Genetics and Anorexia Nervosa – Anomalies on Chromosome 12

DNA Strand relating to Genetics and Anorexia Sponsored By: The Refuge – A Healing Place Eating disorders are biopsychosocial disorders, meaning, the behaviors are impacted by biology, psychology, and sociology. Social aspects of eating disorders are often discussed. However, the biological aspect is one with which people are less familiar. Even so, the aspects of genetics and anorexia nervosa (AN) are essential to [...]
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The LGBTQ Community and Eating Disorders

Multiethnic Group of Teenagers in the LGBTQ community Contributor: Timberline Knolls Team at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Among the reasons cited as to why individuals may develop eating disorders are concerns about body shape and weight, one’s idealization of being thin, and the social pressures that follow in that pursuit. Also identified is a family history that encourages dietary restraint, disordered eating, [...]
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Athletes, Eating Disorders and Incorporating Exercise into Treatment

Young athletes have been especially effected by the pandemic Historically, eating disorder treatment programs have avoided incorporating exercise into treatment with the goal of helping patients restore weight more quickly and protect patients who may abuse exercise as a core feature of their eating disorder behaviors. For athletes, this could become a significant obstacle to seeking treatment. In fact, many athletes were encouraged to [...]
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Spirituality: A Critical Component in Eating Disorder Treatment

Girl thinking about Spirituality Contributor: Bethany Casson, LCPC – Christian Program Coordinator at Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center Physical diseases like cancer can manifest in all areas of the body: bone, brain, and breast to name only a few. Psychiatric illnesses such as eating disorders are no different. An adolescent severely restricts food, delighting in the commensurate weight loss; [...]
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The Illusion of the Ego: Pride in Eating Disorders

Woman thinking about Pride in Eating Disorders Sometimes, those with dysfunctional eating habits find an unhealthy sense of pride in self-denial and feeling hungry. This mentality of “pride in eating disorders” is plastered across many pro-ana and pro-mia blogs and social media pages, as illustrated in the quote, “Stay Strong and Starve On,” and the propensity to see themselves as an elite group [...]
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Male Athletes & Eating Disorders: When is it Time to Consider Treatment?

Picture of Male Athletes with Eating Disorders Travis Stewart, LPC, NCC – Director of Business Development and Marketing and Riley Nickols, Ph.D., CEDS McCallum Place In recent years more male athletes have begun to talk openly about eating disorders and the impact that eating disorder behaviors have had on their relationships, sport performance, and mental and physical health. This is a welcome [...]
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Objectification and Minority Stress in Transgender Women

Binge eating disorder and COVID isolation can cause worsening mental health Contributor: Staff at Carolina House While research remains sparse regarding those in the transgender community and especially regarding the intersection with disordered eating behavior, some recent studies have revealed the links between these aspects of one’s identity. While many things are still unknown, there is a clear understanding that transgender women are often the victims [...]
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Binge Eating Disorder & Teens – What You Need to Know

Friends talking and supporting each other in Binge Eating Disorder & Teens eating disorder treatment Contributed by Canopy Cove Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating without regular use of compensatory behaviors. BED is the most common eating disorder in the United States and is experienced by an estimated 2.8 million people This harrowing disorder presents in approximately 20% to 30% of adolescents, and [...]
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