Center
Eating Disorders Treatment
31872 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 499-7504
Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program
601 University Ave, Ste. 225
Sacramento, CA 95825
916-920-5276
Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program
Intensive Outpatient Program
400 Montgomery St., Suite 501
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-788-0158
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
3330 Lomita Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
310-325-4353
UCLA Eating Disorders Program
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
150 UCLA Medical Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Adolescent inpatient services: 310-267-9140
Adult inpatient services: 310-267-7364
Adult outpatient program: 310-206-3954
The Victorian of Newport Beach
2811 Villa Way
Newport Beach, CA 92663
800-647-0042
Colorado:
Children's Hospital
13123 East 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
1-800-624-6553
Denver Health A.C.U.T.E Medical Center
777 Bannock Street
Denver, Colorado 80204-4507
877-228-8348
Eating Disorder Center of Denver
950 South Cherry St., Suite 1010
Denver, CO 80246
1-303-771-0861
Eating Recovery Center
Nourishing Health
Denver, CO
1-877-825-8584
La Luna Center
3002 Bluff St. Ste. 200
Boulder, CO 80301
720-470-0010
New Directions Eating Disorders Center
2121 S. Oneida #412
Denver, Co 80224
303-694-7484
Connecticut:
The Institute of Living
400 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
1-800-673-2411
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Wellspring
21 Arch Bridge Rd.
Bethlehem, CT 06751
203-266-8000
Florida:
The Boswell Center
6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 904
Jacksonville, FL 32216
904-332-9100
Canopy Cove
13305 Mahan Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
1-800-236-7524
Center for Eating and Weight Disorders
Assessment and Psychotherapy Services, Inc.
2155 Main Street
Sarasota, Florida 34237
(941) 365-2962
Fairwinds Treatment Center
1569 South Fort Harrison
Clearwater, Florida 33756
1-877-ANOREXIA
La Bonne Maison
Tampa, FL and Orlando, FL
1-800-824-8580
Milestones at High Point
5960 Southwest 106th Ave
Cooper City, FL 33328
800-347-2364
Oliver-Pyatt Centers
www.oliverpyattcenters.com
Miami, FL
866-511-HEAL (4325)
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Turning Point of Tampa, Inc.
6227 Sheldon Rd.
Tampa, FL 33615
800-397-3006
The Willough at Naples
9001 Tamianm Trail East
Naples, FL 34113
1-800-722-0100
Georgia:
Ridgeview Institute
3995 South Cobb Dr.
Smyrna, GA
1-800-329-9775
Peachford Hospital
2151 Peachford Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30338
770-455-3200
Hawaii:
Aloha Healing Retreats
P.O. 1850
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
1-888-967-8622
Anorexia and Bulimia Center of Hawaii
Kailua, Oahu, Maui, HI
1-808-262-0398
Illinois:
Alexian Brothers Medical Center, IL
1650 Moon Lake Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL 60194
1-800-432-5005
Arabella House
806 Edgewater
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 646-6798
ENH Highland Park Hospital
Center for Eating Disorders
777 Park Avenue West
Highland Park IL 60035
847-480-2617
Insight Psychological Center
4711 W. Golf Rd. Ste 403
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 604-1918
Linden Oaks at Edward
801 South Washington Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 305-5500
Timberline Knolls
40 Timberline Dr.
Lemont, IL 60439
630-343-2346
Indiana:
Eating Disorders Center of Indiana
3945 Eagle Creek Parkway
Suite C
Indianapolis IN 46254 lah
317-329-7071
Selah House
2541 North Shore Blvd
Anderson, IN 46011
(888) 641 - 0022
Kansas:
Menninger Clinic
Topeka, KS
1-800-351-9058
Louisiana:
Depaul Tulane Behavioral Health Center's Eating Disorders Program
1040 Calhoun Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
1-800-548-4183
River Oaks Hospital
Eating Disorder Treatment Center
1525 River Oaks Road West
New Orleans, LA 70123
1-800-366-1740
Maine:
Mercy Hospital
144 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 879-3795
Maryland:
Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard & Enoch Pratt Hospital
6501 N. Charles Street Unit B-5
Baltimore, Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-938-5252
Washington Center for Eating Disorders & Adolescent Obesity
6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 412
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
(301) 530-0676
Massachusetts:
Arbour Hospital
49 Robinwood Ave
Boston, MA 02130-2156
(617)522-4400
Cambridge Eating Disorder Center
3 Bow Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
main: 617-547-2255
residential program: 617-661-0841
Laurel Hill Inn
P. O. Box 368
Medford MA 02155-0004
781-396-1116
The Klarman Eating Disorders Center
at McLean Hospital
115 Mill St.
Belmont, MA 02478
email: klarmancenter@mclean.org
(617)855-3410
Walden Behavioral Care
9 Hope Ave.
Waltham, MA
881 647-6727
and
109 Main st.
Northampton MA
413 582-0100
Westwood Pembroke Health System:
The Eating Disorders Program
New England
1-617-762-7764 x488
1-800-22-ACCES
Michigan:
Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
1055 Medical Park Drive S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
1-800-949-8439
Four Seasons Treatment Center
1176 S. Main St.
Plymouth, MI 48170
(734) 416-3341
Minnesota:
The Emily Program
2550 University Avenue West, Suite 314N
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 645-5323
Methodist Hospital
Eating Disorders Institute
6490 Excelsior Blvd.
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
(952) 993-6200
Mississippi:
Pine Grove Women's Center
3875 Veteran's Memorial Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39403
1-888-574-HOPE
info@pinegrove-treatment.com
Missouri:
Castlewood Treatment Center for Eating Disorders
800 Holland Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63021
636-386-6611
Eating Disorder Recovery Center
1034 S. Brentwood Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63117
(314)721-5514
McCallum Place
231 W. Lockwood Ave Ste. 201
St. Louis, MO 63119
314-968-1900
Montana:
Rimrock Foundation
1231 N. 29th St.
PO Box 30374
Billings, MT 59107
1-406-248-3175
1- 800-227-3953
Nebraska:
Children's Hospital of Omaha, NE
8200 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68114
402-955-6190
OMNI Behavioral Health
8715 Oak St.
Omaha, NE 68124
402-333-0898
Nevada:
Center for Hope of the Sierras
1453 Pass Drive
Reno, Nevada 89511
1-775-828-4949Ê
New Hampshire:
Westwood Pembroke Health System:
The Eating Disorders Program
New England
Information: (617) 762-7764 x488
Admissions: 1-800-22-ACCES
New Jersey:
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Somerset Medical Center
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
1-800-914-9444
University Medical Center at Princeton
253 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
1-877-932-8935
New Mexico:
The Life Healing Center of Santa Fe
25 Vista Point Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(877)907-6237
New York:
Avalon Eating Disorder Center
346 Harris Hill Road
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 839-0999
The Eating Disorder Resource Center
24 East 12th St. Suite 505
New York, NY 10003
(212) 989-3987
Oliver-Pyatt Centers
www.oliverpyattcenters.com
866-511-HEAL (4325)
Ophelia's Place
407 Tulip St.
Liverpool, NY 13088
315-451-5544x10
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
North Carolina:
Carolina House
176 Lassiter Homestead Road
Durham, North Carolina 27713
866-540-5240
Structure House
Durham, NC
1-800-553-0052
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
North Dakota:
Eating Disorder Institute
Meritcare South University
1720 S. University Dr.
Fargo, ND 58122
800-437-4010 x 4111
701-234-4111
Ohio:
Laurelwood Eating Disorders Program
35900 Euclid Ave.
Willoughby, OH 44094
1-800-438-4673
Lindner Center of HOPE
4075 Old Western Row Road
Mason, Ohio 45040
513 / 536-HOPE
River Centre Clinic
5465 Main St.
Sylvania, OH 43560
1-419-885-8800
Sibcy House
4075 Old Western Row Road
Mason, Ohio 45040
513 / 536-HOPE
Oklahoma:
Laureate Eating Disorders Program
6655 South Yale Avenue
Tulsa, OK
1-800-322-5173 Option 3
Rader Programs
Brookhaven Hospital
201 South Garnett
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128-1800
1-800-841-1515
rader@raderprograms.com
Oregon:
A Better Way Counseling Center
818 NW 17th Av.
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 226-9061
Aliveness Institute Healing Retreats
BodyWay’s Unique and Customized Programs for Eating Disorder Recovery
Arnold & 35th
Portland OR 97219
503.293.8906; 1-800-765-1319
Kartini Clinic
2800 N. Vancouver, Suite 118
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 249 8851
Pennsylvania:
Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment
4200 Monument Road
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 456-8000
Friends Hospital Eating Disorders Program
4641 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 831-4600
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Eating Disorders Program
905 W. Governor Road Suite 250
Hershey, PA 17033
717-531-2099
www.PennStateHershey.org/eatingdisorders
UPMC
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (WPIC)
3811 O'Hara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593
877-624-4100
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
South Carolina:
Hilton Head Health Institute
14 Valencia Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
1-800-292-2440
Tennessee:
Center for Eating Disorders at Focus Health
7429 Shallowford Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
1-800-675-2041
www.focuscenterforeatingdisorders.com
The Ranch
P.O. Box 38
Nunnelly, TN 37137
1-800-849-5969
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
SOLACE, LLC
3085 South Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
423-752-5207
Texas:
Cedar Springs
4613 Bee Caves Road, Suite 104
Austin, TX 78746
877.755.2244
512.732.2400
La Que Sabe ED Clinic
4103 Marathon Blvd.
Austin, TX 78756
512-478-9240
Menninger Clinic
Houston, TX
1-800-351-9058
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
1-800-411-7081
Sante Center For Healing
914 Country Club Rd.
Argyle, TX 76226
1-800-258-4250
Shades of Hope Treatment Center
P.O. Box 639
Buffalo Gap, TX 75908
1-800-588-HOPE
Cadwalder Behavioral Clinics
30903 Quinn Road
Tomball, TX 77375
281-351-6644
866-351-6644 (toll free)
Utah:
Avalon Hills Eating Disorder Clinic
7852 West 600 North
Petersboro, UT 84325
(800) 330-0490
info@avalonhills.org
Center for Change
1790 North State Street
Orem, UT 84057
1-801-224-8255
New Life Center
1255 E. 3900 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(888) 281-3353
Vermont:
Brattleboro Retreat
75 Linden Street
P.O. Box 803
Brattleboro, VT 05302
1-800-738-7328
Green Mountain at Fox Run
Fox Lane, Box 164
Ludlow, VT 05149
800-448-8106
Washington:
A Place of Hope
The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc.
547 Dayton
Edmonds, WA 98020
1-888-771-5166
Moore Center, The
1601 114th Av. SE, #180
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 451-1134
Wisconsin:
Rogers Memorial Hospital ED Center
34700 Valley Road
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
1-800-767-4411
CANADA:
Beau Cote Centre For Eating Disorders Inc.
RR#1, AR-49
Bowen Island, B.C. V0N 1G0
1.888.947.9003
The Last Resort
c/o McCarroll & Associates Inc.
Seefried Plaza, Suite 208
6036 - 3 St. SW
Calgary, Alberta Canada T2H 0H9
1-403-209-0224
Marnies Place
Brantford, Ontario
CANADA
519-752-5468
New Realities Eating Disorders Recovery Centre
62 Charles Street East, Suite 103
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1T1
Toronto: 416 921-9670
Thornhill: 905 763-0660
SACRED's Eating Disorder Recovery Program
#182, 10654-82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 2A7
(780)903-3300
Westwind Eating Disorder Recovery Centre
458 14th St.
Brandon, MB R7A 4T3
Canada
1-204-728-2499
MEXICO:
Comenzar de Nuevo, AC
Association for the Prevention, Detection and Treatment of ED
Avenida Humberto Lobo No. 240 Local 8
Colonia Del Valle
San Pedro Garza Garcia, NL 66252 Mexico
Phone: (52) (81) 81 29 46 83
(52) (81) 81 29 46 84
ECUADOR:
The Center, A Place of Hope, Ecuador S.A.
La Cumbre N34-110 entre Carlos Montúfar y Quiteño Libre
Quito, Ecuador.
