Eating Disorder Trends - Avalon Hills Treatment Clinic

2006 Trends in Eating Disorder Behaviors and Treatments

In 2006, we saw a continuation of trends that have appeared in the past few years, particularly the use of the internet to learn about and maintain compensatory behaviors that lead to or continue an eating disorder. It is important to be aware of these trends, especially for parents and others that may be interacting with children/teens that could develop these disorders. By being aware of the trends, they can possibly help to prevent the disorder from occurring or from flourishing.

Some of these eating disorder trends include:

Learning New Ways to Gain Bad Habits — there has been an increase in the number of people, especially teenagers, that are using the internet as a way to learn new ways to hide and maintain their unhealthy eating and compensatory behaviors. They are using personal experience or even clinical research sites to learn more about how other people have handled their disorder and even how they kept it from others in their life. The person can then learn new behaviors that they might not otherwise ever have encountered or known about. This can include new ways to restrict calories, excessive exercise routines, ways to use laxatives or diuretics, ways to hide issues or "trick" your family, friends, teachers, etc.

This is a dangerous trend that is increases the likelihood that others may not notice the eating disorder in the person's life until it has been in existence for quite some time. This can make treatment and eventual recovery a much longer and less smooth process for all involved.
Using Social Networking Sites — in addition to learning new behaviors from the internet, teens are also begin to use social networking sites, such as myspace.com, to find others that have the same issues and disorders. This can create an unhealthy support group that has the purpose and role to encourage the compensatory behaviors and reward each other for continuing to hide their issues from family and friends. The peer group becomes a tight-knit group that works to support the choice that others in the person's life don't understand or support.

This is again a dangerous trend that is affecting the timing and length of diagnosis and recovery for teens suffering from eating disorders. It can also be a source of relapse behaviors after the teen comes out of a treatment program.
Getting a Younger Start — we are continuing to see younger and younger children starting eating disorders. The younger generation has been exposed to the messages of the media about body image and weight through television, radio and now the internet at a much younger age than in the past. Children as young as 8 or 9-years-old are now being diagnosed with eating disorders and facing low self-esteem and self-hate at an age when they should instead be playing silly games on the playground with their friends.
Using Peers as Positive Influences — however, there are also new movements in place that are trying to use peer counseling and support as a way to prevent and treat eating disorders. By developing a healthy peer group at an early age, the children may be given good peer role models to counter messages that they hear in the media or from other sources about what they should act or look like. The positive peer group can have a wonderful influence and help create healthy self-esteem, reduce loneliness, give a listening ear, and promote healthy choices, living and activities. These can be in-person peer groups through school or church or even a virtual peer group through social networking sites.

While none of the trends seen in 2006 are entirely new ones, we are continuing to see the influence of the internet on eating disorders, whether it is through the development or sustainment, or the prevention of one. However, we know the internet is here to stay and it is something that parents, teachers and supportive adults must understand and be aware of in order to protect and help children from taking on or maintaining these dangerous body image thoughts and compensatory behaviors.

Notable Eating Disorder Research in 2006

The past year found a number of studies being conducted on eating disorders and looked at topics including influences as a child, the impacts of genetics versus environmental factors, and the prevalence in young adults. The results of several of the studies provided some new and startling information that it is important for everyone to be aware of and to understand.

Negative Comments From Family Affect Weight Concerns in Women at High Risk for Eating Disorders

What the Study Found — This study done by the Nemours Foundation was described in an article released in October 2006. What researchers found is that comments made to girls when they are young can have long-lasting impacts on them, even into adulthood, and put them at greater risk of developing an eating disorder. More than 80% of the 455 college participants in the study reported that they had received some type of negative comments about their weight and how or what they ate when they were a child.
What It Means — This study shows the importance of not teasing anyone, even a child about their eating habits and to encourage healthy eating and wellness habits from a young age It also shows the need for parents and other adults in a child's life to remember that they are role models and that they should not make complaints about their own body or other people's weight when a child is present. The child may internalize these comments or practices and it can have effects into their future.

