Press Releases
Dr. Jennifer McBride Transitions to Full-Time Internal Medicine Role at Eating Recovery Center
Internist with background in eating disorders treatment brings valuable skill set to Center’s comprehensive programs
Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, today announced that Jennifer McBride, MD, has been promoted from a part-time role to serve as a full-time internist for patients ages 10 through adult. Although Dr. McBride will provide medical care to patients at all levels of care, her new role also supports the expansion of the Center’s adult Inpatient and Residential programs from 24 to 29 beds. The Center recently added the five beds due to an increased need for inpatient eating disorders treatment.
“Dr. McBride’s specialized eating disorders treatment expertise is a tremendous asset as she works to restore health among Eating Recovery Center’s medically compromised patients,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer, chief medical officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Her transition into a full-time role enables us to continue to provide comprehensive care to the growing population of individuals who struggle with these serious diseases.”
Dr. McBride, who is Board-certified in internal medicine, has more than seven years of experience as an internist at Exempla Denver Medical Associates in Denver, Colo. She has provided part-time care and internal medicine expertise to patients at Eating Recovery Center since it opened its doors in 2008.
In addition to supporting Eating Recovery Center’s inpatient and residential eating disorders patients, Dr. McBride will be an available resource for patients in the Center’s Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient eating disorders treatment programs, as well as patients at the Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents.
“Eating disorders are complicated diseases with serious medical implications. By working with internists who are familiar with the complications of these illnesses, our patients can seamlessly transition to lower levels of care,” said Dr. McBride. “Similarly, those patients who have discharged from Eating Recovery Center’s treatment programs can rest assured that their ongoing outpatient medical needs are met by a team with strong expertise in eating disorders care.”
Dr. McBride earned her master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, with a major in communications disorders and audiology. She completed her doctorate in medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 2001 and her residency at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital.
Posted in General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program Expands Treatment Options Through Partnership with Eating Recovery Center
Partnership formalizes a longstanding collaborative relationship between the two eating disorders treatment centers
Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, today announced that it has partnered with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program. Summit is a nationally recognized center for eating disorders treatment and prevention located in Sacramento, Cali.
This partnership allows Summit to expand its partial hospitalization and outpatient treatment options. It also underscores Eating Recovery Center’s ongoing commitment to providing and supporting access to expert eating disorders recovery services.
“We have come to regard Summit as a highly reputable eating disorders treatment center in the Northern California area,” said Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, chief clinical officer of Eating Recovery Center. “We see tremendous value in not only the Summit team’s clinical approach, but also its community awareness and prevention programming.”
Founded in 2000, Summit is the only medically supervised treatment program in the Sacramento area serving adolescents and adults with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. The treatment center is led by founding partners, Tony Paulson, PhD, executive director, Lisa Peterson, PhD, clinical director, and Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, chief admissions officer.
“Partnering with Eating Recovery Center allows Summit to enhance and further develop our partial hospitalization and outpatient programming by incorporating clinical models developed by the Center’s leadership team,” said Dr. Paulson. “Additionally, the Center’s intensive inpatient and residential programs are valuable resources for Summit’s adult and adolescent patients requiring a higher level of care. We believe this continuity of care is critical in supporting lasting eating disorders recovery.”
Summit’s eating disorders treatment programs offer:
• Comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care.
• A philosophy rooted in evidence-based treatments including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Based Treatment.
• Treatments for co-morbid psychological issues, including: anxiety, depression and substance abuse.
• Individualized treatment plans.
• Collaboration with community partners.
“Summit provides highly effective outpatient care to eating disordered patients and is a trusted treatment resource for the community of referring professionals,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner, chief medical officer and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “This partnership facilitates expanded reach for the clinical models that have proven highly successful in treating patients at Eating Recovery Center.”
For more information about Eating Recovery Center, visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com. To learn more about Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, visit www.sedop.org.
