Drunkorexia

Drunkorexia is one of the latest trends in eating disorders. Like orthorexia, drunkorexia is not a medical or psychological diagnosis; you will not find this term in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. So what is drunkorexia? You might have a clue based on its name, but it is the combination of anorexic or bulimic eating disorder behaviors and alcoholic/binge drinking behaviors. The director of outpatient clinical services for the Renfrew Center, a nationally recognized eating disorder treatment facility, Dr. Douglas Bunnell explains: "Binge drinking is almost cool and hip, and losing weight and being thin is a cultural imperative for young women in America. Mixing both is not surprising, and it has reached a tipping point in terms of public awareness."

This kind of eating disorder is commonly seen in female college students, as participation in binge drinking continues to increase among this population. "Research shows that between 20 and 40 percent of women who suffer with bulimia also have a history of alcohol and/or drug problems. In one study, for example, 37.5 percent of bulimic individuals reported excessive alcohol use and 26.8 percent had a history of alcohol abuse or dependence" (Emax Health, Oct 2009). Another study was conducted in 2009 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and looked at the relationship between eating disorders and substance use in 13,000 women. What researchers found was that women who had an eating disorder were more likely to use substances than their counterparts without eating disorders. For more on this study, click here to access this article on Emax Health.com.

It is important to highlight drunkorexia-- according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 72 percent of women who are addicted to alcohol are also engaging in eating disorders. This is a very high number. Considering the health dangers of both alcoholism/binge drinking and eating disorders, the combination is very threatening. Health professionals need to be aware of this condition, as treatment is so essential to avoid the potentially fatal consequences of such behaviors. It is also helpful for people to be informed about drunkorexia, as we all might have family members, loved ones or others that we know who are possibly dealing with it. For more information, follow this LINK to read an article published in the NY Times last year on drunkorexia.

Q & A with Julie Holland : )

I got really excited when I came across this interview on PsychCentral.com with Julie Holland because I really like Julie-- aside from being a great person, she knows her eating disorder stuff. She is the Director of Certification for IAEDP (the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals) and currently works for the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. Anyways, Julie spoke to PsychCentral.com about fat talk, self esteem, and other related topics, as October 19-23 was Fat Talk Free Week (to learn more about Fat Talk Free Week, check out my post here). She has some very good things to say, especially regarding helpful advice for parents on how to help their children have positive body image. The following interview is copied and pasted below but can be accessed on PsychCentral.com by clicking here.

Q&A with Julie Holland

By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.
October 20, 2009

Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, is recognized in the industry as both a clinician and public speaker. A certified eating disorders specialist, she has directed marketing and customer relationship management programs at several leading eating disorder treatment programs across the country. Ms. Holland has specialized in the treatment of self-esteem, eating and body image issues for adults and adolescents for more than 23 years. She is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Director of Certification for the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, as well as an Approved IAEDP Supervisor.

1. How does fat talk affect one’s self image?

   Fat talk brings a sense of negativity toward how individuals think about themselves and their body. It can also affect how individuals relate to others.

2. What are several things parents can do to improve their child’s body image?
   • Be accepting of all body types rather than labeling one as the “best.” Encourage children to think about people they admire and love who are different body sizes and shapes.
   • Be positive about what our bodies do for us rather than placing so much emphasis on how they look.
   • One of the most important things a parent can do is be a positive role model - be positive about your own shape and size. Do not talk negatively about your own body or constantly complain about needing to change your body to fit a perceived ideal.
   • Think about statements you make and make sure what you are saying is a positive influence. For example, girls who are tall are often told “you are so big!!!” when what individuals really mean are “wow, you are really tall for your age.” Follow it up with a positive statement like “I bet you love being tall!” Otherwise, it can be perceived as negative.
3. At what age should you start talking to your kids about body image?

   From birth on. I remember looking into my daughter’s eyes at a very young age - a few weeks, months - telling her how much I loved her and how much I wanted her in my life. All types of comments shape a child’s body image - not just messages about their bodies.

4. Can you give an example of how to turn a negative thinking pattern into a positive one?
   • Encourage individuals to focus on the wonderful things their bodies do for them. Think of your body as a powerful tool and make a list of all the wonderful things you can do with it. Again, think about those individuals you love and admire who are different shapes and sizes.
   • Encourage children to be inquisitive, critical thinkers and not just accept things at face value. Rather than preventing children looking at magazines, encourage them to look at magazines and ask questions - “Why do they touch up the models’ photos?” “Why do they use young models to wear adult women’s clothing?” “Do I really like the way this model looks or is that what I’m being told I’m supposed to like?”
   • Learn to question messages portrayed in the media - magazines, television.
   • Each time you catch yourself or someone else saying something negative about yours or their body, replace it with three positive comments.
   • Don’t limit what you can do in life by your body size. Let others see you doing things - moving your body - regardless of body size.
   • Exercise and body movement are great ways to counteract negative body talk.
   • Stop using the scale to determine your worth. Don’t emphasize certain numbers on a scale. Your weight doesn’t define who you are as a person.
   • Stop comparing yourself to others. Being unique is what makes our world a wonderful place!
   • Compliment yourself frequently. Make a game of it: e.g. Every time I see a red car today I will say something positive about myself.
5. The holidays are almost upon us, which means that talk of how to avoid gaining weight and New Year’s resolutions will be, too. How do you recommend we deal with all the advice?
   • Stay away from “good food, bad food” talk. Remember it’s all about moderation.
   • Encourage individuals to set resolutions that are non body-size-based. Instead, set goals that are “body movement” based. Make resolutions that are geared toward feeling good about your body now - not when you lose five pounds.
   • Surround yourself with people who have healthy relationships with their bodies, food and weight.
6. Anything I haven’t asked that you’d like our readers to know about having a healthy body image or fat talk free week?