Phones: (593 2) 224 8442 and (593 2) 227 5575
www.bulimia.com
When a treatment team is no longer enough, you may consider a more protective treatment environment, such as residential or a hospital program. The following list is intended to provide a starting point to learn more about treatment options. We believe that all facilities listed here are reputable, however Gürze Books is not responsible for the treatment provided. Use your own good judgment when deciding where to get help, and we wish you success in recovery!
The facilities listed below are by state.
To see them listed in alphabetical order click here.
United States:
Alabama:
Magnolia Creek
Residential Treatment Center for Eating Disorders
P.O. Box 391
Chelsea, Alabama 35043
205 678 4373 or
888 7MAGNOLIA
The Pinnacle Schools
500 Governors Drive
Huntsville, AL 35801
256-518-9998
Arizona:
Healthy Futures
9449 N. 90th St. Suite 210
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-451-8500
The Mandel Center
11811 N. Tatum Blvd. Ste 3031
Phoenix, AZ
480-734-1199
Mirasol, Inc.
7650 E. Broadway, #303
Tucson, AZ 85710
1-888-520-1700
ReddStone
A Remuda Program for Boys
1 East Apache Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-445-1900
info@remudaranch.com
Remuda Ranch
Programs for Eating & Anxiety Disorders
1 East Apache Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-445-1900
email: info@remudaranch.com
Rosewood
36075 South Rincon Road
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
1-800-845-2211
Sierra Tucson
39580 S. Lago del Oro Parkway
Tucson, AZ 85739
1-800-842-4487
California:
HOPE for Eating Disorders
Alta Bates Summit-Herrick Campus
2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley CA 94704
Inpatient (510) 204-4405
Outpatient (510) 204-4560
Balanza
1761 Hotel Circle South
San Diego, CA 92108
619-297-4499
The Bella Vita
Los Angeles, CA Woodland Hills, CA
and
La Canada Flintridge, CA
877-912-3552
Casa de Lago
22590 Canyon Lake Drive South
Canyon Lake, CA 92587
1-800-824-4936
Casa Palmera
14750 El Camino Real
Del Mar, CA 92014
1-888-481-4481
info@casapalmera.com
Center for Discovery
4281 Katella Avenue
Suite 111
Los Alamitos, CA 90720
800-760-3934
info@centerfordiscovery.com
www.centerfordiscovery.com
Whittier, CA
Lakewood, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Downey, CA
1
CRC Health Group
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd.
6th Floor
Cupertino, Ca. 95014
(866)549-5034
Del Amo Hospital Eating Disorders Program
23700 Camino Del Sol
Torrance, CA 90505
800-533-5266
Harmony Grove:
Supportive Living for Eating Wellness
San Diego, CA 92130
(858)342-1514
Healthy Within
4510 Executive Dr. 103
San Diego, CA 92121
(858)622-0221
Loma Linda University Behavioral Med. Center
Redlands, CA
1-800-752-5999
Mandometer Treatment for Eating Disorders
11777 Bernardo Plaza Court, Suite 208
San Diego, CA 92128
858-451-1008
Montecatini
2524 La Costa Ave.
Rancho La Costa, CA 92009
760-436-8930
Monte Nido
27162 Sea Vista Dr.
Malibu, CA 90265
(310) 457-9958
New Dawn Recovery
2320 Marinship Way Suite 240
Sausalito, CA 94965
(415) 331-1383
New Directions Eating Disorders Center
14542 Ventura Blvd. Suite 211
Sherman Oaks, Ca 91403
818-377-4442
Oceanaire
866.406.1066
info@oceanaireinc.com
www.oceanaireinc.com
Ohlhoff Eating Disorders Outpatient Program
2418 Clement St.
San Francisco, CA 94121
415-221.3354
Puente de Vida
La Jolla, CA
1-877-995-4337
Rader Programs
Pacific Shores Hospital
2130 N. Ventura Road
Oxnard, California 93036
1-800-841-1515
rader@raderprograms.com
Reasons
4619 Rosemead Boulevard,
Rosemead, CA 91770
626.270.4226
Rebecca's House
23861 El Toro Road, Suite 700
Lake Forest, CA 92630
800-711-2062
info@rebeccashouse.org
Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital
7850 Vista Hill Avenue
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 694-8434
Shoreline Center for Eating Disorder Treatment
Satori House
Long Beach, CA
562-434-6007
Sober Living by the Sea Treatment Centers
CRC Health Group
Newport Beach, CA
(949) 554-1114
South Coast Medical Center
Eating Disorders Treatment
31872 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 499-7504
Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program
601 University Ave, Ste. 225
Sacramento, CA 95825
916-920-5276
Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program
Intensive Outpatient Program
400 Montgomery St., Suite 501
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-788-0158
Torrance Memorial Medical Center
3330 Lomita Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
310-325-4353
UCLA Eating Disorders Program
Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA
150 UCLA Medical Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Adolescent inpatient services: 310-267-9140
Adult inpatient services: 310-267-7364
Adult outpatient program: 310-206-3954
The Victorian of Newport Beach
2811 Villa Way
Newport Beach, CA 92663
800-647-0042
Colorado:
Children's Hospital
13123 East 16th Avenue
Aurora, CO 80045
1-800-624-6553
Denver Health A.C.U.T.E Medical Center
777 Bannock Street
Denver, Colorado 80204-4507
877-228-8348
Eating Disorder Center of Denver
950 South Cherry St., Suite 1010
Denver, CO 80246
1-303-771-0861
Eating Recovery Center
Nourishing Health
Denver, CO
1-877-825-8584
La Luna Center
3002 Bluff St. Ste. 200
Boulder, CO 80301
720-470-0010
New Directions Eating Disorders Center
2121 S. Oneida #412
Denver, Co 80224
303-694-7484
Connecticut:
The Institute of Living
400 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
1-800-673-2411
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Wellspring
21 Arch Bridge Rd.
Bethlehem, CT 06751
203-266-8000
Florida:
The Boswell Center
6817 Southpoint Parkway, Suite 904
Jacksonville, FL 32216
904-332-9100
Canopy Cove
13305 Mahan Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
1-800-236-7524
Center for Eating and Weight Disorders
Assessment and Psychotherapy Services, Inc.
2155 Main Street
Sarasota, Florida 34237
(941) 365-2962
Fairwinds Treatment Center
1569 South Fort Harrison
Clearwater, Florida 33756
1-877-ANOREXIA
La Bonne Maison
Tampa, FL and Orlando, FL
1-800-824-8580
Milestones at High Point
5960 Southwest 106th Ave
Cooper City, FL 33328
800-347-2364
Oliver-Pyatt Centers
www.oliverpyattcenters.com
Miami, FL
866-511-HEAL (4325)
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Turning Point of Tampa, Inc.
6227 Sheldon Rd.
Tampa, FL 33615
800-397-3006
The Willough at Naples
9001 Tamianm Trail East
Naples, FL 34113
1-800-722-0100
Georgia:
Ridgeview Institute
3995 South Cobb Dr.
Smyrna, GA
1-800-329-9775
Peachford Hospital
2151 Peachford Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30338
770-455-3200
Hawaii:
Aloha Healing Retreats
P.O. 1850
Pahoa, Hawaii 96778
1-888-967-8622
Anorexia and Bulimia Center of Hawaii
Kailua, Oahu, Maui, HI
1-808-262-0398
Illinois:
Alexian Brothers Medical Center, IL
1650 Moon Lake Boulevard
Hoffman Estates, IL 60194
1-800-432-5005
Arabella House
806 Edgewater
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 646-6798
ENH Highland Park Hospital
Center for Eating Disorders
777 Park Avenue West
Highland Park IL 60035
847-480-2617
Insight Psychological Center
4711 W. Golf Rd. Ste 403
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 604-1918
Linden Oaks at Edward
801 South Washington Street
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 305-5500
Timberline Knolls
40 Timberline Dr.
Lemont, IL 60439
630-343-2346
Indiana:
Eating Disorders Center of Indiana
3945 Eagle Creek Parkway
Suite C
Indianapolis IN 46254 lah
317-329-7071
Selah House
2541 North Shore Blvd
Anderson, IN 46011
(888) 641 - 0022
Kansas:
Menninger Clinic
Topeka, KS
1-800-351-9058
Louisiana:
Depaul Tulane Behavioral Health Center's Eating Disorders Program
1040 Calhoun Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
1-800-548-4183
River Oaks Hospital
Eating Disorder Treatment Center
1525 River Oaks Road West
New Orleans, LA 70123
1-800-366-1740
Maine:
Mercy Hospital
144 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 879-3795
Maryland:
Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt
Sheppard & Enoch Pratt Hospital
6501 N. Charles Street Unit B-5
Baltimore, Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-938-5252
Washington Center for Eating Disorders & Adolescent Obesity
6410 Rockledge Drive, Suite 412
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
(301) 530-0676
Massachusetts:
Arbour Hospital
49 Robinwood Ave
Boston, MA 02130-2156
(617)522-4400
Cambridge Eating Disorder Center
3 Bow Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
main: 617-547-2255
residential program: 617-661-0841
Laurel Hill Inn
P. O. Box 368
Medford MA 02155-0004
781-396-1116
The Klarman Eating Disorders Center
at McLean Hospital
115 Mill St.
Belmont, MA 02478
email: klarmancenter@mclean.org
(617)855-3410
Walden Behavioral Care
9 Hope Ave.
Waltham, MA
881 647-6727
and
109 Main st.
Northampton MA
413 582-0100
Westwood Pembroke Health System:
The Eating Disorders Program
New England
1-617-762-7764 x488
1-800-22-ACCES
Michigan:
Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
1055 Medical Park Drive S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
1-800-949-8439
Four Seasons Treatment Center
1176 S. Main St.
Plymouth, MI 48170
(734) 416-3341
Minnesota:
The Emily Program
2550 University Avenue West, Suite 314N
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 645-5323
Methodist Hospital
Eating Disorders Institute
6490 Excelsior Blvd.
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
(952) 993-6200
Mississippi:
Pine Grove Women's Center
3875 Veteran's Memorial Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39403
1-888-574-HOPE
info@pinegrove-treatment.com
Missouri:
Castlewood Treatment Center for Eating Disorders
800 Holland Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63021
636-386-6611
Eating Disorder Recovery Center
1034 S. Brentwood Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63117
(314)721-5514
McCallum Place
231 W. Lockwood Ave Ste. 201
St. Louis, MO 63119
314-968-1900
Montana:
Rimrock Foundation
1231 N. 29th St.
PO Box 30374
Billings, MT 59107
1-406-248-3175
1- 800-227-3953
Nebraska:
Children's Hospital of Omaha, NE
8200 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68114
402-955-6190
OMNI Behavioral Health
8715 Oak St.
Omaha, NE 68124
402-333-0898
Nevada:
Center for Hope of the Sierras
1453 Pass Drive
Reno, Nevada 89511
1-775-828-4949Ê
New Hampshire:
Westwood Pembroke Health System:
The Eating Disorders Program
New England
Information: (617) 762-7764 x488
Admissions: 1-800-22-ACCES
New Jersey:
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
Somerset Medical Center
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
1-800-914-9444
University Medical Center at Princeton
253 Witherspoon Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
1-877-932-8935
New Mexico:
The Life Healing Center of Santa Fe
25 Vista Point Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87508
(877)907-6237
New York:
Avalon Eating Disorder Center
346 Harris Hill Road
Williamsville, NY 14221
(716) 839-0999
The Eating Disorder Resource Center
24 East 12th St. Suite 505
New York, NY 10003
(212) 989-3987
Oliver-Pyatt Centers
www.oliverpyattcenters.com
866-511-HEAL (4325)
Ophelia's Place
407 Tulip St.
Liverpool, NY 13088
315-451-5544x10
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
North Carolina:
Carolina House
176 Lassiter Homestead Road
Durham, North Carolina 27713
866-540-5240
Structure House
Durham, NC
1-800-553-0052
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
North Dakota:
Eating Disorder Institute
Meritcare South University
1720 S. University Dr.
Fargo, ND 58122
800-437-4010 x 4111
701-234-4111
Ohio:
Laurelwood Eating Disorders Program
35900 Euclid Ave.
Willoughby, OH 44094
1-800-438-4673
Lindner Center of HOPE
4075 Old Western Row Road
Mason, Ohio 45040
513 / 536-HOPE
River Centre Clinic
5465 Main St.
Sylvania, OH 43560
1-419-885-8800
Sibcy House
4075 Old Western Row Road
Mason, Ohio 45040
513 / 536-HOPE
Oklahoma:
Laureate Eating Disorders Program
6655 South Yale Avenue
Tulsa, OK
1-800-322-5173 Option 3
Rader Programs
Brookhaven Hospital
201 South Garnett
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74128-1800
1-800-841-1515
rader@raderprograms.com
Oregon:
A Better Way Counseling Center
818 NW 17th Av.
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 226-9061
Aliveness Institute Healing Retreats
BodyWay’s Unique and Customized Programs for Eating Disorder Recovery
Arnold & 35th
Portland OR 97219
503.293.8906; 1-800-765-1319
Kartini Clinic
2800 N. Vancouver, Suite 118
Portland, OR 97227
(503) 249 8851
Pennsylvania:
Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment
4200 Monument Road
Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 456-8000
Friends Hospital Eating Disorders Program
4641 Roosevelt Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19124
(215) 831-4600
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Eating Disorders Program
905 W. Governor Road Suite 250
Hershey, PA 17033
717-531-2099
www.PennStateHershey.org/eatingdisorders
UPMC
Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic (WPIC)
3811 O'Hara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2593
877-624-4100
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
South Carolina:
Hilton Head Health Institute
14 Valencia Road
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
1-800-292-2440
Tennessee:
Center for Eating Disorders at Focus Health
7429 Shallowford Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
1-800-675-2041
www.focuscenterforeatingdisorders.com
The Ranch
P.O. Box 38
Nunnelly, TN 37137
1-800-849-5969
The Renfrew Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Wilton, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee
1-800-RENFREW
SOLACE, LLC
3085 South Broad Street
Chattanooga, TN 37408
423-752-5207
Texas:
Cedar Springs
4613 Bee Caves Road, Suite 104
Austin, TX 78746
877.755.2244
512.732.2400
La Que Sabe ED Clinic
4103 Marathon Blvd.
Austin, TX 78756
512-478-9240
Menninger Clinic
Houston, TX
1-800-351-9058
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
1-800-411-7081
Sante Center For Healing
914 Country Club Rd.
Argyle, TX 76226
1-800-258-4250
Shades of Hope Treatment Center
P.O. Box 639
Buffalo Gap, TX 75908
1-800-588-HOPE
Cadwalder Behavioral Clinics
30903 Quinn Road
Tomball, TX 77375
281-351-6644
866-351-6644 (toll free)
Utah:
Avalon Hills Eating Disorder Clinic
7852 West 600 North
Petersboro, UT 84325
(800) 330-0490
info@avalonhills.org
Center for Change
1790 North State Street
Orem, UT 84057
1-801-224-8255
New Life Center
1255 E. 3900 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(888) 281-3353
Vermont:
Brattleboro Retreat
75 Linden Street
P.O. Box 803
Brattleboro, VT 05302
1-800-738-7328
Green Mountain at Fox Run
Fox Lane, Box 164
Ludlow, VT 05149
800-448-8106
Washington:
A Place of Hope
The Center for Counseling & Health Resources, Inc.
547 Dayton
Edmonds, WA 98020
1-888-771-5166
Moore Center, The
1601 114th Av. SE, #180
Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 451-1134
Wisconsin:
Rogers Memorial Hospital ED Center
34700 Valley Road
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
1-800-767-4411
CANADA:
Beau Cote Centre For Eating Disorders Inc.
RR#1, AR-49
Bowen Island, B.C. V0N 1G0
1.888.947.9003
The Last Resort
c/o McCarroll & Associates Inc.
Seefried Plaza, Suite 208
6036 - 3 St. SW
Calgary, Alberta Canada T2H 0H9
1-403-209-0224
Marnies Place
Brantford, Ontario
CANADA
519-752-5468
New Realities Eating Disorders Recovery Centre
62 Charles Street East, Suite 103
Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1T1
Toronto: 416 921-9670
Thornhill: 905 763-0660
SACRED's Eating Disorder Recovery Program
#182, 10654-82 Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6E 2A7
(780)903-3300
Westwind Eating Disorder Recovery Centre
458 14th St.
Brandon, MB R7A 4T3
Canada
1-204-728-2499
MEXICO:
Comenzar de Nuevo, AC
Association for the Prevention, Detection and Treatment of ED
Avenida Humberto Lobo No. 240 Local 8
Colonia Del Valle
San Pedro Garza Garcia, NL 66252 Mexico
Phone: (52) (81) 81 29 46 83
(52) (81) 81 29 46 84
ECUADOR:
The Center, A Place of Hope, Ecuador S.A.
La Cumbre N34-110 entre Carlos Montúfar y Quiteño Libre
Quito, Ecuador.
Phones: (593 2) 224 8442 and (593 2) 227 5575
www.bulimia.com
Celebrities with Eating Disorders
Daniel Johns He's a much loved rock'n'roller who's married to one of the world's most beautiful women. But singer Daniel Johns has finally revealed the horror behind his teenage anorexia - a condition which nearly left him dead.
Elton John
(Birth name Reginald Kenneth Dwight)
Elton John attended the Royal Academy of Music from 1958 to 1964 on a piano scholarship at age 11. He dropped out just before final exams to pursue show business. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. He was married in 1984 to Renate Blauel who was a sound engineer. They divorced 4 years later, In 1990 he entered rehabilitation for drugs, alcohol and bulimia. In recovery, he lost weight and underwent hair replacement. He afterward decided to not fight his emotions and took a male lover. He was good friends with legend John Lennon and was Godson to Sean Ono Lennon, son of John and Yoko. In 1997 he was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and he re-wrote and sang "Candle in the Wind" as a tribute to his friend Princess Lady Diana at her funeral.
Elvis Presley Elvis suffered with bipolar disorder, which is a more technical name for manic depression. Elvis' substance abuse, eating disorders, and chronic depression should be placed in the larger context of a personality disorder. We think that this will shed new light on the issue of Elvis' death and will take it out of the narrow context of suspected overdose and addiction to the larger and more fundamental issues of Elvis' childhood, family history, the cultural influences of the times in which he lived and other factors which contributed to a possible personality disorder.
Franz Kafka
Poet Franz Kafka, who wrote the short story "The Hunger Artist", suffered from anorexia. The evidence for the hypothesis that the poet Franz Kafka had suffered from an atypical anorexia nervosa is presented. Kafka was slim and underweight throughout his life and showed an ascetic attitude and abjuration of physical enjoyment and pleasure (fasting, vegetarianism, sexual abstinence, emphasis on physical fitness). The analysis is mainly based on Kafka's own descriptions in his letters, diaries, and literary work. Kafka was achievement oriented, reported many sadomasochistic fantasies, and had an anancastic (obsessive-compulsive) depressive personality.
Gelsey Kirkland
In 1986, Kirkland, with Greg Lawrence, published Dancing on My Grave, a tell-all autobiography detailing her struggles with eating disorders and drug addiction. One of the truths of art and life is that what we see with our eyes is not the whole story. I believe this same truth applies to eating disorders and the obsession with the body. I am not a doctor of anything, but I can offer my perspective on this topic as a person who has been through the goulash, and as an artist from the lopsided world of ballet. From my point of view, narcissistic body image problems exist as a manifestation of our spiritual state. It is not a body issue; it is an issue of the soul. Anorexia is an obsession with externals and, if left unchecked, a shutting down of the body and soul, sometimes tragically to the point of death.
Both ballet and society at large can be accused of the same obsessions: technique, technology, sexy, pretty, information, money--all skimming the surface, all externals. Little or no time is given to the heart, to the story, to meaning. We are presently in a "healthy," "sporty" body image period. We talk openly about health issues. This is good and necessary, however, the body still remains primary. The body rules!
Janet Jackson
Singer Janet Jackson has been quoted in the media as having an ongoing battle with an eating disorder. Sources say she has been battling weight problems most of her life, and recently blew-up to 160 pounds from her normal weight of 118 pounds. "She'll go months eating whatever she can get her hands on, and then she'll go months eating just salads and fruits and drinking Evian water," the family source said. "She's had this feast-or-famine eating disorder for years and has gotten up to 200 pounds or more at times." The source revealed that Jackson is back with her personal trainer, Tony Martinez, in an effort to tone up by the time her new album is released.
For years, Janet says, she fooled everybody--her fans, her friends, even herself--pretending to be this self-assured woman who'd finally taken control of her life, smiling on the outside while she was aching on the inside. "I had my ways of hiding my pain," she confides. "Laughing when there was nothing to laugh at. Smiling when there wasn't anything to smile about. That was just my way of getting through life. Pretending like every thing was okay. I guess I did it so well that I really began to believe it. I fooled myself. Using my escapisms was my thing to not feel my pain--whatever would numb the pain. Food became a favorite anesthetic. "I escaped through eating," she confesses. Until a year, maybe two, before she started recording The Velvet Rope, it hit her If she ever wanted to feel good about herself, she had to stop running away from her feelings.
Janet Jackson's once ripped abs and svelte 118 pound frame has been replaced with 160 lbs of gravy. She has reportedly contacted her old friend and trainer, Tony Martinez, in hopes to shed the 40+ lbs by the time her forthcoming album is released in early spring.
A family friend said, "She'll go months of eating whatever she can get her hands on, and then she'll go months eating just salads and fruits and drinking Evian water. She's had this feast-or-famine eating disorder for years and has gotten up to 200 pounds or more at times."
Janet's reported eating habits may be because of the increased stress of having to support her famous family amid brother Michael's recent legal and financial issues.
The lastest on Janet Jackson according to all the celebrity news in she now once againg has gained weight. At the end of May, Janet Jackson appeared on the cover of US Weekly looking much toned and speaking about how she lost 60 pounds and kept the weight off for more than one year. Now, after just a month and a half, she seems to have gained at least 20 pounds since posing for that cover. Apparently, she didn't "end her yo-yo weight nightmare" after all! Hopefully she can get some help with this.
Maria Conchita Alonso
Beauty pageant winner and actress Maria Conchita Alonso, the first contemporary international Latina superstar, recently began speaking out about her struggle with bulimia. Struggling with the condition for nearly a decade, resulting in damage to her esophagus and her teeth, she eventually sought help for the self-destructive syndrome. With the help of a balanced diet, exercise, and a physician specializing in eating disorders, Maria has learned to control her condition. She also shares her story with audiences across the country in hopes of helping the millions of people afflicted with eating disorders.
Mariah Carey Mariah's Eating Disorder?
After a period of relative normality, it's good to see communications between Earth and Planet Mariah functioning again, and as bonkers as ever. The latest peep into Carey world centers on Mariah's dietary requirements, which seem surprisingly normal... for an 18 month-old baby. So we skip past Mariah telling Marie Claire about her "up and down" weight, straight to the bit where she admits to using a bib when she's eating in bed.She said: "I am just like, 'Whatever, nobody is looking at me for once!' That's why I don't really like to eat in public. When people say, 'Mariah never eats in public,' I'm like, 'You're right.'" And y'know, diamond-encrusted bibs are like, soooo '80s!
Huckabe
Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, has had major issues with overeating and has been in recovery for some time now. In the deep south where an all-you-can-eat buffet is your divine right, Governor Huckabee has been through many weight-loss programs with short-term and limited results. After being warned about diabetes his doctor had a serious talk to him about a lifestyle change. After former friend and colleague, former governor Frank White died of a massive heart attack Huckabee decided he had better wise up. Today Governor Mike is, and has been, on a tailored designed program.
Oprah Winfrey
The most influential person on TV, Oprah Winfrey, who was raped at the age of nine by her nineteen year old cousin and repeatedly sexually abused, struggled with disordered eating. Oprah, who said about her weight "It's always a struggle. I've felt safer and more protected when I was heavy. Food has always been comforting."
