Tag Archives: anorexia

Extreme Dieting: Now with Parasites?

In many areas of the world, females are under immense pressure to be thin. This pressure is especially intense in Asia, where women always seem to be looking for ways to get skinnier. Experts say dieting in Asia tends to be more extreme than in the West, because of cultural perceptions of size. Asian men tend to be small. So, in order to feel masculine, they appreciate a woman who is even smaller than they are.

“The magic number is to be below 100 pounds, no matter your height or your weight,” says Philippa Yu, a clinical psychologist at the Hong Kong Eating Disorders Association. Often, women do not exercise to achieve this unrealistic weight, because of the perception that it will cause muscle growth, which is seen as masculine.

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Posted on April 13, 2024 by Carmen

Pregorexia: The New Eating Disorder Affecting Pregnant Women

There is an unfortunate new bar being raised when it comes to pregnancy weight gain. Pregorexia is a relatively new phenomenon in which moms-to-be gain very little weight throughout their entire pregnancy and return to their pre-pregnant weight within just a few days of giving birth.

Pregorexia is affecting more and more American women who choose to eat as little as possible during pregnancy out of fear of gaining weight. With celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman, who maintained a very thin figure throughout their pregnancy and reclaimed their pre-baby body in very little time, the spotlight on such high-profile women may be putting other women at risk for developing this disorder.

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Posted on February 12, 2024 by heather

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Controversial Fitness Comment

Drama just seems to follow Hollywood stars, no matter how low of a profile they keep. Case in point, a controversial comment made by celebrity Gwyneth Paltrow during a workout with her beloved trainer, Tracy Anderson. Paltrow, who is no stranger to putting in some serious sweaty hours at Anderson’s gym to whip her body back into shape after two pregnancies, made this rather tongue-in-cheek comment about what you need to do in order to look great:

“When you’re 35, you either starve yourself, or you do serious cardio.”

While a few Paltrow fans have staunchly criticized her comment, in my opinion, those attacking her are making the mistake of taking her comment a bit too literally.

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Posted on October 29, 2023 by heather

Tara Reid Gets Fit for Playboy

When American Pie was released in 1999, Tara Reid became a sensation almost overnight thanks to her All-American Girl looks and body. But fast-forward about five years, a botched tummy tuck and breast augmentation, a few stays in alcohol rehab treatment centers and a battle with anorexia and you have the script for an all-too familiar, albeit sad and tragic, story of Hollywood fame and fortune gone seriously wrong. (more…)

Posted on October 16, 2023 by heather

Whitney Houston’s Journey to Health

Possessing some of the most powerful vocals in pop music, Whitney Houston is back on the music scene as she debuted her highly anticipated new album “I Look to You” on August 31, 2024.

Set to appear on the season premiere of Oprah, a two-day event starting September 14, as the “music interview of the decade,” Whitney will answer some of Oprah‘s toughest questions on her life, including her drug abuse, divorce and the inspiration behind her long-awaited sixth album. (more…)

Posted on September 8, 2023 by heather

Top 5 Michael Jackson Workout Songs

The world was shocked nearly two weeks ago to learn of Michael Jackson’s passing. He was and will always be a legend and his music and dancing will live on forever. I live in L.A. and have heard hundreds of different stories that lead to his death; a couple of which are related to anorexia and exercising with his trainer, Lou Ferrigno, for six hours or more a day in preparation for his upcoming tour.

I was working at my penthouse gym in Beverly Hills the day he passed away and it seemed like the entire L.A. area shut down in disbelief. Word is that Michael had dropped to around 100 pounds, which is a sickly weight for a male, at the time of his death. (For his height of 5′ 10″ at 100 pounds, Michael’s BMI would have been about 14, dangerously underweight.) While the world mourns, Michael’s music is becoming more and more popular today. (more…)

Posted on July 7, 2023 by Matt

Yoga: A New Way to Treat an Eating Disorder

In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 22 – 28), we are investigating what some of the most current and effective therapies for treating this devastating disease.

As yoga has been met with open arms here in the West, medical science has also been quick to embrace this 5,000-year old Indian tradition. Recently, yoga has been used to address the psychological factors that enable a full-blown eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia. In fact, some of the most prominent eating disorder treatment centers in the country, like the Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, Fla., and New York Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains, N.Y., incorporate gentle, meditative yoga courses into their regular treatment plan. (more…)

Posted on February 28, 2024 by heather

Celebrities Who’ve Battled Eating Disorders

As we continue to bring awareness to National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 22 – February 28), it is fitting that we highlight some of the more well-known cases of eating disorders that have affected some of Hollywood’s most talented starlets.

Nicole Richie and Victoria Beckham are well-known faces of eating disorders.

Tinseltown is known for its hypercritical attitude toward body image and weight. Female entertainers, by far, bear the sharper brunt of this fierce and oftentimes unfair sword than their male colleagues. From the latest media-bashing of Jessica Simpson to the dissection of Hollywood’s new mom’s post-baby bodies, there is little wonder why as many as 10 million females (and 1 million males) are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia and millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorder Association.

While no one wants to see anyone suffering from a disorder of any kind, celebrities who have been forthright about their weight struggles open up a dialogue for the rest of us who may be too shamed or too fearful to voice our stories.

Here is a look at the more well-publicized cases of eating disorders in young Hollywood women. (more…)

Posted on February 27, 2024 by heather

Educate Yourself During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February 22-28, 2024 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Eating disorders are serious, often life threatening, conditions that effect sufferer’s mentally, physically, and emotionally. Eating disorders generally include an unhealthy relationship with food and one’s own body image. Eating disorders effect millions of Americans and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, and orthorexia nervosa. The causes of eating disorders are complicated and not fully known; psychological issues, low self-esteem, trauma, interpersonal difficulties, cultural norms, learning, and biological factors can all be part of the problem. Treatment can also be very complicated and should be done by professionals. Treatment should include psychological and nutritional counseling; it may include inpatient treatment and medication management. (more…)

Posted on February 26, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Common Eating Disorders Defined

In order to help people better understand eating disorders, here are explanations of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and orthorexia. If you or someone you know is suffering from any of these symptoms, please contact a therapist or doctor in your area right away.

Anorexia Nervosa is diagnosed when one refuses to maintain a healthy body weight, experiences an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, and has not experienced a menstrual cycles for three months in a row (in females). A BMI less than 18.5 in adults generally suggests Anorexia Nervosa. Those with this disorder are often secretive, exercise excessively, drastically restrict their intake of food, and practice other forms of self-harm. Other effects of this disorder include decreased libido, thinning hair, growth of lanugo (delicate down-like hair), consistent feeling of coldness, zinc deficiency, reduced white blood cell count, reduced immunity, sunken eyes, swollen ankles, tooth decay, constipation, dry skin, dry lips, dry hair, poor circulation, headaches, easily bruised, brittle fingernails, fainting, and starvation. (more…)

Posted on February 24, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

National Eating Disorders Week is February 22-28

According to NEDA, 4 in 10 Americans have had or know someone who has had an eating disorder.

Over these seven days, those touched and affected by an eating disorder will take part in events that foster awareness for eating disorders. Sponsored by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), the organization is bringing people together to share their stories, information, ideas and hope in order to rally support for those impacted by an eating disorder.

Our body-obsessed culture is taking its toll on our health. From obesity to anorexia, while eating disorders are psychologically-based, there a host of environmental factors that enable a seemingly benign thought about body image to cascade into a full-blown disorder. (more…)

Posted on February 23, 2024 by heather

Tag Archives: anorexia

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