Eating Disorders

EATING DISORDERS

Do you or someone you know suffer from an eating disorder? Eating disorders often make a person feel scared and alone. This page will provide you with information and resources to help you learn about the different diseases, specific populations, and guide you or someone you know in the process of recovery and starting to live a fulfilling life!

BULIMIA.COM

Eating disorders affect up to 30 million people in the US of all ages, and have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.

Anorexia is currently the third most chronic illness in the US, which is why YOUTH need to be wary of any signs that they may be suffering from an eating disorder.
The sooner we get help for our problems, the greater the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Eating disorders have many medical issues which can affect our long-term health.

To learn more about various medical issues related to eating disorders, as well as co-existing psychiatric disorders, visit the site's "Medical Issues" section.

Check out the main site, Bulimia.com!

Many thanks to Mel Harbin who contributed the information and resource.

FOUR MAJOR CATEGORIES OF EATING DISORDERS

1. Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia involves restricting food intake to amounts below what is needed for one’s body, extreme fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, a distorted body image, and a weight less than 85% of what is expected of a typical person of that age, height, and build. Often people suffering from anorexia will purge by either vomiting the food that they consumed or exercising to extremes.

2. Bulimia Nervosa: A person suffering from bulimia often has a distorted body image and will repeatedly binge on large amounts of food and then purge by means of self-induced vomiting, using laxatives, enemas, diuretics, or other medications, over-exercising, or fasting.

3. Binge Eating Disorder (BED): BED includes a cycle of insatiable cravings that can occur at anytime during the day and binging on large amounts of food. A person suffering from this eating disorder will eat uncontrollably, often in secret. It does not occur in the presence of Anorexia Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa. After binging, the sufferer does not purge.

4. Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS): EDNOS is the most common eating disorder, but still can be very severe. A person has EDNOS if he or she meets most of the diagnostic criteria of one or more of the other eating disorders, but not all of the criteria.

Recovery Is Possible

Recovery from an eating disorder is a process that requires hard work. It is vital to utilize coping skills and have a support network while going through the process of recovery. Resorting to eating disorder behaviors may seem easier than recovery, but eating disorders do not allow people to experience life. Recovery will result in a fulfilling life. 100% recovery is possible! The following links can help to start you on your journey to recovery. If you don’t suffer from an eating disorder, it is important to be educated because more than likely, you know someone who does suffer. According to ANAD (www.anad.org), 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder in the U.S.

The National Eating Disorders Association's (NEDA) 25th Anniversary of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week took place from February 26th to March 3rd 2012. This video represented the campaign, Everybody Knows Somebody, which raised much needed awareness and funds for eating disorders. The next National Eating Disorders Awareness Week will be February 23-March 1, 2016, so get ready to spread awareness and advocate!

EATING DISORDER RESEARCH

Eating disorders are especially common among young adults. According to the National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders (ANAD) (www.anad.org) 95% of those with eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.
15% of women 17-24 have eating disorders (The Massachusetts Eating Disorders Association, www.waldenbehavioralcare.com).
About 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male.

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition (ANAD, www.anad.org), but full recovery is possible and does happen!
3-5% of women and 2 % of males in the U.S. suffer from Binge Eating Disorder (ANAD, www.anad.org).
Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents (ANAD, www.anad.org).
10% to 20% of female college students and 4% to 10% of college males have eating disorders (Eating for Life Alliance, www.eatingforlife.org). The percentage of college males with eating disorders is said to have increased since this study.
91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting. 22% dieted “often” or “always” (ANAD, www.anad.org).
25% of college-aged women binge and purge to manage their weight (ANAD, www.anad.org).
27% college males are dieting to lose weight and 45% of college males are exercising to lose weight (American College Health Association, www.acha.org).

Eating Disorder Research Studies

Do you want to participate in an eating disorder research study? You will even receive compensation for participating!
Check out our Join A Study page!

Operation Beautiful

End negative self-talk or "Fat Talk."