Paula Abdul
Singer and dancer , famous for her daring necklines and skin-tight dresses, has a secret weapon for keeping her figure sexy and trim. She employs a highly priced "food cop" to patrol her kitchen.
Top Hollywood nutritionist Yolanda Berman keeps a strict eye on what 36-year-old Abdul keeps in her pantry, cupboards and fridge. Abdul once thought nothing of sitting down to wolf down a whole cake, a bag of biscuits and a tub of ice cream. Then she would retreat to the bathroom and purge herself of the food. She had to overcome the eating disorder bulimia, whose sufferers binge and purge, by checking into a clinic in 1994. Abdul was once also an exercise junkie, trying to burn off the extra kilojoules she had taken in by over-indulging in food. "I used to be a fanatic," she says. "I used to exercise four or five times a day. "Now it's different. I don't exercise too much for the wrong reasons. Three times a week I'll do some cardiovascular or aerobic activity.
Richard Simmons
Fitness and diet guru Richard Simmons suffered from an eating disorder in the past. Simmons prevailed over his own weight problem before relocating to Los Angeles in 1973. There was no significant fitness movement in this country at the time, and to no avail, Simmons attempted to find a health club that wasn't for people who were already in shape. After traversing the county, looking for a facility for any and everyone, his only alternative was for him to create that safe haven. In 1974, after consulting with doctors and nutritionists to ensure the safety of a program tailored to the needs of everyone, from the overweight and obese, physically challenged to the seniors, a determined Simmons established an innovative place where the overweight of the world were welcomed with open arms. This program was met with instant success and continues today at SLIMMONS in Beverly Hills, where Richard still teaches. While many of his legions of fans are overweight, he also resonates with everyone, anyone who has a few pounds to lose and wants to be fit.
Thandie Newton
Thandie Newton’s dress at last night’s Empire Awards certainly didn’t do anything to improve her super-skinny look. It hung off her body shapelessly and her arms looked like twigs - we suspect the Empire Award she won for Best Actress would weigh more than she did…
Speaking to the Mirror, she said that no one ever accuses her of being too slim because “I keep getting pregnant.”
“So one day I’m slim and the next I have a bump. In the last two years my body has changed so much and breast feeding really helps you to lose weight as well.”
“I think the Hollywood size four is a bad thing. I don’t stick to any diets. I eat when I’m hungry. Thankfully I have my mother’s frame and I’ve always been slim.”
Whitney's Battle Continues
What happened to Whitney? It is amazing that someone so talented can have deteriorated so much. Is her marriage to Bobby Brown to blame or was her downfall inevitable? Who knows?! Since her 1992 marriage to bad boy Brown Houston has been on a steady decline. The marriage has been filled with rumors of infidelity, drug abuse, eating disorders, and physical and mental abuse. This is not the first time Houston has checked herself into rehab. She has tried kicking her addictions twice before once in 2004 and once in 2005. She needs to get her act together, if not for her, for her daughter Bobbi Kristina.
By Buzzle Staff and Agencies
Published: 4/20/2006
caringonline.com
Eating Disorders begin to Plague Black Teens
Note: This article was originally published on December 11, 2000.
Star Jones and Oprah Winfrey embody the cultural tug-of-war faced by African-American teen girls. Recent studies indicate that they too are becoming more vulnerable to the cult of thinness and its accompanying health hazards.
Star Jones
(WOMENSENEWS)--Women of color are pulled between two body ideals: the ideal of extreme thinness in the dominant culture and the historic appreciation of fuller figures in communities of color.
This tug and pull is exemplified by two famous and respected African-American women: Star Jones and Oprah Winfrey.
In a 1999 cover story in Essence, Jones, a host on ABC's "The View," said her body size is only an issue for those who try to make it one. Instead, she said, "I want little black girls out there to say, 'I'm jammin',' instead of buying into the negative images: You're too loud. You're too dark. You're too fat."
Winfrey, on the other hand, has engaged in a long on-going public battle to slim down. In both responses, there's an inherent understanding that the beauty of black women is played out between the beauty standard of the dominant culture and that of communities that value larger women.
However, Winfrey's obeisance to the cult of thinness may be in fact more typical than what is commonly believed.
Until recently, the fascination with weight and its toll on teen-age women has been thought of primarily as a white, suburban problem.
According to the National Eating Disorder Screening Program, 15 percent of all young women have substantially disordered eating behaviors. Of that number, some 2 to 3 percent develop bulimia and about 1 percent become anorexic, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. The data are not broken down by race.
Evidence Growing That Black Teens Are Becoming More Vulnerable
Growing evidence indicates that African-American teen-agers may be falling prey to these disorders as well. Essence magazine commissioned its own eating disorder survey in 1994, based on the premise that black women had been effectively excluded from previous studies. Some 2,000 women responded, mostly from the magazine's middle-class audience. Clinical researchers analyzed the results and concluded that African-American women were at risk for and suffer from eating disorders in at least the same proportions as white women.
Subsequent investigations bear this out. Ruth Striegel-Moore, a psychology professor at Wesleyan University, reached a similar conclusion in her recently published study, "Recurrent Binge Eating in Black American Women." Although not particularly focused on the economic class of participants, Striegel-Moore found that black women experienced binge eating as much as white women and were also more likely to abuse laxatives than white women.
Diane Harris, a professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, argues, however, that community plays an important role in whether African-American teens are vulnerable to eating disorders. Harris says that when young black women start "getting messages from varying places" about the way they should look, it can be hard for them to understand what to do. This can lead to an "ethno-cultural identity crisis," making them "more vulnerable to eating disturbances."
Harris adds that African-American women may become more vulnerable to eating disorders if their peer groups are composed of middle-class white teen-agers.
In her study, "Ethno-cultural Identity and Eating Disorders in Women of Color," Harris says she found that "women of color certainly appeared to demonstrate fewer symptoms of what is a traditional eating disorder, depending on how culturally tied they were to their communities." She added, "Middle-class African-American adolescents unfortunately tended to demonstrate eating disorders more than other African-American adolescents."
The reason may be that women with larger bodies are more generally accepted in the black community or even appreciated, says Shannette Harris (no relation to Diane Harris), an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Rhode Island.
"Context is everything," she said. "Black women are not particularly quick to be rewarded for being thin," since there is no particularly great value placed on thinness in the African-American community. "Younger black girls are more likely to say they want to gain weight. What they choose often correlates to the body shape of their mother."
By: Mashadi Matabane is a New York-based journalist.
www.womensenews.org
Star Jones and Oprah Winfrey embody the cultural tug-of-war faced by African-American teen girls. Recent studies indicate that they too are becoming more vulnerable to the cult of thinness and its accompanying health hazards.
Star Jones
(WOMENSENEWS)--Women of color are pulled between two body ideals: the ideal of extreme thinness in the dominant culture and the historic appreciation of fuller figures in communities of color.
This tug and pull is exemplified by two famous and respected African-American women: Star Jones and Oprah Winfrey.
In a 1999 cover story in Essence, Jones, a host on ABC's "The View," said her body size is only an issue for those who try to make it one. Instead, she said, "I want little black girls out there to say, 'I'm jammin',' instead of buying into the negative images: You're too loud. You're too dark. You're too fat."
Winfrey, on the other hand, has engaged in a long on-going public battle to slim down. In both responses, there's an inherent understanding that the beauty of black women is played out between the beauty standard of the dominant culture and that of communities that value larger women.
However, Winfrey's obeisance to the cult of thinness may be in fact more typical than what is commonly believed.
Until recently, the fascination with weight and its toll on teen-age women has been thought of primarily as a white, suburban problem.
According to the National Eating Disorder Screening Program, 15 percent of all young women have substantially disordered eating behaviors. Of that number, some 2 to 3 percent develop bulimia and about 1 percent become anorexic, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. The data are not broken down by race.
Evidence Growing That Black Teens Are Becoming More Vulnerable
Growing evidence indicates that African-American teen-agers may be falling prey to these disorders as well. Essence magazine commissioned its own eating disorder survey in 1994, based on the premise that black women had been effectively excluded from previous studies. Some 2,000 women responded, mostly from the magazine's middle-class audience. Clinical researchers analyzed the results and concluded that African-American women were at risk for and suffer from eating disorders in at least the same proportions as white women.
Subsequent investigations bear this out. Ruth Striegel-Moore, a psychology professor at Wesleyan University, reached a similar conclusion in her recently published study, "Recurrent Binge Eating in Black American Women." Although not particularly focused on the economic class of participants, Striegel-Moore found that black women experienced binge eating as much as white women and were also more likely to abuse laxatives than white women.
Diane Harris, a professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, argues, however, that community plays an important role in whether African-American teens are vulnerable to eating disorders. Harris says that when young black women start "getting messages from varying places" about the way they should look, it can be hard for them to understand what to do. This can lead to an "ethno-cultural identity crisis," making them "more vulnerable to eating disturbances."
Harris adds that African-American women may become more vulnerable to eating disorders if their peer groups are composed of middle-class white teen-agers.
In her study, "Ethno-cultural Identity and Eating Disorders in Women of Color," Harris says she found that "women of color certainly appeared to demonstrate fewer symptoms of what is a traditional eating disorder, depending on how culturally tied they were to their communities." She added, "Middle-class African-American adolescents unfortunately tended to demonstrate eating disorders more than other African-American adolescents."
The reason may be that women with larger bodies are more generally accepted in the black community or even appreciated, says Shannette Harris (no relation to Diane Harris), an associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Rhode Island.
"Context is everything," she said. "Black women are not particularly quick to be rewarded for being thin," since there is no particularly great value placed on thinness in the African-American community. "Younger black girls are more likely to say they want to gain weight. What they choose often correlates to the body shape of their mother."
By: Mashadi Matabane is a New York-based journalist.
www.womensenews.org
Afro-American Women and Eating Disorders
Much of the research suggest that even though African-American women are heavier than white women, 49% of black females are overweight as opposed to 33% of white females - they are less likely to have disordered eating (or suffer from specific eating disorders) than white women are.
In addition, African-American women are generally more satisfied with their bodies and body shape, basing their definition of attractiveness on more than simply body size. Instead, they tend to include other factors such as how a woman dresses, carries, and grooms herself. Some have considered this broader definition of beauty and greater body satisfaction at heavier weights a potential protection against eating disorders.
In fact, some studies conducted in the early 1990's indicate that African-American women exhibit less restrictive eating patterns, and that, at least among those who are college students, are less likely than white women to engage in bulimic behaviors.
By: www.annecollins.com
In addition, African-American women are generally more satisfied with their bodies and body shape, basing their definition of attractiveness on more than simply body size. Instead, they tend to include other factors such as how a woman dresses, carries, and grooms herself. Some have considered this broader definition of beauty and greater body satisfaction at heavier weights a potential protection against eating disorders.
In fact, some studies conducted in the early 1990's indicate that African-American women exhibit less restrictive eating patterns, and that, at least among those who are college students, are less likely than white women to engage in bulimic behaviors.
By: www.annecollins.com
Body Image in African American Women
Body image is an important facet in understanding the phenomenon of eating disorders. Body image concerns are important in the etiology and treatment of eating disorders and obesity. The construct of body image reflects the level of satisfaction one feels regarding his or her body. Body image is a multidimensional construct. It involves race, socioeconomic status, age, as well as, perceptual and attitudinal components. For this reason, research has been done to dispel the myth that all women have a negative body image. Rather, as has been shown, there are definite differences in the perception of body image and self-concept, especially across racial lines. The claims of most studies suggest that African-American women generally have a greater tolerance or acceptability for higher body weight. In addition, African-American women are also more likely to be satisfied if they are at a higher body weight, and still regard themselves as attractive. Research not only confirms these statements, but also draws attention to other important, culturally-relevant factors, such as age in relation to other cultural forces such as, different attitudes and behaviors that shape the body images of African-American women. Finally, since research shows that body image is an important aspect in the etiology of eating disorders and obesity, its influence and the cultural forces and components behind it should be taken into account in treatment and for future research.