Genetics Responsible for More Than Half of Anorexia

What the Study Found — a study done by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, released in March 2006, estimated that 56% of the reason a person develops anorexia is determined by their genetic makeup. The study also found that a personality trait of "neurotiscim" (combination of anxiety and depression) in early life can be a significant factor in the development of anorexia.
What It Means — This study shows that genetics does place a large role in the development of anorexia and that knowing your family history is important. However, it also shows environment factors do play a role as well and that neither genetics or environment alone can tell the whole story as to how the disorder develops.

Extensive Survey Reveals Some Startling Data

What the Study Found — The study, conducted by Global Market Insite, Inc. on behalf of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), was done with college students around the country and found some surprising results. Almost 20% of the students said that they thought they had suffered from an eating disorder at some point in their life. This conflicted greatly with research rates, which has shown a lifetime prevalence of between .05 and 4%. Additionally, of those that said they had or currently have an eating disorder nearly three-quarters of them said they had never received treatment for the disorder. Another result found was that over half of the students had known someone with an eating disorder and had taken the opportunity to talk to the person about it.

What It Means — This study shows that the rate of young adults suffering from eating disorders is likely much larger than past research has shown and that treatment professionals need to look at new ways to reach those that may be suffering, so that such large numbers do not try to deal with the disorder on their own without receiving appropriate treatment.

As you can see each of these studies brought about new research findings and shows the importance of continuing to do research about eating disorders. The more research and results that are found, the better everyone can become at preventing the development of eating disorders or in the treatment of those that do develop.

History Of Eating Disorders in The United States

Eating disorders are commonly mistaken as modern illnesses, as result of the appearance-obsessed culture we live in. This is not, in fact, the case. Eating disorders have been evidenced for centuries, although they are more prevalent now than they were a century ago.

Anorexia Nervosa was first diagnosed as a mental disorder in 1979 or 1980, although it was first identified and diagnosed in the late 19th century. Psychologists and behavioral scientists have been well aware of Anorexia Nervosa since about the end of the twentieth century, however it was not well known by the general public until the 1970's. The rate of diagnosis has since increased drastically and it is now estimated that as many as 1/2-1% of White females in the United States suffer from the disease. Initially Anorexia was felt to be an illness suffered by Caucasian women in middle to upper class socioeconomic groups, further study has shown that the disease is not limited to this group and, is increasing among all racial groups and social classes.

Although Anorexia Nervosa generally affects females, men can be affected to. Onset is commonly between the ages of 14-18 years of age, although this too is only an average. It is believed that the increase in cases of Anorexia Nervosa is linked to many societal factors. These include:

The desire to be 'fashionably thin'.
The desire to be successful in competitive sports. (Which are geared toward thin physiques, like ballet, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics etc.)
Stress, anxiety and a need to feel in control.

Bulimia Nervosa, commonly referred to simply as Bulimia, is a disease where a cycle of binging and purging is the most common symptom. Bulimia Nervosa was first described in 1977, but has only been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as an autonomous disease since 1980. As with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa is most commonly found in Caucasians, although recent studies show an increase in African-American and Hispanic communities. Recent studies have also shown an increase in Bulimia Nervosa in lower socioeconomic groups. Onset of Bulimia Nervosa is generally later than Anorexia, typically starting in the later teens or early twenty's. Many who suffer with Anorexia Nervosa will also suffer from Bulimia.

Binge eating is the most common eating disorder, according to an article in NPR.org in February 2007. Binge eating, according to a recent study of eating disorders, affects 3.5% of women and 2% of men surveyed. Binge eating disorder first appeared in medical textbooks in 1992, although there are skeptics such as psychiatrist David Feinburg of UCLA, who is quoted as saying "You have to be careful that you don't start over-pathologizing people who just eat too much".

Stories of those who have Overcome Eating Disorders

* A look inside an anorexic: This original poem was penned by a young woman to her teacher they spoke about her eating disorder and need to change. This young girl is 17 years old, is 5'3" and weighs 87 pounds.

My Perfection

Perfection is my ultimate goal
to love my body and my soul.
I know what I need to do
but it's hard, I think I'm hurting you.
I try to see what you see
your words are haunting me.
You say I'm "thin" and need some fat
B.S. is what I say to that!
"Pounds" echo in my head
how can you think that I need to be fed?
If I were thin, I'd be happy, I swear
why is this just so unfair?
There are worse things I could do
it's not to get at you.
I need to be thin, to achieve my goal
I'll never be happy in this hole.
A few pounds is a cheap price to pay
for happiness, like the movies say.

Author Witheld

Anna Paterson

This young girl overcame her eating disorder before it overcame her. She suffered from anorexia and her main secret to success what that she took things slow and steady. She did not rush and set realistic goals. On her website she discusses the origins of her disorder and how realizing their existence helped her win the battle. See Anna's website about her struggle with Anorexia.

Kim — 45 years old

Using the Chumbawamba song "Tubthumper" this mother of three shares here challenges and triumphs in overcoming her eating disorder and how she feels like the songs says: "I get knocked down, and I get up again, Your never gonna keep me down". She also has entries for others to share their stories as well and many links to help for those who are still suffering. Her daily mantra is to work hard at taking things day by day and dealing realistically with life's challenges. Read about Kim's Anorexia story.

Judy Sargent

A registered nurse with a Master of Science Degree in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing tells her story of her 10 year battle with anorexia nervosa, and how it landed her in intensive care multiple times. She since has authored a book entitled, "The Long Road Back: A Survivors Guide to Anorexia." A highlight of this story is the poem penned by her sister that poignantly displays the pain that is inflicted on the family of someone who has an eating disorder. You can find out more about how Judy overcame Anorexia here. Below find the last touching stanza of the poem:

Judy, my sister, your brown eye, your body rising to breathe,
have I told you lately, hello. I am glad you are here. You were the one
I thought had been lost. My sister, so sorry, your fingers, your voice down the hall,
I have carried you under my skin, so gentle, so gingerly. Have you heard me?
I have passed you my high school boyfriends, one at a time, rivulets of tears,
I have gone with you into that room, my head, your head, let me in, let me in, let me stop it,
let me be, you, let me stop, let me go, let me come. home. sister. mine.

Emily

In her story entitled, "My Monster, My Battle" Emily reveals her eating disorder and the rocky time she had in dealing with life in general. She realized that she could control her life by controlling her weight. This not only led to health problems, but even drug abuse and attempted suicide. Her friends became her saving grace and she has since been trying to encourage everyone she can, who might be having challenges to seek help. View Emily's website and learn about her struggle with eating disorders and weight issues here.

Celebrities

This site documents the stories of many different celebrities who have struggled with eating disorders and overcame them. Women like Alanis Morrissette, and Calista Flockhart share how the stresses of their lives opened the door to eating disorders and how they eventually realized their weakness and overcame them. This website is especially good for those young women who believe that the celebrity image is realistic.

Johanna S. Kandel

Johanna tells her story of how, upon returning to ballet at 12 years old she learned of a special casting opportunity for the nutcracker, and was encouraged by her teacher to "lose weight" and be the perfect ballerina. She did this and started a cycle of dieting that lasted for several years. At the pinnacle of her dieting she was losing her hair in clumps, her skin was discolored, and was discovered by her mother who screamed in shock that she looked like she had just walked out of a concentration camp. After treatment and more hard times she recovered and has since, because of her experience founded The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness and has spoken to over 45,000 parents and students to encourage them to be healthy and realistic about their weight.

Any eating disorder, if left untreated, will have a severe adverse affect on the health of the sufferer. As history and recent studies have shown, these eating disorders, while rare, are becoming more common.