Posted in About Us, General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
Eating Recovery Center Launches Alumni Program to Promote Lasting Recovery
Leading Eating Disorders Treatment Center Aims to Reduce Relapse and Foster Supportive Recovery Environment for Patients
Studies have shown that anywhere from one-third to 40 percent of individuals treated for anorexia or bulimia will relapse. Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, aims to reduce this statistic. Recognizing that eating disorders are difficult to overcome alone, the treatment center has launched an alumni-focused program aimed at preventing relapse and fostering a supportive recovery environment for its patients.
“Patients leaving treatment consistently identify that the peer and treatment team support they had during their treatment program was a key element in their recovery process,” said Enola Gorham, LCSW, CEDS, clinical director of adult services at Eating Recovery Center. “Alumni programs provide the recovering eating disordered patient with an opportunity to reconnect with a recovery-focused community, benefit from the support of peers and refocus on the elements of recovery.”
The alumni program kicked off July 10 and 11 with a retreat attended by Eating Recovery Center alumni. The event, which focused on helping the former patients renew their individual commitments to anorexia or bulimia recovery, featured an interactive program led by Eating Recovery Center’s clinical leadership team. Therapeutic movement, art sessions and group activities offered opportunities for alumni to recharge their recovery and reconnect with fellow Eating Recovery Center peers and staff.
“When in treatment at Eating Recovery Center, all patients are introduced to the ‘it takes a village’ concept of recovery,” explained Gorham. “In this model, the person who is working to change behaviors needs honest feedback and support from people whom the patient knows have his or her best interest at heart. Upon leaving the treatment environment, patients can have a very hard time recreating a ‘village’ of support and care for themselves.”
In order to build a village of support, promote eating disorders recovery and reduce chances of relapse, Gorham recommends that recovering individuals follow these three tips:
1. Build a strong support environment, which includes a knowledgeable treatment team.
2. Prioritize recovery. Individuals leaving treatment are new to recovery and must put a lot of time, effort and energy into recovery. Gorham recommends that individuals in recovery simplify their lives as much as possible, and measure all commitments and activities against the standard of “will this help me keep my health and recovery?”
3. Trust your treatment team and follow their advice.
Eating Recovery Center is planning additional tools and activities to help alumni maintain recovery mindsets. The Center is currently developing a website resource to offer continued support to alumni. Additional program elements under consideration include eating disorders support groups, social media, regional and local events and an alumni-focused e-newsletter.
For more information about Eating Recovery Center’s alumni-focused program, please visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, General, Press Releases •
Emerging Trends, Sage Best Practices among Topics Highlighted at Eating Recovery Center’s 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference
Registration Now Open for Educational Event Showcasing Innovative Eating Disorders Treatment Strategies; Early Registration Rates Expire July 1, 2011
New trends and trusted best practices in eating disorders treatment are among the key topics that will be presented by a lineup of nationally recognized experts at the 3rd Annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, held August 19-20, 2011, in Denver, Colo. Registration is now open for this year’s conference, which is hosted by Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia.
“The annual Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference offers our colleagues from across the nation an opportunity to connect with and learn from multidisciplinary experts,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief medical officer, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Taken together, the event’s compelling program, Denver’s temperate August climate and Colorado’s numerous summertime activities represent an ideal fusion of professional development and leisure.”
Limited registration and an interactive educational program featuring plenary speakers, panel discussions and Q&A sessions support connection and collaboration among attending physicians, therapists, nurses, dietitians, advocacy organizations and other members of the eating disorders treatment community. Highlights of the 2011 program include:
• Challenges of Treating Seriously Ill Eating Disordered Patients, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, and Philip Mehler, MD, FACEP, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Nutritional Intervention of Eating Disorders Across the Continuum of Care, Ralph Carson, PhD, RD, LD, Sondra Kronberg, MS, RD, CDN, CEDRD, and Ginger Hartman, RD
• New Trends in the Field of Eating Disorders Treatment, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: The Use of Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Enola Gorham, MSW, LCSW, CEDS, and Q&A with Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Q&A Session: Enhanced Family Based Treatment (FBT) in Inpatient Treatment for Children and Adolescents, Elizabeth Davis, PsyD, and Q&A with Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS
• Panel Discussion: Outpatient Treatment Interventions, Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, Susan McClanahan, PhD, Julie O’Toole, MD, MPH, and Kay Watt, LPC
• Tricks of the Trade: Things We’ve Learned Along the Way, Carolyn Costin, MA, Med, MFT, CEDS, and Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS
• Trait Management: Tailoring Treatment to Patient Characteristics, Emmet R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS
• Readiness for Change in the Treatment of Eating Disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS
The 2011 Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference will be held at the Denver Marriott City Center. Prior to July 1, 2011, registration for professionals is $125 and includes all sessions, 12.5 continuing education credits, brunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and periodic refreshment breaks. Single-day registration is $75. Student-discounted registration is $100 and $50 for single-day attendance. Space is limited and registration prior to the event is recommended. Register instantly online at EatingRecoveryCenter.com or by mail after completing the registration form.