According to Altabe's (1996) study, there are differences in body image that can be measured through both quantitative and qualitative means. The participant in the study were volunteer college students at the University of South Florida who were recruited from minority student organizations (Black Student Union, Asian Students Association, etc.) and received extra credit points in exchange for participation. The sample consisted of 150 males and 185 females, and the average age was 21. Ethnicity was deter med by self-identification.
The measures used were the administration of the Body Dissatisfaction scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, as well as, the Figure Rating Scale. This scale involves the participant looking at a series of silhouettes ranging in size, and asking them to choose which one best represents how they look and how they wished they looked. The discrepancy in these two indicates the level of body dissatisfaction. Participants were also subjected to several questionnaires that measure body image. Questions were included concerning cultural expectations and idealizations,as well as, physical attractiveness, and the importance of physical appearance (Altabe, 1998).
In the figure rating discrepancy, African-American women showed less dissatisfaction than Caucasians and Hispanic-Americans. In the non-weight related body image tests African-American women had more positive cognitions than all other groups, and overall, African-Americans had a higher rating of self-attractiveness. The qualitative analysis of data points out that height was a quality desired or valued by all groups, and all women wanted to be thinner. This suggest that African-American women can possess the desire for a more healthy or lean body shape without letting it destruct their image of themselves and sense of attractiveness. Lastly, the issue of skin tone was brought up among, African-American women. In African-American culture, both dark and light-skin tones carry stereotypes and idealizations that are deeply rooted in the history and experience of African-American in this country. Thus, undoubtedly has some effect on body image. This illustrates the importance of cultural facets of body image.
Also, Henriques, Calhoun, and Cann (1996) conducted a study to clarify the relationship between ethnicity and body satisfaction. In this study, 84 White women and 33 Black women were issued bogus positive or negative social feedback so the effect of the feedback on their body satisfaction could be measure. The body satisfaction of White women decreased with negative feedback and increased with positive feedback; however, this effect did not exist for the Black women (Henriques et al., 1996). The authors argue that this evidence supports the need to differentiate between ethnic groups when dealing with eating disorders and body image.
In the CARDIA study, Smith et al. (1997) examined body image among a population of men and women in a biracial cohort, and revealed that there are significant differences in body image across racial, as well as, gender lines. Body image measures were obtained from 1,837 men (45% Black) and 1,895 women (51% Black) by using measures of body size dissatisfaction and various subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire. Participants were re-examined in Year 2, 5 and again in Year 7. The participants in this study were recruited from four different geographic locations by community-based sampling, and through membership of a large prepaid health plan. Smith et al (1997) claim that this sample of subjects is more reflective of the population than the studies that use the convenient source of college students for studies. The sample of subjects was controlled for age, gender, and level of education by balancing each component out within the sample, and thus, eliminating potential effects of confounds. However, the recruitment of subjects through their membership in a prepaid health plan suggest that these are people who can afford health care of some type, which could possible result in differences in perception of health, self, and even body image. In addition, due to the length of the entire study the retention of participants dropped. By the 7th year, 85% of Whites and 75% of Blacks were retained from the original sample. This introduces the problem of attitude and behavioral shifts that occur with age. However, Smith et al. (1997) did not focus on body image as related to age within this study.
The measures used in this study included sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, and years of education, which were obtained by a questionnaire. In addition, height and weight were measured order to compute the body mass index. In order to measure body image, the Figure Rating Scale was used to determine the Feel-Ideal discrepancy of the participants. Here participants were asked to choose their ideal figure and then they were asked to choose the figure they felt reflected how they actually perceived themselves. The greater the discrepancy between these two scores, the more dissatisfied one was with their body shape and size. The two subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relation Questionnaire, the Appearance Evaluation subscale and the Appearance Orientation subscale were also used to assess body image. The content and nature of the questions was not discussed in the article. it would be interesting to examine the content of the questions to find if weight-related and non-weight related questions were asked to measure body image. Higher scores on the Appearance Evaluation subscale are associated with greater body satisfaction, and higher scores on the Appearance Orientation subscale reflect a greater importance on physical appearance.
The results of this study not only indicated that African-Americans was more interested in appearance than Whites, but that women were more interested than men. Women were also more displeased with their appearance than men. However, White men were more dissatisfied than Black men, and even though both Black and White women were similarly dissatisfied with appearance Black women were more dissatisfied than White women. In addition, across all groups those who had a high Body Mass Index were more dissatisfied than others. Overall, Smith et al. (1997) suggest that although Black women report similar discrepancies in ideal and current size, they possess some additional source of influence that allows them to feel attractive and satisfied with their appearance even when at higher body weight. The study suggest that these factors may be an additional interest and investment in physical appearance. Personal style and presentation are factors that effect one's evaluation of attractiveness and body image. These are factors that need to be considered when discussing the body image of various cultural groups.
African-American women vary in their perception of body image because their definitions and descriptions of body weight are different (Gore, 1999). These differences are a result of influential variables such as social interaction, gender roles, and racial identity. Each of these factors take place within cultural context, and thus, can effect one's perception and attitudes towards body image and the cultural demands and idealizations of one's culture toward body image. The interaction of these facets is illustrated in the fact that African-American women's frame of reference for normal body weight is much larger than the standard (Gore, 1999) Therefore, the larger ideal body weight that many African-American women embrace could possibly explain the consistency of positive body image and self-esteem independent of body size. This points to some aspect of culture that leads African-American women to believe that their ideal body size is supposed to be higher, and yet for the most part, they still maintain positive body image. There seems to be less social and cultural pressure for African-American women to equate beauty and thinness, and to conform to the standards that are largely based and validated on the image and figures of White women. Thus, as previously mentioned, there must be other factors that influence the conceptual definitions of body size and body image. Research by Bessellieu (1997) of a population of 205 African-American women, reveals that African-American women's body image depended on their perception of body weight. This means that those women who were overweight but did not perceive themselves as being overweight had a more favorable self-image than those women who were overweight and acknowledged their weight status did. Also, dieting behaviors were found only in those women who had a history of weight problems. Bessellieu (1997) also notes that body image in these women was related to broad definitions of beauty that were based more on personal characteristics such as attitude, and less on physical appearance. Lastly, the author of this study did not establish a positive relationship between racial identity and satisfaction of body image, but it was found that negative racial identity was related to body dissatisfaction. This could possibly relate to the findings of Altabe (1997) which discussed skin tone as a non-weight related component of body image. The issue of dark skin versus light skin as well as, one's cultural experience with the stereotypes and idealizations regarding both is a possible area of study for future research in the definitions of beauty and body image in African-American women.
In addition, there is also evidence to explain how African-American women deal with the drive for thinness that is so powerful in American society. Research at Old Dominion University illustrates that not only do White women report a significantly thinner body size than Black women, but they also reported greater social pressure to be thin than Black women (Powell U Kahn, 1995). There was also information presented that revealed White men had less desire to date a woman of heavier ideal body size than Black men for a greater fear of being ridiculed. Powell and Kahn (1995) suggest that these factors reflect a lack of strong social pressure to be thin for African-American women, thus, possibly explains the higher ideal weight of African-American women and their lessened concern with dieting. The greater acceptability of African-American men to be with a woman who has higher body size also seems to be an important component to the total body image of African-American women to a certain extent from feeling the need to succumb to the pressures of the more dominant American culture, which does not value the features and physiques typical of many African-American women. These factors could lead to possible explanations of the low number of African-American women with eating disorders compared with White women.
Age is also an interesting aspect in examining the idea of body image. Body image is a multidimensional psychological construct that is subject to alterations due to experiences. With African-American women attitudes shift with age regarding body image and thinness as illustrated in the following two studies. In a study of 613 preadolescence Black and White girls were given various tests, such as Drive for Thinness Scale, a Criticism about Weight Scale, and the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Striegel-Moore, Schreiber, Pike, Wilfey, and Roden, 1995). Results revealed that both groups associated the drive for thinness with adiposity; however, African-American girls wee influenced by criticism about weight and young White girls were influenced more by physical appearance. According to Stregel-Moore, et al. (1995) the most stunning finding was that there was a greater drive for thinness among young African-American girls. This is surprising due to the low prevalence of anorexia and the higher rate of obesity in African-American women (Striegel-Moore, et al.., 1995). This study sparks a desire to know more about the vulnerability of approaching puberty and how that plays into the already existing cultural conceptualizations about body size, as well as, how young pre-adolescent African-American girls fit into the dominant culture of society. In contrast, Stevens, Kumanyika, and Kell (1994) reveal that elderly Black women wee more likely to feel satisfied with their body weight, and less likely to diet or feel guilty after a meal. This study reflects that there are attitudinal and behavioral changes that occur with age that result in a more positive body image. Also, research on college undergraduates on self-esteem as a function of race and weight reveal that post-adolescent attitudes regarding weight and body image are more positive. Here, 205 White and 70 Black females with an average age of 21.9 wee tested using various measures, such as the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and three subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction). These tests were administered in the form of questionnaires that the participant filled out, and then screened for the variable of weight and diet preoccupation (WDP). As revealed by Jones, M. Moulton, P. Mouton, and Roach (1999), the results show that not only do Black women have a higher ideal body weight, but White women scored higher WDP than Black females (9.65 and 8.5 respectively). There was also a difference in the self-esteem scores of both groups, with Black women showing a higher average than White women (Jones et al., 1999). Jones et al. (1999) report that although both Black and White females posses the desire to lose weight, their ideals contrast regarding ideal and actual weight. In addition, this study reveals that Black women do not equate higher weight with being unattractive, and this attitude becomes more prominent with age.
In Conclusion, research shows that African-American women consistently report greater acceptability for higher body weight, as well as, higher ideal body weights, while still maintaining positive perceptions of body image. Cultural idealizations and expectations serve to shape and mold the definitions and descriptions of beauty and body that contribute to the construct of body image in African-American women. This is exemplified in the lack of social pressure to be thin and the lessened social negativity toward obesity in the African-American community. It is actually somewhat surprising that African-American women continue to have a high body image even though the standards of the dominant cultural forces point toward more European standards. The ultimate blonde-haired, blue-eyed, 5'10", and thin White women has for many years been the standard off of which all other beauty was based, judged, and validated. Thus, the stability of the African-American woman's positive body image seems to be quite a feat in the midst of a culture that looks upon the curves that typify many women., in addition to African-American women as unattractive and even unhealthy. Therefore, one's specific culture seems to provide necessary interactions that contribute to body image. The data p[pointed out by Powell and Kahn (1995), that discusses the greater likelihood of Black men to accept a woman of higher body weight brings forth the possibility of affirmed sexuality by male counterparts as a key component in African-American women's perception of body image. Age is also an important factor in evaluating body image because attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions are subject to change with age. As previously noted by Striegel-Moore (1995), attitudes of pre-adolescent girls are not reflective of the attitudes of post-adolescent African-American women is less effected by body size, and the total perception of body image consists of various components and factors of African-American culture. In the future, the strong cultural influence on body image should be considered in the evaluation of all women in regards to the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Further research on specific aspects of body image such as, how eating behaviors factor in are suggested to better understand this topic as it relates to the larger issue of eating disorders.
By: Vashti Dotson
According to Altabe's (1996) study, there are differences in body image that can be measured through both quantitative and qualitative means. The participant in the study were volunteer college students at the University of South Florida who were recruited from minority student organizations (Black Student Union, Asian Students Association, etc.) and received extra credit points in exchange for participation. The sample consisted of 150 males and 185 females, and the average age was 21. Ethnicity was deter med by self-identification.
The measures used were the administration of the Body Dissatisfaction scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory, as well as, the Figure Rating Scale. This scale involves the participant looking at a series of silhouettes ranging in size, and asking them to choose which one best represents how they look and how they wished they looked. The discrepancy in these two indicates the level of body dissatisfaction. Participants were also subjected to several questionnaires that measure body image. Questions were included concerning cultural expectations and idealizations,as well as, physical attractiveness, and the importance of physical appearance (Altabe, 1998).
