Kicking Off NEDAwareness Week 2014

So there's this really awesome thing is going on this week hosted by an incredible organization. It's called NEDAwareness Week by National Eating Disorder Assoctaion (NEDA). Aside from being an incredible force for raising awareness, NEDA also has a helpline, screening tools, and information not only for those sufferering and those in recovery, but also parents, siblings, peers, coaches, and teachers. I participate in NEDAwareness Week last year and loved it! I met some incredible people, made lifelong friends, and gained awesome resources to pass along. 

This year's theme is "Get In The Know"

 Get In The Know(from NEDA's site)

Our Theme: "I Had No Idea"

This year's NEDAwareness Week theme is "I Had No Idea" to raise awareness towards the significant impact eating disorders have on individuals, families, and communities across the nation. The more people who learn about these life-threatening illnesses, the more lives we can save. Last year, 100% of U.S. states hosted NEDAwareness Week events and activities. Additionally, 51 international countries participated in raising awareness. This year we strive to surpass these numbers, and have everyone get in the know and do just one thing to raise awareness!

Our Mission

The aim of NEDAwareness Week is to ultimately increase outreach and awareness of eating disorders and body image issues, while reducing the stigma surrounding eating disorders and improving access to treatment resources. Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening illnesses - not choices - and it's important to recognize the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape the disorder.

What is NEDAwareness Week?

NEDAwareness Week is a collective effort of volunteers, including eating disorder professionals, health care providers, students, educators, social workers, organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness of eating disorders.  The impact of increased outreach efforts leads to a greater chance of people seeking out resources and help for an eating disorder, which ultimately saves lives.

What are the Key Messages of NEDAwareness Week?

This year the National Eating Disorders Association is stressing the need to address eating disorder misconceptions - as many individuals, families, and communities are not aware of the often devastating mental and physical consequences - and highlights available resources for treatment and support. We urge you to talk about the pressures, attitudes and behaviors that shape these disorders with your family, friends, colleagues and community by doing just one thing during NEDAwareness Week. Learn more about the key messages for 2014 NEDAwareness Week and share with others so they can get in the know!

How NEDAwareness Week Works

NEDA asks everyone to do just one thing to help raise awareness and provide accurate information about eating disorders. NEDAwareness Week participants can choose from a huge range of ways to get involved: Distribute info pamphlets and put up posters, register as a Volunteer Speaker or host a Volunteer Speaker, post information on Facebook, or plan interactive and educational events like a community meeting, panel discussion, Barbie event, movie screening, art exhibit and more.

As a NEDAwareness Week participant you can be involved in any way that works with your schedule, resources, community, and interests.  These events and activities are vital to attracting public media attention - on local, national and international levels. 

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening conditions that affect both a person’s emotional and physical health. In the United States alone, 30 million people will be impacted by an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. These conditions affect all kinds of people and don’t discriminate by race, age, sex, age or size.

If you or someone you care about might be suffering from an eating disorder, it is important to educate yourself and seek professional guidance as soon as possible because early intervention is key to successful recovery.

This page will provide a basic information about eating disorders, outlines how to spot a problem early and offers suggestions on how to talk to someone who is struggling.

Still have questions? Check out their FAQ section 

***This week I will be posting on here, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for NEDAwareness Week. I invite and encourage everyone to share this information. Widely! Check out NEDA's site. Take the screening test - it's 100% anonymous, free, quick, and completely online. Don't be afraid to call the help line.

CALL THE HELPLINE NOW

Call NEDA's toll-free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Thursday from 9:00 am - 9:00 pm 

and Friday from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (EST)

1-800-931-2237

Body Confidence

Body Confidence - That's kind of an oxymoron to me... Mix in a young child and the prospect of instilling this illusive psyche and well, that thought alone is more than a little daunting. In the back of my mind, I am always worrying that my children will inherit the body image issues of their parents (more on that later). In truth, I believe that there is a significant genetic link, but that in itself is an entire post. So here are some helpful tips and hints I have found from various sources that are helping me: Compliment all of their good qualities, not just their looks. Applaud their abilities and accomplishments. Expose them to sports, art, charities, etc. Teach about puberty before it happens This is daunting for me. Not a full-on birds-and-bees conversation but an age-appropriate informative discussion.

Project confidence when explaining everything. I you are uncomfortable, tell them that!

Be open and honest. Placing a taboo on this subject matter will shut down communication lines and could instill the assumption that what their body is going through is something embarrassing and gross.

Luckily, my kids are not here yet. A great resource for them to have is "The Girl's Body Book - Everything you need to know for growing up you" this is a great book with very helpful information. 

There is also an equally valuable Boys Body Book. They both cover hygiene, parents, friends, dating, bffs, body image, body changes, school/grades, nutrition, fitness, siblings, sex, relationships, peer pressure, and more. Everything is laid out in a frank manner.

Explain the difference between fantasy and reality. Some people go so far as to say that you shouldn't allow princess stories or video games because they establish a false sense of reality. This seems a bit far fetched to me. As long as they understand that these things are pretend (fantasy), then why should their play be restricted? The imagination is a powerful tool that is shaped during childhood. 

Recent tests have shown that having a well developed imagination is directly linked to success later in life. By making fantasy off-limits you are stripping away their intellect. 

Point out positive role models. Instead of waiting for your child to notice someone of importance (usually due to media publicity), point them out yourself. Some good examples: a community volunteer who goes above and beyond, a devoted parent or teacher, a service member... You get the idea. 

 Don't dismiss sexism - Ive always been against imposing gender stereotypes. Boys can wear pink (its just color, like any other color), girls can play with trucks (they're fun!), etc. When you see sexism, address it with your child. If someone implies that dads work and moms stay home (boys don't do ballet, or whatever), don't reinforce the ideology by ignoring it.  

Focus on being healthy, NOT slim!!! Some fantastic resources that I encourage everyone to check out:

Operation Beautiful

The mission of Operation Beautiful is to post anonymous notes in public places for other people to find.  The point is that WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL. You are enough... just the way you are! 

 Their goal: to end negative self-talk 

How it started: A woman decided to leave a positive message for others on the mirrors in public restrooms. 

Join the mission! All you need is piece of paper and a pen. Snap a pic of your note and email it Operation Beautiful with a bit about your experience. Here's a couple of pics sent in to Operation Beautiful:

 

Fit vs Fiction Marci Warhaft-Nadler's “Fit vs. Fiction” program, Marci visits schools and discusses all the misinformation and negative, inaccurate messages that we are bombarded with on a daily basis. 

She also has a Fit vs Fiction blog 

The current childhood obesity epidemic has led to a closer examination of our country's health/fitness habits. Many people have become so consumed with the obesity part of childhood obesity that they fail to see the other side of this epidemic: Eating Disorders. