Eating Recovery Center In The News: KOAA Colorado Springs

Last week, Eating Recovery Center’s Joe Eiben, Primary Therapist, appeared on KOAA in Colorado Springs to discuss how eating disorders are more pervasive than ever, and how Facebook and new media may be playing a part in hurting one’s self image. Click here to view the segment, or simply view the video below.

Eating Recovery Center In The News: Motherhood Moment

Healthy Habits: Healthy Summer Dieting 

There’s a strong temptation to go on crash diets that promise a quick fix as summer approaches, in preparation for swimsuit season. It can also be a time when eating disorders are triggered by the desire to look perfect in skimpier outfits during warm weather. Eating Recovery Center urges individuals to avoid the five most common weight loss and dieting behaviors: – Restrictive diets: Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan diets and cleanses have been popularized by celebrities as seemingly successful methods for slimming down. Some people have food allergies or medical conditions for which these types of restrictive diets can be helpful. However, for the vast majority, removing entire food categories from a diet can rob the body of essential nutrients and kick-start a pattern of food restriction. – “Thinspiration”: While social networking sites such as Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram have restricted users from posting pro-eating disorders content, thinspiration still runs rampant online. What may start as casually posting photos of men and women at an individual’s “goal weight” or “ideal” body shape can quickly spiral out of control and drive unrealistic, obsessive thinking and behaviors. – Crash or fad diets: Dieting is the most common behavior that triggers eating disorders. Furthermore, diets simply do not work; about 95 percent of people who lose weight by dieting will regain the weight in one to five years. – Excessive exercise: Over-exercising can result in excessive wear and tear on muscles, bones and joints. Furthermore, if individuals do not rest and give their bodies time to recuperate, injuries can quickly follow. – Diet pills or aids: Diet pills, diuretics and other over-the-counter weight loss aids promise users a quick fix. However, the long-term consequences of diet pill use can include irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems and – in serious cases – even death. “Any weight loss regimen that seems too good to be true almost certainly is,” explains Holland. “Rather than looking for a ‘quick fix,’ make a choice to practice a healthier, sustainable lifestyle that emphasizes body acceptance and realistic goals and focuses on moderation.” Eating Recovery Center recommends that anyone seeking to begin a weight loss program first consult a physician. Individuals with a family history of eating disorders who engage in weight loss behaviors are at a significantly higher risk of triggering an eating disorder. Visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com for more information about eating disorders support and recommendations for ways to intervene should a loved one’s weight loss regimen go too far.

Eating Recovery Center Contracts with United Behavioral Health

Leading provider of comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder is now an in-network provider to 43 million Americans insured by United Behavioral Health

Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery, today announced that its comprehensive eating disorders treatment programs are now an in-network provider for patients insured by United Behavioral Health. Effective May 2, 2012, the insurance contract with United Behavioral Health removes this critical barrier to treatment for hundreds of patients and families seeking specialized care from Eating Recovery Center’s renowned experts each year.

“Affordability is critical when exploring eating disorders treatment options,” explains Ken Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “Contracting with United Behavioral Health improves access to and affordability of industry-leading treatment for millions of American women, men and children struggling with these complex and potentially deadly mental illnesses.”

In addition to United Behavioral Health, Eating Recovery Center’s insurance contracts include Aetna, Beech Street, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana/Lifesynch, PHCS Multiplan and Value Options.

While identifying in-network eating disorders treatment options can be an important first step in securing treatment, patients and families can take other measures to be their own advocate when seeking to understand their insurance coverage. Additionally, referring professionals may find these tips helpful when guiding patients into a treatment program.

1) Read the “fine print” in your benefits plan. Mental health coverage varies by insurance provider, and even by benefits program and group. Thorough investigation into a plan can lead to stronger coverage related to length of stay and levels of care. For example, insurance benefits often differ for outpatient versus inpatient care. Work with the treatment provider to ensure that insurance benefits – at every level of care – are thoroughly understood and applied accordingly to ensure maximum benefit.