In the figure rating discrepancy, African-American women showed less dissatisfaction than Caucasians and Hispanic-Americans. In the non-weight related body image tests African-American women had more positive cognitions than all other groups, and overall, African-Americans had a higher rating of self-attractiveness. The qualitative analysis of data points out that height was a quality desired or valued by all groups, and all women wanted to be thinner. This suggest that African-American women can possess the desire for a more healthy or lean body shape without letting it destruct their image of themselves and sense of attractiveness. Lastly, the issue of skin tone was brought up among, African-American women. In African-American culture, both dark and light-skin tones carry stereotypes and idealizations that are deeply rooted in the history and experience of African-American in this country. Thus, undoubtedly has some effect on body image. This illustrates the importance of cultural facets of body image.
Also, Henriques, Calhoun, and Cann (1996) conducted a study to clarify the relationship between ethnicity and body satisfaction. In this study, 84 White women and 33 Black women were issued bogus positive or negative social feedback so the effect of the feedback on their body satisfaction could be measure. The body satisfaction of White women decreased with negative feedback and increased with positive feedback; however, this effect did not exist for the Black women (Henriques et al., 1996). The authors argue that this evidence supports the need to differentiate between ethnic groups when dealing with eating disorders and body image.
In the CARDIA study, Smith et al. (1997) examined body image among a population of men and women in a biracial cohort, and revealed that there are significant differences in body image across racial, as well as, gender lines. Body image measures were obtained from 1,837 men (45% Black) and 1,895 women (51% Black) by using measures of body size dissatisfaction and various subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relations Questionnaire. Participants were re-examined in Year 2, 5 and again in Year 7. The participants in this study were recruited from four different geographic locations by community-based sampling, and through membership of a large prepaid health plan. Smith et al (1997) claim that this sample of subjects is more reflective of the population than the studies that use the convenient source of college students for studies. The sample of subjects was controlled for age, gender, and level of education by balancing each component out within the sample, and thus, eliminating potential effects of confounds. However, the recruitment of subjects through their membership in a prepaid health plan suggest that these are people who can afford health care of some type, which could possible result in differences in perception of health, self, and even body image. In addition, due to the length of the entire study the retention of participants dropped. By the 7th year, 85% of Whites and 75% of Blacks were retained from the original sample. This introduces the problem of attitude and behavioral shifts that occur with age. However, Smith et al. (1997) did not focus on body image as related to age within this study.
The measures used in this study included sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, and years of education, which were obtained by a questionnaire. In addition, height and weight were measured order to compute the body mass index. In order to measure body image, the Figure Rating Scale was used to determine the Feel-Ideal discrepancy of the participants. Here participants were asked to choose their ideal figure and then they were asked to choose the figure they felt reflected how they actually perceived themselves. The greater the discrepancy between these two scores, the more dissatisfied one was with their body shape and size. The two subscales of the Multidimensional Body Self-Relation Questionnaire, the Appearance Evaluation subscale and the Appearance Orientation subscale were also used to assess body image. The content and nature of the questions was not discussed in the article. it would be interesting to examine the content of the questions to find if weight-related and non-weight related questions were asked to measure body image. Higher scores on the Appearance Evaluation subscale are associated with greater body satisfaction, and higher scores on the Appearance Orientation subscale reflect a greater importance on physical appearance.
The results of this study not only indicated that African-Americans was more interested in appearance than Whites, but that women were more interested than men. Women were also more displeased with their appearance than men. However, White men were more dissatisfied than Black men, and even though both Black and White women were similarly dissatisfied with appearance Black women were more dissatisfied than White women. In addition, across all groups those who had a high Body Mass Index were more dissatisfied than others. Overall, Smith et al. (1997) suggest that although Black women report similar discrepancies in ideal and current size, they possess some additional source of influence that allows them to feel attractive and satisfied with their appearance even when at higher body weight. The study suggest that these factors may be an additional interest and investment in physical appearance. Personal style and presentation are factors that effect one's evaluation of attractiveness and body image. These are factors that need to be considered when discussing the body image of various cultural groups.
African-American women vary in their perception of body image because their definitions and descriptions of body weight are different (Gore, 1999). These differences are a result of influential variables such as social interaction, gender roles, and racial identity. Each of these factors take place within cultural context, and thus, can effect one's perception and attitudes towards body image and the cultural demands and idealizations of one's culture toward body image. The interaction of these facets is illustrated in the fact that African-American women's frame of reference for normal body weight is much larger than the standard (Gore, 1999) Therefore, the larger ideal body weight that many African-American women embrace could possibly explain the consistency of positive body image and self-esteem independent of body size. This points to some aspect of culture that leads African-American women to believe that their ideal body size is supposed to be higher, and yet for the most part, they still maintain positive body image. There seems to be less social and cultural pressure for African-American women to equate beauty and thinness, and to conform to the standards that are largely based and validated on the image and figures of White women. Thus, as previously mentioned, there must be other factors that influence the conceptual definitions of body size and body image. Research by Bessellieu (1997) of a population of 205 African-American women, reveals that African-American women's body image depended on their perception of body weight. This means that those women who were overweight but did not perceive themselves as being overweight had a more favorable self-image than those women who were overweight and acknowledged their weight status did. Also, dieting behaviors were found only in those women who had a history of weight problems. Bessellieu (1997) also notes that body image in these women was related to broad definitions of beauty that were based more on personal characteristics such as attitude, and less on physical appearance. Lastly, the author of this study did not establish a positive relationship between racial identity and satisfaction of body image, but it was found that negative racial identity was related to body dissatisfaction. This could possibly relate to the findings of Altabe (1997) which discussed skin tone as a non-weight related component of body image. The issue of dark skin versus light skin as well as, one's cultural experience with the stereotypes and idealizations regarding both is a possible area of study for future research in the definitions of beauty and body image in African-American women.
In addition, there is also evidence to explain how African-American women deal with the drive for thinness that is so powerful in American society. Research at Old Dominion University illustrates that not only do White women report a significantly thinner body size than Black women, but they also reported greater social pressure to be thin than Black women (Powell U Kahn, 1995). There was also information presented that revealed White men had less desire to date a woman of heavier ideal body size than Black men for a greater fear of being ridiculed. Powell and Kahn (1995) suggest that these factors reflect a lack of strong social pressure to be thin for African-American women, thus, possibly explains the higher ideal weight of African-American women and their lessened concern with dieting. The greater acceptability of African-American men to be with a woman who has higher body size also seems to be an important component to the total body image of African-American women to a certain extent from feeling the need to succumb to the pressures of the more dominant American culture, which does not value the features and physiques typical of many African-American women. These factors could lead to possible explanations of the low number of African-American women with eating disorders compared with White women.
Age is also an interesting aspect in examining the idea of body image. Body image is a multidimensional psychological construct that is subject to alterations due to experiences. With African-American women attitudes shift with age regarding body image and thinness as illustrated in the following two studies. In a study of 613 preadolescence Black and White girls were given various tests, such as Drive for Thinness Scale, a Criticism about Weight Scale, and the Self-Perception Profile for Children (Striegel-Moore, Schreiber, Pike, Wilfey, and Roden, 1995). Results revealed that both groups associated the drive for thinness with adiposity; however, African-American girls wee influenced by criticism about weight and young White girls were influenced more by physical appearance. According to Stregel-Moore, et al. (1995) the most stunning finding was that there was a greater drive for thinness among young African-American girls. This is surprising due to the low prevalence of anorexia and the higher rate of obesity in African-American women (Striegel-Moore, et al.., 1995). This study sparks a desire to know more about the vulnerability of approaching puberty and how that plays into the already existing cultural conceptualizations about body size, as well as, how young pre-adolescent African-American girls fit into the dominant culture of society. In contrast, Stevens, Kumanyika, and Kell (1994) reveal that elderly Black women wee more likely to feel satisfied with their body weight, and less likely to diet or feel guilty after a meal. This study reflects that there are attitudinal and behavioral changes that occur with age that result in a more positive body image. Also, research on college undergraduates on self-esteem as a function of race and weight reveal that post-adolescent attitudes regarding weight and body image are more positive. Here, 205 White and 70 Black females with an average age of 21.9 wee tested using various measures, such as the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale and three subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory (Drive for Thinness, Bulimia, and Body Dissatisfaction). These tests were administered in the form of questionnaires that the participant filled out, and then screened for the variable of weight and diet preoccupation (WDP). As revealed by Jones, M. Moulton, P. Mouton, and Roach (1999), the results show that not only do Black women have a higher ideal body weight, but White women scored higher WDP than Black females (9.65 and 8.5 respectively). There was also a difference in the self-esteem scores of both groups, with Black women showing a higher average than White women (Jones et al., 1999). Jones et al. (1999) report that although both Black and White females posses the desire to lose weight, their ideals contrast regarding ideal and actual weight. In addition, this study reveals that Black women do not equate higher weight with being unattractive, and this attitude becomes more prominent with age.
In Conclusion, research shows that African-American women consistently report greater acceptability for higher body weight, as well as, higher ideal body weights, while still maintaining positive perceptions of body image. Cultural idealizations and expectations serve to shape and mold the definitions and descriptions of beauty and body that contribute to the construct of body image in African-American women. This is exemplified in the lack of social pressure to be thin and the lessened social negativity toward obesity in the African-American community. It is actually somewhat surprising that African-American women continue to have a high body image even though the standards of the dominant cultural forces point toward more European standards. The ultimate blonde-haired, blue-eyed, 5'10", and thin White women has for many years been the standard off of which all other beauty was based, judged, and validated. Thus, the stability of the African-American woman's positive body image seems to be quite a feat in the midst of a culture that looks upon the curves that typify many women., in addition to African-American women as unattractive and even unhealthy. Therefore, one's specific culture seems to provide necessary interactions that contribute to body image. The data p[pointed out by Powell and Kahn (1995), that discusses the greater likelihood of Black men to accept a woman of higher body weight brings forth the possibility of affirmed sexuality by male counterparts as a key component in African-American women's perception of body image. Age is also an important factor in evaluating body image because attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions are subject to change with age. As previously noted by Striegel-Moore (1995), attitudes of pre-adolescent girls are not reflective of the attitudes of post-adolescent African-American women is less effected by body size, and the total perception of body image consists of various components and factors of African-American culture. In the future, the strong cultural influence on body image should be considered in the evaluation of all women in regards to the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. Further research on specific aspects of body image such as, how eating behaviors factor in are suggested to better understand this topic as it relates to the larger issue of eating disorders.
By: Vashti Dotson
Eating Disorders Among Black Women and Other Women of Color
Like other women throughout the world, black women and other women of color suffer with concerns about body image and undergo anxieties abut what they eat. Several recent studies, however make this reality appear questionable.
By: Patrica Romney Ph.D
By: Patrica Romney Ph.D
White Bias in Research
In their research, Powell and Kahn asked why "white women are more prone to eating disorders than black women". They found that white women were interested in a much thinner body size than black women and expressed more concern about weight and dieting. They concluded that black culture is more accepting of large size than white culture and that the black subgroup places less emphasis on thinness. Henriques, Calhoun and Cann reported in the Journal of Social Psychology that black women show "less problematic eating behaviors and less dietary restraint". Crago, Shisslak, and Estes reported that although the black women they studied in the United States were heavier than Caucasian women, they were less dissatisfied with their weight, and had fewer weight concerns and a more positive self-image. In contrast to many white women they said, black women perceive themselves to be thinner than they actually are.
These findings seem to suggest that black women are somehow more healthy and balanced abut their eating than their white counterparts,. They implicitly link problematic eating behaviors to dietary restriction. And for unknown reasons these studies do not pick up the widespread weight concerns of women of color. At the same time, however, some of these studies acknowledge that obesity and obesity related health problems are significant among black women across all socio-economic classes. How are we to make sense of this research? Power, it is said, is the ability to define reality. In the field of eating disorders, the powers that be, mainly white researchers studying white subjects, have led to defining eating disorders narrowly as anorexia and bulimia. Given this narrow definition of eating disorders, the recent research on black women and other women of color provides evidence of some foggy conceptualizations. Powell et.al. for example, begin with the assumption that black women are less prone to eating disorders and then focus on thinness as the sole template of disturbed weight and body image. In one part of their paper, Crago et al. state that eating disorders are higher among well educated minority groups, but by naming restriction, vomiting and bingeing, they make clear that they are defining eating disorders solely in terms of anorexia and bulimia. The research by Crago does acknowledge in the end, however, that "Being overweight is a risk factor for eating disorders among minority women...".
This last statement begins to bring us closer to a necessary, more inclusive definition of eating disorders. As a research by Wilfley, Schreiber, Pike, Streigel-Moore, Wright and Rodin reveals, there is more eating pathology among black women than previously thought.
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
These findings seem to suggest that black women are somehow more healthy and balanced abut their eating than their white counterparts,. They implicitly link problematic eating behaviors to dietary restriction. And for unknown reasons these studies do not pick up the widespread weight concerns of women of color. At the same time, however, some of these studies acknowledge that obesity and obesity related health problems are significant among black women across all socio-economic classes. How are we to make sense of this research? Power, it is said, is the ability to define reality. In the field of eating disorders, the powers that be, mainly white researchers studying white subjects, have led to defining eating disorders narrowly as anorexia and bulimia. Given this narrow definition of eating disorders, the recent research on black women and other women of color provides evidence of some foggy conceptualizations. Powell et.al. for example, begin with the assumption that black women are less prone to eating disorders and then focus on thinness as the sole template of disturbed weight and body image. In one part of their paper, Crago et al. state that eating disorders are higher among well educated minority groups, but by naming restriction, vomiting and bingeing, they make clear that they are defining eating disorders solely in terms of anorexia and bulimia. The research by Crago does acknowledge in the end, however, that "Being overweight is a risk factor for eating disorders among minority women...".
This last statement begins to bring us closer to a necessary, more inclusive definition of eating disorders. As a research by Wilfley, Schreiber, Pike, Streigel-Moore, Wright and Rodin reveals, there is more eating pathology among black women than previously thought.
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
How are Eating Disorders Different Among Women of Color?
My clinical experience supports the data of the Wilfley team. In communities of black women, the types of disordered eating that predominate are compulsive eating, the consumption of high fat diets, and simple overeating which result in obesity. Obesity can lead, in a higher degree than in the white community, to illnesses like hypertension, heart disease and cancer, and often eventuates in premature death. Obesity is also a factor among poor Latino women, and is a major factor for many native women as well. For black women and other women of color then, eating problems must include overeating, high fat consumption and obesity.
One of the members of my Wild Geese Group )a group for women fighting to overcome eating disorders) was a young native university student who weighed close to 300 pounds. Aside from her weight problems. Rene also struggled with a chemical dependency. Rene's clinical picture included several classic precursors of eating disorders. Her parents were divorced and she had been raped as a high school student. Cultural issues were also important. She had a family history of obesity and she linked her food and alcohol substance abuse problems to her life on the reservation. She described vividly her life on a reservation where unemployment was high and poverty was an ongoing fact of life. Food availability was inconsistent, and cheap and fattening foods were the mainstays of her diet.
When she came of age, she worked at a gambling casino on the reservation, where native people regularly came and routinely lost their money. She felt great guilt and anguish about putting herself through university on money earned from work at a casino, which she felt exploited her own people.
Another case is a young talented black woman whose mother worked two and three jobs as a single parent when the child was young. Later her mother moved into a fast moving professional track and the daughter spent her afternoons alone, eating. She weighed some thirty to forty pounds more than her White classmates in the predominantly white school she attended. Her white friends, who were struggling with similar family issues, starved themselves; this young woman, who had a history of family obesity and family diabetes, did the opposite, she overate.
Cases of anorexia among women of color are not unheard of, however. A 1984 paper published in the British Journal of Psychiatry documents anorexia nervosa in a black Zimbabwean girl. This article is notable for highlighting the saliency of psychosocial issues. "Firstly she was educated in white boarding schools whee she was exposed to the desirability of slimness as a social norm; no such value pertains in Shona society where a fat wife is traditionally regarded as an important manifestation of her husband's affluence." Foregrounding the issue of social class, the authors noted that "Middle class African families commonly set great store on academic achievement, and over driven children are by no means rare."
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
One of the members of my Wild Geese Group )a group for women fighting to overcome eating disorders) was a young native university student who weighed close to 300 pounds. Aside from her weight problems. Rene also struggled with a chemical dependency. Rene's clinical picture included several classic precursors of eating disorders. Her parents were divorced and she had been raped as a high school student. Cultural issues were also important. She had a family history of obesity and she linked her food and alcohol substance abuse problems to her life on the reservation. She described vividly her life on a reservation where unemployment was high and poverty was an ongoing fact of life. Food availability was inconsistent, and cheap and fattening foods were the mainstays of her diet.
When she came of age, she worked at a gambling casino on the reservation, where native people regularly came and routinely lost their money. She felt great guilt and anguish about putting herself through university on money earned from work at a casino, which she felt exploited her own people.
Another case is a young talented black woman whose mother worked two and three jobs as a single parent when the child was young. Later her mother moved into a fast moving professional track and the daughter spent her afternoons alone, eating. She weighed some thirty to forty pounds more than her White classmates in the predominantly white school she attended. Her white friends, who were struggling with similar family issues, starved themselves; this young woman, who had a history of family obesity and family diabetes, did the opposite, she overate.
Cases of anorexia among women of color are not unheard of, however. A 1984 paper published in the British Journal of Psychiatry documents anorexia nervosa in a black Zimbabwean girl. This article is notable for highlighting the saliency of psychosocial issues. "Firstly she was educated in white boarding schools whee she was exposed to the desirability of slimness as a social norm; no such value pertains in Shona society where a fat wife is traditionally regarded as an important manifestation of her husband's affluence." Foregrounding the issue of social class, the authors noted that "Middle class African families commonly set great store on academic achievement, and over driven children are by no means rare."
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
Culture and Eating Disorders
Many cases in my practice illustrate the relationship between culture and eating disorders. One Ethiopian girl fleeing from civil war in her country had been sent to a preparatory school in the U.S. Gradually, she found herself unable to eat. She spent her days sipping water. She denied that the famine and drought in Ethiopia and the sight of the emaciated bodies, which were daily being shown on television, had anything to do with her eating disorder. A young woman from Cambodia had spent her early years in a refugee camp there. After years of trauma induced by war and relocation and after spending several years in the United States she too became unable to eat. An affluent African American girl whose mother was president of a prestigious university became anorexic in high school after years of feeling secondary to her parents' professional work. She was overcome with anxiety about her future. She felt the implicit mandate was for her to achieve at a very high level, but she felt unable to do so. What could she do, she wondered, to surpass her parents? Restrictive eating became her "achievement." For many Latin women, especially middle and upper class women, anorexia nervosa can be related to traditional cultural norms of femininity and expectations of beautification. For each of these clients, cultural factors were an important place in the multi-dimensional problem of an eating disorder.
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
Working with Cultural Differences in Therapy
As the above cases illustrate, anorexia and bulimia are also problems among many young women of color. Eating disorders of all types exist among people of color. Therapists must attend to the full spectrum. This means noticing obesity as well as anorexia and asking questions about feelings and attitudes about weight. It is helpful to formulate questions that reveal information about cultural norms around food and weight. Therapists can ask, "Is weight a concern for you?" "What are the weight norms in your community/ethnic group?" "In what ways are your concerns about weight or body image (or lack of concern) similar to and different from white women, or from the the dominant groups in society?"
If the therapist is white, these questions may need to be rephrased and repeated as the therapeutic alliance develops. It can be difficult to discuss the concerns with women of another racial or ethnic group, particularly when the norms around food and weight are so different.
I have yet to meet any woman of color who did not have some concern about food intake and body image. Yet there are some differences between the weight concerns of white women and women of color. Healing for black women and other women of color must be culturally and emotionally in harmony with one's environment. To facilitate healing, therapists should explore the role of culture. In addition, therapists must be cognisant of the vast international variety among racial groups. The culture of people of West Indian heritage, for example, differs from African American culture.
This awareness is also extremely important in working with vastly different cultures that comprise the so-called Asian peoples. The impact of racism and class oppression must be uncovered as well. A full understanding of the personal and cultural meanings of weight and food will facilitate the process of healing among women of color suffering from eating disorders.
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
If the therapist is white, these questions may need to be rephrased and repeated as the therapeutic alliance develops. It can be difficult to discuss the concerns with women of another racial or ethnic group, particularly when the norms around food and weight are so different.
I have yet to meet any woman of color who did not have some concern about food intake and body image. Yet there are some differences between the weight concerns of white women and women of color. Healing for black women and other women of color must be culturally and emotionally in harmony with one's environment. To facilitate healing, therapists should explore the role of culture. In addition, therapists must be cognisant of the vast international variety among racial groups. The culture of people of West Indian heritage, for example, differs from African American culture.
This awareness is also extremely important in working with vastly different cultures that comprise the so-called Asian peoples. The impact of racism and class oppression must be uncovered as well. A full understanding of the personal and cultural meanings of weight and food will facilitate the process of healing among women of color suffering from eating disorders.
By: Patricia Romney Ph.D
Black Women and Body Image: African American Females Talk Eating Disorders and Related Issues
African-American women are usually left out of the debate about body image and eating disorders because they are reputed to not have those worries. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating allegedly don't exit for black women. Of course this is untrue.
Black women are usually left out of the debate about body image and eating disorders because they are reputed to not have those worries.
African-American women are "supposed" to be self-confident and appreciate their curves; they are to be honored for their thick legs and ample butts. But is that really the case?
Anyana Byrd and Akiba Solomon have put together a provocative and poignant collection essays from Black women who have something to say about stereotypes and how their bodies have affected their lives.
Each story is completely unique and told by voices both resilient and intelligent. The Editor's themselves include their own stories and share in the frustration, power, wittiness and insight of these remarkable women.
By: eatingdisorders.suite101.com
Black women are usually left out of the debate about body image and eating disorders because they are reputed to not have those worries.
African-American women are "supposed" to be self-confident and appreciate their curves; they are to be honored for their thick legs and ample butts. But is that really the case?
Anyana Byrd and Akiba Solomon have put together a provocative and poignant collection essays from Black women who have something to say about stereotypes and how their bodies have affected their lives.
Each story is completely unique and told by voices both resilient and intelligent. The Editor's themselves include their own stories and share in the frustration, power, wittiness and insight of these remarkable women.
By: eatingdisorders.suite101.com
Sunday, August 16, 2009
"A True Picture of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" A Review of Literature
Written by Indira D. Tyler
Dec 03, 2008
Abstract: A review of published studies reveals a serious deficit in scope of eating disorders among African American women. While the "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001), and "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike, Dohm, Stiegel-Moore, Wilfley, & Fairburn, 2001) offer substantial findings in an area of under representation, the findings of these studies leave many vacancies in the true picture of eating disorders among African American women. Sufficient examination of the relationship of familial roles, cultural influences, and unique stressors to African American women are not prevalent in the available studies and are not evaluated as substantial influences on maladaptive eating regulation responses.
The exclusion of women from prominent research studies, such as research on heart disease, cancer, and aging, has been well documented. This exclusion has resulted in the development of research and clinical studies, which specifically concentrate on women. When examining studies conducted on eating disorders, there is a major focus on infants, children, and adult women, Caucasian women.There is a deficit of research studies, which evaluate the prevalence of eating disorders among African-American women. Upon evaluation of the literature, there is reason to question if a true picture of eating disorders among African-American women has been identified.
Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing (Stuart & Laraia, 2001) defines eating disorders as the use of food "... to satisfy unmet emotional needs, to moderate stress, and to provide rewards or punishments". Further, "the inability to regulate eating habits and the frequent tendency to overuse or under use food interferes with biological, psychological, and sociocultural integrity" (Stuart & Laraia, 2001, p. 526-527). Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are illnesses associated with maladaptive eating regulation responses and are most commonly seen in women. Decisive factors for anorexia nervosa established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) include extreme weight loss, fear of fat, and loss of menstruation. Bulimia nervosa is defined by self-esteem that is unduly influenced by weight and shape and both binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting) at specified frequencies. Binge eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) is appropriate for "disorders of eating that do not meet the criteria for any specific Eating Disorder" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 550). DSM-IV (1994) lists six examples of EDNOS, including meeting all the criteria for anorexia except loss of menstruation, meeting all the criteria for bulimia except frequency, use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors after eating small amounts of food, and binge eating in the absence of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (binge-eating disorder). Eating disorders in the United States is experienced about the same among Hispanics and whites, is more common among Native Americans, and is less common among blacks and Asians (Stuart & Laraia, 2001). Because many women do not meet diagnostic criteria, yet are symptomatic by occasionally engage in behaviors characteristic of eating disorders, including self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, and binge eating, it is important to evaluate women who are symptomatic of eating disorders.
In "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001), a significant study was conducted at a large public university in the Midwestern United States that identified two percent (2%) of African American women participants as eating disordered. In contrast, "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike, Dohm, Stiegel-Moore, Wilfley, & Fairburn, 2001) evaluates differences in Caucasian and African American women with an eating disorder; the research showed that the women differ in all aspects of binge eating disorder. Further inspection of these clinical studies is necessary to evaluate whether eating disorders in African American women exists, and whether significant support is available to identify prevalence of eating disorders among this subgroup.
Even though very few studies have been conducted on African American women and eating disorders, there is a significant push to cover the prevalence of eating disorders among minority women. Amy M. Mulholland, and Laurie B. Mintz (2001) conducted a survey to examine the effect of maladaptive eating regulation responses among African American women. Their study's purpose was "... to examine prevalence rates of anorexia, bulimia, and especially EDNOS" as well as ..." prevalence rates for women considered symptomatic (i.e., those that had some symptoms but no actual disorders)" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001). The sample of the survey was obtained from African American females attending a predominantly Caucasian university in the Midwestern United States. The results of the survey was reported in "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001) and identified that two percent (2%) of the 413 viable participants were classified as eating disordered with all of the eating disordered women having one of the four types of EDNOS. Twenty-three percent (23%) of non-eating disordered participants were symptomatic and seventy-five percent (75%) were asymptomatic. The findings are reflective of a group of African American women who are a minority in their environment.
According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (2002), which collects statistics bearing on the relative status of blacks and whites, the number of African Americans enrolled in college was 1,640,700 in 1999. Currently, African Americans represent only eleven percent (11%) of all undergraduates (U.S. Department of Education). Therefore, a true representation of the sample of African American women in the Mulholland & Mintz study is minimal to the broader population of African American women in the United States. The study does recognize "... findings of less eating-disorder symptoms among African American women at predominantly Black versus predominantly Caucasian universities" (Gray et al., 1987; Williams, 1994), but without acknowledging the probable effects of acculturation of those women surveyed. If the African American women surveyed sought to assume the values, attributes, and behavior of their Caucasian peers in order to become an accepted members of the culture, in this case the University, then how can a true prevalence of the eating disorders among the African American subgroup be identified? The small percentage of African American women identified as being eating disordered (2%) and those non-eating disordered participants identified as symptomatic (23%) may have been influenced by the activities of their Caucasian peers who are eating disordered.
The study excludes external influences that African Americans face; it does not address the day-to-day discrimination African American women face in American society. Further study is needed to examine how stressors such as racism, classism, and sexism influence maladaptive eating regulation responses among African American women and other minorities. As the study implies, there is vast emerging literature on the unique factors associated with eating disorders among African Americans women, which needs to be shared with young women.
As "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike et al., 2001) has identified when surveying women diagnosed with binge eating disorder, African American women reported less concern with body shape, weight, and eating than their Caucasian counterparts. This study identified that African American culture impacts attitudinal concern of body image among African American women; African American society is more accepting of larger body shapes and less concerned with dietary restraint. The women recruited for the study were limited; "exclusion criteria were age over 40 and under 18 years, physical conditions know to influence eating habits or weight, current pregnancy, presence of psychotic disorder, not being white or black, or not being born in the United States" (Pike et al., 2001). The study identified that the African American women surveyed experienced higher weight and more frequent binge eating; however, sources of the stressors which stimulate binge eating was not identified. An evaluation of degree of acculturation and other stressors such as racism, classism, and sexism on African American women and their eating disorder was identified by the study as an area of further investigation though not evaluated in the comparison.
Women have been consistently excluded from research studies, and the impact of this phenomenon on African American women is substantial. African American culture is steeped in family and has a strong matriarch thread. African American women are demonstrative and favor conveying love through food. Meals and times of breaking bread are avenues of socialization in African American families and communities.
As African Americans enter mainstream American via work and school, the acculturation phenomenon invades the most sacred of African American culture--food. The prevalence of eating disorders among African American women has not reached epidemic proportions; however, the potential is there. African American women face stressors tri-fold; racism, classism, and sexism have long been recognized as stressors unique to African American women compared to their Caucasian counterparts. The research must then follow to examine how African American women respond, and if maladaptive eating regulation responses are identified then counseling programs need to be available to African American women--the barriers to healthcare must be superceded to empower African American women to nourish future generations of physically sound men and women.
reviewed by: Harry Croft, MD
Psychiatrist, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director
Dec 03, 2008
Abstract: A review of published studies reveals a serious deficit in scope of eating disorders among African American women. While the "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001), and "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike, Dohm, Stiegel-Moore, Wilfley, & Fairburn, 2001) offer substantial findings in an area of under representation, the findings of these studies leave many vacancies in the true picture of eating disorders among African American women. Sufficient examination of the relationship of familial roles, cultural influences, and unique stressors to African American women are not prevalent in the available studies and are not evaluated as substantial influences on maladaptive eating regulation responses.
The exclusion of women from prominent research studies, such as research on heart disease, cancer, and aging, has been well documented. This exclusion has resulted in the development of research and clinical studies, which specifically concentrate on women. When examining studies conducted on eating disorders, there is a major focus on infants, children, and adult women, Caucasian women.There is a deficit of research studies, which evaluate the prevalence of eating disorders among African-American women. Upon evaluation of the literature, there is reason to question if a true picture of eating disorders among African-American women has been identified.
Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing (Stuart & Laraia, 2001) defines eating disorders as the use of food "... to satisfy unmet emotional needs, to moderate stress, and to provide rewards or punishments". Further, "the inability to regulate eating habits and the frequent tendency to overuse or under use food interferes with biological, psychological, and sociocultural integrity" (Stuart & Laraia, 2001, p. 526-527). Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are illnesses associated with maladaptive eating regulation responses and are most commonly seen in women. Decisive factors for anorexia nervosa established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) include extreme weight loss, fear of fat, and loss of menstruation. Bulimia nervosa is defined by self-esteem that is unduly influenced by weight and shape and both binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting) at specified frequencies. Binge eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) is appropriate for "disorders of eating that do not meet the criteria for any specific Eating Disorder" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 550). DSM-IV (1994) lists six examples of EDNOS, including meeting all the criteria for anorexia except loss of menstruation, meeting all the criteria for bulimia except frequency, use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors after eating small amounts of food, and binge eating in the absence of inappropriate compensatory behaviors (binge-eating disorder). Eating disorders in the United States is experienced about the same among Hispanics and whites, is more common among Native Americans, and is less common among blacks and Asians (Stuart & Laraia, 2001). Because many women do not meet diagnostic criteria, yet are symptomatic by occasionally engage in behaviors characteristic of eating disorders, including self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, and binge eating, it is important to evaluate women who are symptomatic of eating disorders.
In "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001), a significant study was conducted at a large public university in the Midwestern United States that identified two percent (2%) of African American women participants as eating disordered. In contrast, "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike, Dohm, Stiegel-Moore, Wilfley, & Fairburn, 2001) evaluates differences in Caucasian and African American women with an eating disorder; the research showed that the women differ in all aspects of binge eating disorder. Further inspection of these clinical studies is necessary to evaluate whether eating disorders in African American women exists, and whether significant support is available to identify prevalence of eating disorders among this subgroup.
Even though very few studies have been conducted on African American women and eating disorders, there is a significant push to cover the prevalence of eating disorders among minority women. Amy M. Mulholland, and Laurie B. Mintz (2001) conducted a survey to examine the effect of maladaptive eating regulation responses among African American women. Their study's purpose was "... to examine prevalence rates of anorexia, bulimia, and especially EDNOS" as well as ..." prevalence rates for women considered symptomatic (i.e., those that had some symptoms but no actual disorders)" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001). The sample of the survey was obtained from African American females attending a predominantly Caucasian university in the Midwestern United States. The results of the survey was reported in "Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among African American Women" (Mulholland & Mintz, 2001) and identified that two percent (2%) of the 413 viable participants were classified as eating disordered with all of the eating disordered women having one of the four types of EDNOS. Twenty-three percent (23%) of non-eating disordered participants were symptomatic and seventy-five percent (75%) were asymptomatic. The findings are reflective of a group of African American women who are a minority in their environment.
According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education (2002), which collects statistics bearing on the relative status of blacks and whites, the number of African Americans enrolled in college was 1,640,700 in 1999. Currently, African Americans represent only eleven percent (11%) of all undergraduates (U.S. Department of Education). Therefore, a true representation of the sample of African American women in the Mulholland & Mintz study is minimal to the broader population of African American women in the United States. The study does recognize "... findings of less eating-disorder symptoms among African American women at predominantly Black versus predominantly Caucasian universities" (Gray et al., 1987; Williams, 1994), but without acknowledging the probable effects of acculturation of those women surveyed. If the African American women surveyed sought to assume the values, attributes, and behavior of their Caucasian peers in order to become an accepted members of the culture, in this case the University, then how can a true prevalence of the eating disorders among the African American subgroup be identified? The small percentage of African American women identified as being eating disordered (2%) and those non-eating disordered participants identified as symptomatic (23%) may have been influenced by the activities of their Caucasian peers who are eating disordered.
The study excludes external influences that African Americans face; it does not address the day-to-day discrimination African American women face in American society. Further study is needed to examine how stressors such as racism, classism, and sexism influence maladaptive eating regulation responses among African American women and other minorities. As the study implies, there is vast emerging literature on the unique factors associated with eating disorders among African Americans women, which needs to be shared with young women.
As "A Comparison of Black and White Women With Binge Eating Disorder" (Pike et al., 2001) has identified when surveying women diagnosed with binge eating disorder, African American women reported less concern with body shape, weight, and eating than their Caucasian counterparts. This study identified that African American culture impacts attitudinal concern of body image among African American women; African American society is more accepting of larger body shapes and less concerned with dietary restraint. The women recruited for the study were limited; "exclusion criteria were age over 40 and under 18 years, physical conditions know to influence eating habits or weight, current pregnancy, presence of psychotic disorder, not being white or black, or not being born in the United States" (Pike et al., 2001). The study identified that the African American women surveyed experienced higher weight and more frequent binge eating; however, sources of the stressors which stimulate binge eating was not identified. An evaluation of degree of acculturation and other stressors such as racism, classism, and sexism on African American women and their eating disorder was identified by the study as an area of further investigation though not evaluated in the comparison.
Women have been consistently excluded from research studies, and the impact of this phenomenon on African American women is substantial. African American culture is steeped in family and has a strong matriarch thread. African American women are demonstrative and favor conveying love through food. Meals and times of breaking bread are avenues of socialization in African American families and communities.
As African Americans enter mainstream American via work and school, the acculturation phenomenon invades the most sacred of African American culture--food. The prevalence of eating disorders among African American women has not reached epidemic proportions; however, the potential is there. African American women face stressors tri-fold; racism, classism, and sexism have long been recognized as stressors unique to African American women compared to their Caucasian counterparts. The research must then follow to examine how African American women respond, and if maladaptive eating regulation responses are identified then counseling programs need to be available to African American women--the barriers to healthcare must be superceded to empower African American women to nourish future generations of physically sound men and women.
reviewed by: Harry Croft, MD
Psychiatrist, HealthyPlace.com Medical Director
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