Posted in About Us, General, Meetings/Events, Press Releases, Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference •
Increased Demand for Eating Disorders Care Drives Eating Recovery Center to Expand
Leading Center for Eating Disorders Recovery Relocates Partial Hospitalization Program to Dedicated Facility, Nearly Doubles Program’s Treatment Capacity
In response to increasing demand for eating disorders care, Eating Recovery Center, a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia, has expanded its treatment capacity. The Center has relocated its Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), an 11.5-hour-per-day, non-residential eating disorder program, from its adult behavioral hospital to a new 16,000-square foot facility in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood. The new dedicated facility nearly doubles the PHP’s current treatment capacity.
“This expansion enables us to provide much-needed treatment to more individuals and families who struggle with these devastating diseases,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer, chief medical officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “Though the program has expanded, the PHP’s high patient to therapist ratio and small group structure ensure that each patient has a highly individualized treatment experience.”
The PHP, now open at 8190 E. 1st Avenue, is designed to help men and women ages 18 and older practice recovery skills they can translate into their post-treatment lives. The program can operate as either a step-down from Inpatient and Residential eating disorders programs or a step up for Outpatient Program participants who need more structure and support. Eating Recovery Center’s PHP accepts patients moving within its own treatment continuum, entering treatment for the first time or transitioning from other eating disorders programs.
While many partial hospitalization programs are comprised of six to eight hours of programming offered five to seven days per week, Eating Recovery Center’s PHP provides 11.5 hours of treatment seven days per week. The nearly full day of programming supports patients through all meals and snacks and offers ample structure to help patients interrupt eating disorders behaviors and restore weight. Patients have the opportunity to practice recovery at night, spending evenings at home or in peer-supported apartment communities provided by Eating Recovery Center.
Unique among PHPs, Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program is designed by nationally recognized eating disorders experts, supervised by two full-time, onsite psychiatrists, and medically supported by a full-time, onsite nurse. Primary therapists, family therapists, dietitians and internists provide ongoing individualized care.
“The PHP’s integrated treatment philosophy combines medical, psychiatric, nutritional and psychological elements to give patients and families the tools to achieve lasting behavioral change,” said Bonnie Brennan, MA, LPC, NCC, clinical director of Eating Recovery Center’s Partial Hospitalization Program. “This level of treatment is a critical stage in the eating disorders treatment continuum because it helps patients practice their recovery skills and test their abilities in a supported environment.”
Experiential therapies, such as grocery store and restaurant outings, help patients overcome anxieties and develop skills they can translate to their post-treatment lives. Patients learn cooking, portioning and serving food in Eating Recovery Center’s teaching kitchen. Daily meals and snacks, prepared by onsite professional chefs, provide patients with an opportunity to practice making healthy choices in a supported environment. Skills groups and individual therapy help patients process experiences and build a recovery mindset.
The only privately owned eating disorders treatment center providing all levels of care for adults, adolescents and children struggling with eating disorders, Eating Recovery Center also operates a behavioral hospital for adults, a behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents ages 10 through 17 and an outpatient services office.