2) Research mental health parity laws. Though specific laws vary by state, mental health parity laws dictate that patients with biologically based mental illnesses, including eating disorders, have a legal right to coverage. Because insurance companies provide broad health benefits, case managers may need assistance navigating the “ins and outs” of different laws that impact patient coverage for eating disorders treatment.

3) Let the treatment center’s business office advocate and negotiate on your behalf. Evaluating insurance coverage and financial obligation, especially when seeking treatment for a mental health issue, is notoriously complex. Most eating disorders treatment centers have teams of experts that are skilled in identifying benefits, communicating with insurance providers and championing for treatment coverage when appropriate and necessary.

“Navigating the broad spectrum of available eating disorders treatment options can be overwhelming for patients, families and referring professionals alike. Upon finding the treatment program that best fits their needs, securing the financial resources to make it work often represents another hurdle,” continues Dr. Weiner. “While research, education and awareness can empower individuals in conversations with insurance providers, the guidance, insight and advocacy an effective treatment center business office can provide is invaluable in accessing eating disorders treatment.”

Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program Expands Programming, Adding Outpatient Treatment Programs in Fresno and Roseville, California

Medically-supervised treatment program addresses Northern California’s treatment gap for adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder

Of the estimated 11 million women, men and children suffering from eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia, it is believed that only 10 percent actually receive treatment for their illnesses, and that only 35 percent of those individuals seek care at a specialized program for eating disorders. To expand the specialized eating disorders treatment options available to patients and families in Northern California, Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program has opened two new outpatient treatment programs in Roseville and Fresno.

“While eating disorders awareness is increasing, many people still don’t realize the complexity of and dangers associated with eating disorders—these illnesses have serious medical, psychological and sociocultural dimensions, and they also have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness,” explains Tony Paulson, PhD, co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program. “Expanding our recovery programming into the Fresno and Roseville communities increases access to specialized care from experienced eating disorders treatment practitioners and supports early diagnosis, effective intervention and lasting recovery.”

Summit Eating Disorders Outpatient Program at Fresno and Summit Eating Disorders Outpatient Program at Roseville will offer medically-supervised outpatient services for adults and adolescents suffering from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. Outpatient treatment is designed for medically stable adult and adolescent patients who would benefit from eating disorders treatment while remaining engaged in their daily lives.  Individual and family therapy, psychiatric evaluation and nutrition education will be offered by appointment in addition to an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). Held in a flexible setting by a team of psychiatrists, Registered Dietitians, family therapists and individual therapists, Summit’s Intensive Outpatient Program offers nine hours of structured treatment per week and incorporates the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Family Based Treatment (FBT, for adolescent patients). Treatment includes medical monitoring, dietary education and monitoring, supported meals and multi-family education to support lasting eating disorders recovery.

“Summit’s Intensive Outpatient Program provides structure and support as patients confront common ‘triggers’ for eating disordered thoughts and behaviors and teaches the skills necessary for sustainable recovery,” continues Dr. Paulson. “IOP can be a meaningful next step in a patient’s treatment continuum or a valuable adjunct to individual therapy.”

The addition of Summit Eating Disorders Outpatient Program at Fresno and Summit Eating Disorders Outpatient Program at Roseville complement Summit’s existing eating disorder treatment programs and services based in Sacramento. Since its inception in 2000, Summit has offered outpatient levels of care, including a seven day-per-week Partial Hospitalization Program, an Intensive Outpatient Program and flexible outpatient programming, led by a multidisciplinary team of experienced eating disorder treatment professionals.

For more information about Summit’s eating disorders treatment options in Sacramento, Fresno or Roseville, call (916) 574-1000 or visit www.sedop.org.

Eating Recovery Center In The News: EverydayHealth.com

Eating Disorders Resources Updated: Supportive Organizations for You, Friends and Loved Ones

Each week, Eating Recovery Center’s Chief Marketing Officer Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, a clinician with almost 30 years experience in the treatment of eating disorders, shares advice and insights with readers of EverydayHealth.com. In the most recent installment of her blog, The Truth About Eating Disorders, Julie discusses valuable resources available to provide education and support recovery. Read the full blog post below, or click here to view other posts from Julie on EverydayHealth.com.

Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness, currently affecting more than 11 million Americans. If you are – or know – one of the millions of people struggling with these diseases, asking questions and educating yourself about eating disorders can be the first step in changing your life or the life of a loved one. A multitude of resources are available to help you educate yourself, from local, community-focused organizations to national associations, financial support options and non-profits with a mission.

Previously, I’ve written about eating disorders resources; however have recently updated the list. There are many valuable resources available to provide education and support recovery.

National and regional eating disorders resources
Resources and support for eating disorders are available across the country. Depending on where you find yourself in the search for treatment, a regional or national group may offer the best support for you and your loved ones. Here are just a few of the national and regional resources available.

Body Balance Coalition
913.631.3800 ext. 102 | Dr. Michelle Micsko
This Kansas City-based organization brings eating disorders professionals from both the Missouri and Kansas together to provide assistance to individuals struggling with eating disorders.

Columbia River Eating Disorder Network
credn.org
A group of professionals in Oregon and southern Washington dedicated to providing qualified eating disorders treatment and promoting community awareness of eating disorders.

Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa
edciowa.org
An organization comprised of Iowa community members, families and professionals with a passion to prevent eating disorders and promote hope and healing for eating disordered individuals.

Eating Disorder Recovery Support
415.898.9839 | edrs.net
A resource focused on prevention and education, it offers educational information and referral sources in the San Francisco bay area.

National Association for Men with Eating Disorders
239.775.1145 | namedinc.org
One of the only organizations in the United States geared specifically to men with eating disorders. It offers support and strives to educate the public on males with eating disorders.

Oklahoma Eating Disorder Association
405.418.4448 | okeatingdisorders.org
This association focuses on preventing disordered eating behaviors by promoting awareness and supporting positive body image throughout Oklahoma and the surrounding states.

Reaching Out Against Eating Disorders
516.510. 9001 | roaed.org
A New York City-based organization addressing the needs of individuals struggling with disordered eating behaviors as well as their families and friends.

Financial support resources for eating disorders treatment
Due to the complex nature of eating disorders, treatment is rarely an in-and-out process. It can take weeks, months and even years for individuals to reach full recovery. Families and individuals can find help for this journey in the financial support resources available. Here’s a brief list of financially minded resources.

Kirsten Haglund Foundation
kirstenhaglund.org
Kirsten Haglund, a former Miss America and eating disorders patient, created this foundation to encourage individuals to stand up for their health and help secure financial aid for those seeking treatment.

Manna Scholarship Fund
770.495.9775; ext. 107| mannafund.org
Based in Georgia, this scholarship opportunity provides funds for residential and inpatient eating disorders treatment for individual lacking adequate insurance coverage.

Mentor Connect
mentorconnect-ed.org
Mentor Connect strives to connect people with relevant mentors to guide individuals struggling with eating disorders through the treatment and recovery processes.

Moonshadow’s Spirit
moonshadowsspirit.org
In memory of Jennifer Mathiason, this funding organization offers financial assistance to individuals seeking treatment in inpatient or partial hospitalization eating disorders programs.

Project HEAL
866.785.8407 | theprojectheal.org
An organization created by three teenage girls who befriended one another during eating disorders treatment now raises money to provide scholarships for others seeking eating disorders treatment.

Other non-profits and foundations for eating disorders resources
Although millions of men and women suffering from eating disorders in the United States, there are many more – friends and loved ones – who also need support and assistance. These non-profit organizations are just some of the possible places friends and loved ones can find support.

Andrea’s Voice Foundation
andreasvoice.org
Based in California, this website promotes education and understanding toward the prevention, identification, diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.

Hope Network
616.301.8000 | hopenetwork.org
A Michigan-based organization which offers support for friends and families dealing with a loved one’s eating disorder.

Eating for Life Alliance
eatingforlife.org
In response to a reported 24.3 percent increase in college eating disorders behaviors, this Massachusetts organization offers colleges and students valuable access to educational resources for the prevention and treatment of eating disorders.

Eating Disorder Activist Network
edactivistnetwork.org
This network offers resources and strives to unite communities around the awareness and prevention of disordered eating behaviors and negative body image issues.

The Anna Westin Foundation
annawestinfoundation.org
Following the passing of Anna Westin, this foundation is a support resource for individuals directly – or indirectly – affected by eating disorders.

The Emily Program Foundation
651.379.6134 | emilyprogramfoundation.org
With the understanding that eating disorders are isolating diseases, this Minnesota foundation prides itself on working to eliminate eating disorders through advocacy and education.

The Renfrew Center Foundation
877.367.3383 | renfrew.org
Through educational programs and community outreach, this foundation helps the general public to better understand the complexities of eating disorders and prevent their development.

Niche-based eating disorders resources
Experiencing lasting recovery from eating disorders can often be done by way of an individual’s passions, whether activity or religion focused. Although not a comprehensive list by any means, the organizations listed below offer support for eating disorders recovery, complimented by faith and/or artistic guided therapies.

Finding Balance
615.599.6948 | findingbalance.com
A Christian focused organization, it offers resources for living healthier lives free from disordered eating behaviors and negative body image issues.

Mercy Ministries
615.831.6987 | mercyministries.org
A free of charge, faith-based treatment program, this organization offers eating disorders treatment to young women helping empower them and find lasting recovery.

NORMAL in Schools
917.771.4977 | normal-life.org
This national non-profit educates communities about eating disorders and promotes positive self-esteem and body image through arts and mindfulness-based activities.

If you or a friend or loved one is in need of advice or even eating disorders treatment, contacting any of the above resources can be an important and life-saving first step. Additionally, please visit Eating Recovery Center’s website to chat confidentially with a member of the Intake Team about your questions, concerns and treatment options.

Eating Recovery Center Encourages Healthy Lifestyle Choices in Preparation for Summertime Fun, Food and Fashion

Eating Disorders Treatment Center Urges Individuals to Avoid Five Dangerous Springtime Weight Loss Behaviors

As a barrage of advertisements urging men and women to begin weight loss programs in preparation for summer activities hit the airwaves and span the pages of magazines, Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery, urges springtime dieting caution. Because diets are one of the most common eating disorders triggers, Eating Recovery Center advises individuals to think twice before beginning “quick fix” weight loss regimens and to consult a physician before engaging in diet or exercise programs.

A 2010 Experian Simmons DataStream survey showed that dieting among American women peaked in late spring/early summer, a timeframe in which a reported 48.5 percent of women said they were currently dieting. Too often, efforts to prepare for summer turn to unhealthy – and sometimes even dangerous – weight loss behaviors with the goal of feeling more comfortable in swimsuits and form-fitting, revealing summer clothing and “looking good” for activities such as vacations and weddings.

“In general society tends to support, encourage and even applaud dieting that is perceived as preparatory for an event or time of year,” said Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, chief marketing officer of Eating Recovery Center. “This ‘community-supported’ weight loss is dangerous because it could potentially send someone down the path of developing an eating disorder, while his or her friends and family unknowingly encourage unhealthy behaviors.”

In an effort to prevent dangerous summertime behaviors that could potentially trigger eating disorders, Eating Recovery Center urges individuals to avoid the five most common weight loss and dieting behaviors:

1. Restrictive diets: Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan diets and cleanses have been popularized by celebrities as seemingly successful methods for slimming down. Some people have food allergies or medical conditions for which these types of restrictive diets can be helpful. However, for the vast majority, removing entire food categories from a diet can rob the body of essential nutrients and kick-start a pattern of food restriction.
2. “Thinspiration”: While social networking sites such as Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram have restricted users from posting pro-eating disorders content, thinspiration still runs rampant online. What may start as casually posting photos of men and women at an individual’s “goal weight” or “ideal” body shape can quickly spiral out of control and drive unrealistic, obsessive thinking and behaviors.
3. Crash or fad diets: Dieting is the most common behavior that triggers eating disorders. Furthermore, diets simply do not work; about 95 percent of people who lose weight by dieting will regain the weight in one to five years.
4. Excessive exercise: Over-exercising can result in excessive wear and tear on muscles, bones and joints. Furthermore, if individuals do not rest and give their bodies time to recuperate, injuries can quickly follow.
5. Diet pills or aids: Diet pills, diuretics and other over-the-counter weight loss aids promise users a quick fix. However, the long-term consequences of diet pill use can include irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems and – in serious cases – even death.

“Any weight loss regimen that seems too good to be true almost certainly is,” explains Holland. “Rather than looking for a ‘quick fix,’ make a choice to practice a healthier, sustainable lifestyle that emphasizes body acceptance and realistic goals and focuses on moderation.”

Eating Recovery Center recommends that anyone seeking to begin a weight loss program first consult a physician. Individuals with a family history of eating disorders who engage in weight loss behaviors are at a significantly higher risk of triggering an eating disorder.

Eating Recovery Center In the News: The Los Angeles Times

Experts See Hopeful Signs on Eating Disorders: Patients are being treated earlier, spending less time in the hospital and recovering faster, many healthcare experts say

Insights from Eating Recovery Center’s Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Services, were recently featured in a Los Angeles Times article detailing promising trends in eating disorders awareness, treatment and recovery. Below is an excerpt of the article, or click here to read the article in its entirety.

April Dunlap was 17 and weighed 165 pounds when she began a diet and exercise regimen. After three months, the 5-foot-5 teen had lost the 20 pounds she had hoped to shed. But she kept going. “It was like a drug,” she said. “I always wanted to lose a little more.”

When she hit 120 pounds, Dunlap’s mother worried that April was losing too much weight. The family’s doctor agreed. Four months after Dunlap’s diet began, she found herself in a treatment program for anorexia nervosa. After only 10 days, she had gained enough weight to be discharged from the hospital.

“If it wasn’t for my mother, it would have taken a lot longer for me to realize I had a problem,” said Dunlap, now 28 and living in Charleston, W.Va.

Dunlap’s whirlwind experience with her eating disorder is becoming increasingly common today: A new breed of patient is getting treatment well before the disease drags them into a downward spiral toward starvation, sustained heart damage, weak bones, kidney damage, long hospitalizations and numerous relapses.

Health experts are seeing a glimmer of hope that the devastation wrought by eating disorders may be easing nearly 30 years after the illnesses first sprang into the public consciousness with the death of singer Karen Carpenter from anorexia-induced heart failure. Among the encouraging signs: More patients are getting medical treatment based on sound science; they’re getting it earlier in the course of the disease; and they’re recovering faster, often without the need for hospitalization or residential care.

One eye-opening statistic appears to speak to the trend: A recent government analysis found that hospitalizations for people with the primary diagnosis of an eating disorder plunged 23% between 2007-08 and 2008-09. It was the first such decline since the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality began tracking such hospitalizations in 1999.

“Any little movement is significant, and this is a pretty big one,” said William Encinosa, a senior economist at the agency who worked on the report, which was published last year.

Eating disorders, which primarily affect teenage girls, are loosely categorized as mental illnesses centered on obsessive thoughts, emotions and behaviors regarding food. Anorexia involves self-starvation leading to excessive weight loss that damages the heart, bones, nervous system and organs. An estimated 1 in 200 Americans has the disease, and the death rate is 4%.

Bulimia is characterized by bingeing followed by self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or excessive exercise to purge food and prevent weight gain. It affects 2% to 3% of Americans and is not thought to be as deadly as anorexia, though a 2009 study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found it was lethal in nearly 4% of cases, mostly due to suicide or electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration.

Another type of eating disorder, binge eating, rarely leads to hospitalization or death.

The stigma surrounding anorexia and bulimia have kept many patients isolated. But for a variety of reasons, eating disorders are coming out of the shadows.