Leave a note and submit a photo to OperationBeautiful@ gmail.com

MORE INFORMATION

ANRED

Types, causes, warning signs, symptoms, and complications
Statistics
Relapse prevention
Special categories (males, diabetes, pregnancy)
Family and friends

multi-service eating disorders association

Types and complications
Family (including sibling) and friends resources
Being an athlete

Something Fishy

Symptoms and associated dangers
Recovery and coping skills
How to help a loved one
Cultural issues
Medications and doctors
Prevention and cause

DRUGREHAB.COM

Types, signs, and symptoms
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Young people and eating disorders
Substance abuse and eating disorders

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND RELATED DISORDERS

Types, signs, and symptoms
Recovery
Insurance issues

Addictions & Eating Disorders

Eating disorder and addiction signs, symptoms, and treatment
Relapse prevention
Health issues
Mental health
Addiction resources

Eating Disorder Awareness

Types and causes
Males and eating disorders
Self-harm
Myths
Family and friends
Personal stories

ONLINE SUPPORt

MentorConnect

Eating disorders mentoring community

Forums for those suffering

Something Fishy

Forums for those suffering and those in recovery
Family/friends support forum
Sufferers and family members ICQ list and AIM list

We Bite Back

Forum for friends/family
Local events and notable articles
Personal essays

NEDA FORUM

Forums on the media, for sufferers, those in recovery, males, siblings, friends, partners, and parents.

MALES

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MALES WITH EATING DISORDERS

Statistics
Risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention
Body image
Recovery tools

Men Get Eating Disorders Too

Forum and chat room
How to help someone
Stories
Blog
Training and workshops

10 million males in the United States suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their life (National Eating Disorders Association, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org). For a fact sheet on eating disorders among males, check out this website!

BODY IMAGE

Body Positive

Activism
Education

We Are the Real Deal

Blog
Body dysmorphia
Body image: males, mothers and sisters, pregnancy, prevention
LGBT

Eating Disorder Hope

Negative body image: definition, signs and symptoms, causes, and treatment

Articles

BOOKS AND OTHER MEDIA

Gurze

Books, articles, recovery stories

-DVD's
-CD's

America the Beautiful

Two documentaries that enlighten viewers on how America's obsession with the beauty industry contributes to eating disorders.

FIND TREATMENT

Something Fishy

National treatment provider and treatment center locator

ED Referral

Treatment center, workshop, retreat, research program, and support group locator

Pale Reflections

Treatment center, provider, support group, online and phone support locator

National Organizations

National Eating Disorders Association

Programs and events
Information, news, research
How to get involved

Massachusetts Treatment Facilities

Walden Behavioral Care

Provides inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient services for adolescent and adult females and males with eating disorders. Located in Waltham, Worcester, Northampton, and Braintree, MA.

Cambridge Eating Disorder Center

Provides residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient services to adolescent and adult females. Located in Cambridge, MA

Klarman Eating Disorders Center

Provides residential and partial hospitaliztion services to females ages 16-26. Klarman is part of McLean Hospital and is located in Belmont, MA.

Massachusetts Organizations

I.CARED

Activism
Directory of treatment providers
Calendar of MA events

Multiservice Eating DIsorders Association

Support groups
Volunteer and internship opportunities
Information
Referrals, assessments, and consultations

Eating for Life Alliance

Information for students, colleges, and parents
Conference and webinar calendar

SmarTPHone Apps

Recovery Record

Log meals and snacks, process feelings, and earn iTunes rewards
Receive affirmations and inspirational pictures

iCOunselor: Eating Disorder

Learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and coping skills to help in the recovery process.

SUPPORT GROUPS

NATIONAL

Group and research study locator by state.

National

Group locator by state.

MASSACHUSETTS

Hope and Inspiration: Recovered person shares their story with a Q&A after. Free. First Saturday of every month. Newton, MA.
Please see website for therapeutic groups.