For more information about eating disorders programs or to learn about Eating Recovery Center’s clinical assessment and admissions process, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
One in 10 U.S. Teens Use Unhealthy Behaviors to Lose Weight
As Swimsuit Season Turns Focus to Body Image, Eating Recovery Center Offers Parents Recommendations to Address Increased Risk of Eating Disorders in Teenagers
Nearly 11 percent of 9th to 12th grade students in the U.S. have gone without eating for 24 hours or more; 5 percent have taken diet pills, powders or liquids; and 4 percent have vomited or taken laxatives – all to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight – according to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control. Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, warns that these behaviors can lead to medical complications, nutritional deficiencies and, potentially, a full-fledged eating disorder.
“Oftentimes, once teens begin to experiment with these behaviors, it can be difficult to get out of the habit of them, especially if they receive positive feedback from peers and others about the initial weight loss,” explained Ginger Hartman, R.D., registered dietitian at Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents. “These types of comments can often influence the teen to continue the behaviors and/or increase the frequency of behaviors. Eventually, the teen may no longer be able to control the behaviors and may find him or herself struggling with a life-threatening eating disorder.”
With swimsuit season and teens’ accompanying focus on body image around the corner, it is vital that parents keep an eye out for behaviors that may trigger disordered eating. Hartman offers the following six recommendations for parents who notice their teens engaging in unhealthy food-related behaviors:
1. Better identify what your teen may be struggling with by learning more about eating disorders.
2. Parents should be on the alert for negative changes in attitudes or beliefs. Changes in your teen’s attitude about size or weight, dissatisfaction with his or her body and health consciousness may precede abnormal eating behaviors.
3. Discuss with your teen, in a caring, gentle and non-judgmental way, what you have noticed or observed and why it concerns you.
4. Schedule a medical check-up with a physician who has a background in working with eating disorders.
5. If behaviors persist, seek assistance from an eating disorders therapist and/or a registered dietitian who specializes in eating disorders.
6. Intervene early. The sooner that intervention occurs, the less likelihood there is for long-term effects or consequences from the behaviors. Earlier intervention can also increase the potential for lasting recovery.
Eating Recovery Center’s Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents provides comprehensive eating disorder treatment for children and adolescents – both girls and boys – ages 10 through 17. Focused on empowering families to become agents of change in their children’s recovery, the program is led by a nationally recognized expert in child and adolescent eating disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS.
Learn more about treatment for eating disorders in teenagers and children.
About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a licensed behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center Selects Lisa Diaz as Marketing Analytics Director
Experienced Communications Professional Lends Strategic Insight to Eating Disorders Treatment Center’s Marketing Programs
Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, today announced that it has named Lisa Diaz, MBA, its new marketing analytics director. In this role, Ms. Diaz will monitor organizational marketing analytics and leverage key findings to develop and implement marketing and communications strategies and initiatives. She will also create high-level content for marketing outreach, manage key vendor and consultant relationships and provide strategic support to the chief marketing officer.
“Ms. Diaz’s diverse experience, analytical mindset and creative approach will serve as tremendous assets to Eating Recovery Center as we identify marketing opportunities and develop new strategies to engage potential patients and referring professionals,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer, chief medical officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center.
Ms. Diaz is a marketing and communications professional with a diverse skill set, including strengths in the areas of writing and strategic planning. Most recently, she served as an account executive at CSG|PR, where she developed integrated B2B communications campaigns for trade-facing education clients, as well as carefully crafted programs to heighten visibility of consumer products. Her strategies leveraged local and national media relations, content generation, proprietary research and traditional marketing outreach activities to complement and drive organizational objectives.
Concurrently, Ms. Diaz served as a freelance communications consultant to a private in-home healthcare provider. She was tasked with planning and conducting a brand audit, from which she developed a comprehensive stakeholder outreach strategy and recommendations for organizational execution.
Prior to moving into public relations, Ms. Diaz served as a project coordinator for a specialty healthcare company. There, she managed the development and implementation of brand identity and awareness initiatives supporting the company’s strategic growth objectives.
Ms. Diaz earned an MBA with a concentration in marketing from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver, as well as a B.A. in communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is also a published author, whose byline articles – written on behalf of clients – have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report and American City Business Journals.