Surveys conducted by the National Eating Disorders Assn. show that Americans are more familiar with anorexia and bulimia now than they were 10 years ago. That awareness has been accompanied by a weakening of the stigma associated with eating disorders that might, in the past, have prevented some people from seeking help quickly, said William Walters, who manages the telephone hot line for the New York-based organization.

“Parents are being more proactive. Coaches are being more proactive about their athletes,” he said. “People feel they can ask for help.”

Encinosa credits the heightened awareness to a combination of education in schools, TV shows on the topic and public statements by such celebrity patients as Princess Diana and Paula Abdul.

In April Dunlap’s case, a made-for-TV movie about two high school students with eating disorders put her mother, Gloria, on alert. When April began her rapid weight loss, Gloria took action.

“I could see it wasn’t normal,” Gloria Dunlap said.

Some experts are skeptical that the big drop in hospitalizations reflects actual improvement in treatment. More insurance companies are steering patients to outpatient programs or partial hospitalization, in which patients attend day programs but go home at night, said Dr. Ovidio Bermudez, medical director of the Eating Recovery Center in Denver. Perhaps the drop in hospitalizations simply means insurers are being stingy.

Nor does the federal data indicate whether deaths from eating disorders have declined, since mortality rates are not tracked.

There is no evidence that the incidence of eating disorders has dropped, Bermudez said. To the contrary, anorexia and bulimia have been spreading among populations other than white teenage girls.

Read more from Dr. Bermudez on latimes.com.

Eating Disorders Treatment Expert Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, Awarded Colorado Psychiatric Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award

Denver psychiatrist honored for his record of clinical excellence, his commitment to expanding access to quality psychiatric care and his dedication to eating disorders education and awareness.

At its annual gathering of members this past Friday, the Colorado Psychiatric Society awarded its 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award to Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, a Denver-based
psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. The honor seeks to recognize a psychiatric colleague who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of mental health. Dr. Weiner, who founded and serves as chief medical officer and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), was selected due to his thought leadership in eating disorders diagnosis, innovation and effective treatment design and delivery.

“The psychiatric community has long-recognized the complexity of eating disorders and the difficulties associated with the development and delivery of effective treatment for this growing patient population,” says Robert House, MD, director of behavioral health services at Denver Health Medical Center and president of the Colorado Psychiatric Society. “Dr. Weiner’s efforts to create comprehensive, cutting-edge treatment resources for patients, families and referring professionals – both locally and nationally – have been instrumental in expanding access to quality care for individuals struggling with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and EDNOS.”

Dr. Weiner has committed his psychiatric career to creating best-in-class eating disorders treatment programs in the Denver area. Most recently, Dr. Weiner founded Eating Recovery Center to address the regional gap in treatment resources for eating disordered patients requiring a higher level of care. What began in 2008 as a single, 12-bed adult hospital facility has become a seven-facility treatment center network with locations in Denver and Northern California offering comprehensive levels of care for male and female adults, adolescents and children. Not only has Eating Recovery Center
emerged as a valuable treatment resource for patients, families and referring professionals locally and in surrounding regional communities, but it has also become a trusted national and international resource, with patients seeking treatment from across the United States and several countries abroad.

“Denver’s emergence as a hub for eating disorders treatment is due, in large part, to Dr. Weiner’s expertise, passion and strategic vision,” explains Emmett R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and medical director of adult services at Eating Recovery Center, who has worked alongside Dr. Weiner for more than 12 years and nominated him for this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award.

In addition to his record of clinical excellence in the treatment of these complex psychiatric disorders, Dr. Weiner is also committed to eating disorders awareness and outreach. He speaks widely to
professionals in the healthcare field, and conceptualized the Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, a professional conference hosted annually by Eating Recovery Center in Denver that brings together industry-leading eating disorders professionals to share treatment best practices with physicians, therapists, dietitians, nurses, social workers and advocates. Additionally, Dr. Weiner is committed to educating the next generation of psychiatric professionals on eating disorders and career opportunities in the field as an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he has received the prestigious Gold Apple Teaching Award from the medical school and the Best Teacher Award from the Psychiatric Residency Training Program.

Eating Recovery Center In the News: abc.com

Anorexia and Bulimia Aren’t the Only Eating Disorders

For decades, the eating disorder lexicon had two main entries: anorexia and bulimia. But modern research reveals that these fall woefully short of encompassing the many facets of disordered eating. In the early ’90s, the American Psychiatric Association introduced a new diagnostic category: eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS). A catch-all label that includes dozens of subdiagnoses, EDNOS applies to patients who don’t meet the exact criteria for anorexia or bulimia but still have very troubled relationships with food or distorted body images. Today, EDNOS diagnoses significantly outnumber anorexia and bulimia cases. “The atypical has become the typical,” says Ovidio Bermudez, M.D.

Read more here.

Eating Recovery Center In the News: EverydayHealth.com

Unexpected Eating Disorders Causes and Triggers

Each week, Eating Recovery Center’s Chief Marketing Officer Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, a clinician with almost 30 years experience in the treatment of eating disorders, shares advice and insights with readers of EverydayHealth.com. In the most recent installment of her blog, The Truth About Eating Disorders (which celebrates its two year anniversary this week!), discusses unexpected triggers for eating disorders. Read the full blog post below, or click here to view other posts from Julie on EverydayHealth.com.

A major life transition or change, such as puberty or leaving for college, is a common eating disorders trigger. However, eating disorders specialists are taking note of the more unexpected eating disorders causes: manipulating medications and taking a new lifestyle diet too far. For someone with the genes or the temperament that predisposes him or her to an eating disorder, manipulating medication or eliminating food groups for a variety of reasons can trigger dangerous disordered eating behaviors.

Insulin manipulation: Diabetes and eating disorders
Most of what we eat is broken down into glucose, which our cells use for fuel. Insulin allows your cells to either use the glucose for fuel or store it as fat. However, for individuals with type 1 diabetes, their bodies no longer produce insulin. Therefore, they use daily insulin injections to help their bodies absorb glucose.

Some people with diabetes who are also genetically predisposed to eating disorders have been known to use insulin manipulation as a form of weight control. They under-dose, or skip their insulin entirely, which causes sugar to be eliminated from their bodies via urine and never to be stored as fat or used as fuel.

Although not an official medical term, this behavior is often referred to as “diabulimia.” People with bulimia nervosa will purge through vomiting, laxative abuse or over-exercise to compensate for binging, while people with diabetes restrict insulin to achieve similar results. Like all eating disorders patients, these individuals are striving for unrealistic body ideals and a desire to be thin.

This potentially deadly combination strips your body of its nutrients and fuel. People with eating disorders who are abusing insulin can find themselves weak and lethargic and, in extreme circumstances, may fall into a coma as their bodies turn to other tissues for energy. The overwhelming desire for these individuals to be thin negates any of the other medical risks such as kidney or heart failure, blindness or even amputation.

Gluten free and other diet fads: Community supported restrictive diets
We live in a society fascinated with the latest diet fads. From cleanses to anti-carbohydrate or high-protein diets, each one introduces a “new” way to lose weight and live healthfully. Most recently we’ve seen the rise of veganism and gluten free diets. Originally intended as a dietary regimen for people with celiac disease, a gluten free diet can help people who are unable to break down gluten and absorb it, minimize damaging results on their bodies.

For individuals who are genetically predisposed to an eating disorder, cutting major food groups, such as gluten, dairy or meat from their diets when it’s not medically necessary can be a serious eating disorders cause trigger. They start restricting because it’s part of a new diet designed to help them live healthfully and find themselves tumbling down that slippery slope into an eating disorder.

If you or one of your friend’s or loved ones is practicing “diabulimia” and manipulating insulin or is drastically changing his or her diet as a means to lose weight, visit the Eating Recovery Center website to find resources and treatment options and learn how to approach him or her to express your concerns.