   Everything we do or say can impact another individual. Oftentimes, we think we are only our own worst enemy. However, at any given moment we are saying or doing something that can influence how another individual thinks about him- or herself. Pass good body talk and feelings along. Each of us makes a difference.

Remuda Ranch (and Twins!!)

From time to time, we have reps from eating disorder treatment centers that stop by our office, or meet with us over lunch to tell us about their facilities, treatment modalities, etc... And because we specialize in treating eating disorders, we often end up referring a fair number of clients to treatment centers, so it is helpful to spend time with representatives so that we have good information and know the kind of service and treatment that we are recommending to our clients when we refer them somewhere. One of my favorite places (shameless plug because I did contract work there for awhile) is Carolina House- www.carolinaeatingdisorders.com. Check it out- it is fabulous!! I will share more about the Carolina House in another post, but for now, I want to share a little about Remuda Ranch. A rep from Remuda stopped by our office today and I wanted to share a few things that stood out to me.

First, I love that Remuda Ranch is a Christian based treatment center. While they accept clients of all faiths, their therapists are all Christians. About 3 years ago, Remuda was bought out- while they have loosened up on some of their Christian focused rules (they no longer require chapel attendance, for example), they still maintain a Christian focus, which I think is great. Second, they admit teenagers!! It is difficult to find residential treatment for eating disorders (especially locally) for teenagers and adolescents. Hospitals, like UNC, will admit teenagers, but for many parents, the thought of having their child in a residential type setting is easier to handle than having them in a hospital. Also, I was astounded to learn that Remuda will admit patients as young as 8 years old! It is SO sad that girls as young as 8 years old are struggling with eating disorders. The rep that came to our office, Michele, said that they got a call recently about a 7 year old needing treatment. How devastating.

Remuda, aside from individual/family/group therapy, offers equine therapy, as well as canine therapy. They also place a large focus on life after treatment and offer an equivalent of a sober living facility/halfway house program called LIFE for clients who have completed treatment. There are currently two locations in the US- Arizona and Virginia. To learn more about the different treatment and programs offered, visit Remuda's website at www.remudaranch.com.

Remuda Ranch was recently in the news (http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS118833+13-Oct-2009+PRN20091013) reporting that they have seen an increase in the number of twins that are suffering from eating disorders. I remember watching an episode of Intervention awhile back (great show on A&E that makes me cry every time I watch it) that featured a set of identical twins that were struggling with anorexia. If you aren't familiar with the show, the family of the featured people stage an intervention and persuade them to enter into treatment. The set of twins featured on the show went to Remuda in Virginia; when the show aired, they were doing well and were healthy. It was a very moving episode and very inspiring to see them recover.

The Rules of "Normal Eating"

Karen R. Koenig's book The Rules of "Normal Eating" is a great book for anyone who has struggled with dieting, overeating, undereating, emotional eating and anything in between, as the cover of her book (pictured to the left) attests:). There are few books that address the variety of topics that she does in her book, of which include challenging irrational beliefs about food, eating, weight and our bodies. She identifies the differences between physical and emotional hunger, and outlines intuitive eating.

The four rules of eating that she says define a 'normal eater':

1- You eat when you are hungry.

2-You choose foods that you believe will satisfy you.

3-You stay connected to your body and eat with awareness and enjoyment.

4-You stop eating when you are full or satisfied.

While this list looks like a fairly simple set of rules to follow, it is much more difficult if you struggle with disordered eating or an eating disorder. Because eating issues and food struggles are not about food, the underlying issues must always be addressed in order for 'normal eating' to occur. For this reason, Koenig encourages the reader to reframe his or her fears and concerns about food and the rules of 'normal eating' -- she walks the reader through this process. If you do struggle with food issues, it is likely that therapy or some kind of support will be a necessary part of the healing and recovery process because reframing fears (along with other issues, such as control, etc) takes time and hard work. However, it is important to have books and resources that help you along on this journey. For more information on 'normal eating' according to Karen Koenig, visit her website at http://www.eatingnormal.com!

**The four rules were taken from page 20 of her book...

Campaign For Real Beauty

Dove launched a global campaign back in 2004 that is now known as the DOVE Campaign for Real Beauty--I thought it was definitely worth mentioning for many reasons. The purpose of this campaign is to bring about change on a widespread scale by encouraging women to discuss and explore the definition of true beauty, as well as broaden the stereotypes that they hold about beauty. According to statistics compiled from a global study performed by Dove, only 2% of women believe they are beautiful. They also found that the majority of women define beauty as being thin, young and blonde. Based on these statistics and others (which can be accessed on Dove's website), Dove decided to take action by targeting young girls for the purpose of helping to address the issue of self-esteem.

There are many great resources on this site for young girls as well as teenagers, including quizzes, blogs, videos and more. These can be accessed by visiting Dove's website at www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.

One of my favorite things that Dove has done is to produce a few short videos that explore our perception of beauty, as well as how the media influences our perceptions of what is beautiful. I will post a few links so that you can view them if you would like. They are really great! The first one is called Evolution and documents a photo shoot from beginning to end, including the final image that we, as consumers/society, end up viewing. You can watch it by clicking HERE. The second one is my favorite- it gives me chills!! Click HERE to view it.

For more information on Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty, visit their website (link above).