About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a licensed behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner and Emmett Bishop, and the newest additions to our leadership team – Drs. Craig Johnson and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center Appoints Karen Trevithick as Clinical Director of Outpatient Services
Newest Team Member Brings Strong Experience in Outpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders
Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, today announced that it has named Karen Trevithick, Psy.D., its new clinical director of outpatient services. In this role, Dr. Trevithick will provide leadership for counseling services, identify and implement strategies for operation, and facilitate counseling and group activities for patients.
“Dr. Trevithick’s past experience both as a psychologist and a clinical director will make her a valuable addition to Eating Recovery Center’s team of professionals,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center.
Dr. Trevithick has more than 10 years of experience in eating disorder treatment. Most recently, she served as clinical director for the Eating Disorder Center of Miami, where she developed and facilitated an intensive group program and provided individual and family therapy for patients struggling with eating disorders, as well as post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
Prior to her work at the Eating Disorder Center of Miami, Dr. Trevithick served as a psychologist for Alternatives Counseling Center and as the coordinator for Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital’s eating disorder program. During her tenure at Alexian, Dr. Trevithick co-developed, managed and cultivated the Center’s nationally recognized eating disorder intensive outpatient and partial programs.
Dr. Trevithick received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brandeis University, as well as both a master’s degree and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a licensed behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner and Emmett Bishop, and the newest additions to our leadership team – Drs. Craig Johnson and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, General, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Eating Recovery Center Asks, “Could You Be Putting a Loved One at Risk?”
Behavioral Hospital Encourages Families to be Aware of Behaviors and Actions that Could Trigger Eating Disorders in Others
An estimated five percent of Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 20-26), Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, encourages people to be aware of behaviors and actions that could increase the risk of a loved one developing an eating disorder.
“Because eating disorders are genetic, an individual who has a family history is much more likely to be sensitive to others’ words and actions surrounding food and body image,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center. “It’s important for families to talk about these deadly diseases and avoid behaviors and actions that could act as eating disorder triggers.”
Eating Recovery Center urges families to be aware of these five seemingly harmless behaviors and actions, which could increase the risk a child or loved one developing an eating disorder:
1. The use of food as a reward or a punishment. When parents use food as a reward or punishment, it can teach their child to turn to food for comfort, tie emotions to eating and permanently affect a child’s relationship with food.
2. The comments you make about your appearance or the appearances of others. Negative remarks about your own appearance or body type, or disparaging comments about the appearances of others, can have a profound effect on a young child, a teenager or even a friend of yours. Keep remarks encouraging to foster an environment of positive self-esteem and body image.
3. Labeling foods as “good” or “bad” foods. It is important not to list types of foods or entire food groups as “good” or “bad” because of their fat content, nutritional value, sodium amounts or otherwise. Eating healthy is all about moderation.
4. Dieting. Not only does dieting keep people from listening to what their bodies need, 95 percent of individuals who go on a diet actually put the weight back on in the next two or three years. Furthermore, for an individual who is genetically predisposed to an eating disorder, dieting can be a gateway to disordered eating behaviors.
5. Ignoring genetics. An individual with an immediate family member who had anorexia nervosa is 12 times more likely to develop the disease; and four times more likely to develop bulimia nervosa. Individuals with a family history should be especially vigilant of disordered eating behaviors if their loved one is involved in sports – especially those with a focus on weight management such as ballet, gymnastics or wrestling.
For more information about National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, or to learn why the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) urges individuals to talk about these deadly diseases, visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Join Eating Recovery Center at these events, both locally in Colorado and nationally, during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week:
• An annual candlelight vigil honoring those who have passed away from eating disorders, in conjunction with The Eating Disorder Foundation, Thursday, February 24, 6:30 p.m., Wellshire Event Center, Denver, Colo.
• Mind and Body Fair, hosted by the University of Northern Colorado’s Women’s Resource Center, Monday, February 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Greeley, Colo.
• Stop by Eating Recovery Center’s lobby to see patient artwork exhibited throughout the week, 1830 Franklin Street, Denver, Colo.
• Dr. Emmett R. Bishop Jr., FAED, CEDS, co-founder and medical director of adult services of the Center will present to eating disorders specialists, Friday, February 25, Austin, Texas.
• “Be Comfortable in Your Genes” fashion show and silent auction benefitting NORMAL In Schools’ gala, INSIDE OUT!, Saturday, February 26, 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.
• National Eating Disorders Association Walk, hosted by The Eating Disorders Network of Central Florida, Sunday, February 20, registration at 9 a.m., walk at 10 a.m., Orlando, Fla.
• “The Forum – a Panel of Recovery” event, presented by the Multiservice Eating Disorder Association, Tuesday, February 22, Framingham, Mass.
Editor: Nationally recognized eating disorders experts, Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, Emmett R. Bishop, Jr., MD, FAED, CEDS, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, and Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, along with patients in recovery, are available for interviews to supplement your National Eating Disorders Awareness Week stories. Contact Shannon Fern or Molly Koch at 303.433.7020 or sfern@csg-pr.com or mkoch@csg-pr.com to arrange an interview.
About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a licensed behavioral hospital treating children and adolescents. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner and Emmett Bishop, and the newest additions to our leadership team – Drs. Craig Johnson and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in About Us, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, General, In the News, Press Releases •
Eating Recovery Center Opens New Behavioral Hospital to Address Growing Trend of Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders
Center’s Experts Offer Five Eating Disorder Facts Every Family Should Know
A recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that hospitalizations for children with eating disorders are on the rise, that approximately 0.5 percent of adolescent girls in the United States have anorexia, and that 1 to 2 percent meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia. To address this growing trend, Eating Recovery Center (EatingRecoveryCenter.com), a national center for eating disorders recovery, has opened Eating Recovery Center, a Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, a hospital specifically dedicated to providing comprehensive eating disorders treatment for children and adolescents – both girls and boys – ages 10 to 17. The hospital opened today in Denver’s Lowry neighborhood, and is now accepting patients.
“It’s important for families to be aware that disordered eating behaviors can start at any age,” explains Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, CEDS, founding partner and chief executive officer of Eating Recovery Center. “Early intervention, expert treatment and ongoing family support are vital to lasting recovery.”
To help parents recognize eating disorders triggers and warning signs, appropriately intervene and seek help, Eating Recovery Center offers these five facts every family should know:
1. Children and adolescents with eating disorders can recover with the appropriate treatment. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, most teenagers can fully recover from eating disorders with appropriate, comprehensive treatment.
2. Weight-focused sports could be potentially harmful. Sports such as track and field, gymnastics and wrestling involve a healthy weight component to be competitive. It is important that parents emphasize the importance of practicing and training in a healthy manner.
3. Adolescents with anorexia or bulimia will likely display warning signs. Adolescents with anorexia are often very driven and high achievers. Warning signs that can be displayed include weight loss, avoidance of activities and friends, and anxiety about gaining weight or feeling “fat.”
Individuals with bulimia may not be as recognizable by weight loss, but often experience dramatic weight fluctuations. They may also try to hide purging behaviors by running water while in the restroom or brushing teeth several times a day. They may also display cuts or scrapes on their knuckles and dental problems.
4. Families play an important role in recovery. Studies show that by intervening when they see a problem and integrating recovery-focused behaviors into family life, families can become agents of change for their children in eating disorders recovery.
5. Eating disorders will often go hand-in-hand with other diseases. Anorexia and bulimia can occur alongside mood disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse, as well as a number of other behavioral conditions. Recovery is possible with early intervention and proper treatment.
Eating Recovery Center’s newest behavioral hospital is led by a nationally recognized expert in child and adolescent eating disorders, Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAM, FAED, CEDS. Dr. Bermudez serves as the hospital’s new medical director of child and adolescent services. The hospital operates under the direction of Dr. Weiner, and Eating Recovery Center’s chief clinical officer, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS.
Eating Recovery Center, a Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, is located at 8140 E. 5th Ave., Denver, Colo., and is now accepting patients from across the country.
About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center is a national center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia and bulimia. Denver-based facilities include a licensed behavioral hospital treating adults, an outpatient office and a facility treating children and adolescents. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner and Emmett Bishop, and the newest additions to our leadership team – Drs. Craig Johnson and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.
Posted in In the News, Press Releases, Treatment Options •
