Weight Stigma and Binge Eating: What’s the Connection?

My article appeared originally on Recovery Brands’ Pro Corner site.Karina, a 42-year-old obese woman, put off her annual doctor’s appointment again. The reason for her reluctance? Karina fears her doctor’s judgments and admonitions about her weight. Several years back, her doctor read her the riot act about her weight and since that visit, Karina’s weight has climbed even more.Karina is not alone. Research indicates that higher weight individuals report experiencing weight stigma and negative stereotypes across a variety of situations and at the hands of family members, friends, doctors, bosses, teachers, and often, strangers.Last month marked the second annual Weight Stigma Awareness Week. The annual event, hosted by the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA), seeks to raise awareness around weight bias and offers

Practicing Self-Compassion with Jenni Schaefer

Thanks to Jenni Schaefer, who recently featured an excerpt from my book on her blog!Jenni recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of Life Without Ed, so be sure to check out her book’s new edition and to congratulate her when you stop by her site.Like the excerpt? Read more! You can find Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder? Challenging Our Nation’s Fixation with Food and Weight on Amazon (as a paperback and Kindle) and at BarnesandNoble.com.

How to Parent Healthy Body Image and Why it Matters

Check out my recent article on parenting and body image on recovery.org.You can find Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder? Challenging Our Nation’s Fixation with Food and Weight on Amazon (as a paperback and Kindle) and at BarnesandNoble.com.

Anorexia/bulimia: Bacterial protein implicated

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder affect approximately 5-10 percent of the general population. Researchers have demonstrated the involvement of a protein produced by some intestinal bacteria that may be the source of these disorders. Antibodies produced by the body against this protein also react with the main satiety hormone, which is similar in structure. According to the researchers, it may ultimately be possible to correct this mechanism that causes variations in food intake.

Nicole Scherzinger addresses eating disorder on new track Big Fat Lie

The track, which is about her battle with bulimia, helped Scherzinger to ‘create something beautiful from … something that wasn’t once so beautiful’Nicole Scherzinger will use her new album to address her eating disorder. Big Fat Lie takes its title from the singer’s battle with bulimia, helping Scherzinger to “create something beautiful from … something that wasn’t once so beautiful”.“I think we all have our own big fat lies,” Scherzinger explained in an interview with Digital Spy. “[I have been] battling with an eating disorder for many years and recently, in the past few years, it’s come out and people were talking to me about that … [That fight] is a big part of who I am and what has gotten me here. And what has gotten me

How Much Do We Know About Purging Disorder?

I’m posting this on behalf of K. Jean Forney, a graduate student who studies eating disorders at Florida State University. She’s researching purging disorder and looking for support for her project.The Diverse Presentations of Eating DisordersK. Jean Forney, M.S.Typically, when people hear “eating disorder,” they think of anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder characterized by low weight. People sometimes think of bulimia nervosa, which is characterized by binge eating (eating a large amount of food while feeling out of control) and compensatory behaviors, like self-induced vomiting or intense exercise. Awareness is growing about binge eating disorder, the eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating without any sort of compensatory behavior.It turns out a significant portion of people with eating disorders don’t meet

Self-compassion key to positive body image, coping

Women who accept and tolerate their imperfections appear to have a more positive body image despite their body mass index and are better able to handle personal disappointments and setbacks in their daily lives. Research has found that this self-compassion might be an important means to increase positive body image and protect girls and young women against unhealthy weight-control practices and eating disorders.

Who are the men, boys suffering from anorexia?

The current state of knowledge about anorexia in men and boys has been the focus of recent study. “Our results show that certain particularities can be identified in males, especially related to personality, gender identity, and sexual orientation”, says an author of a new study on the topic.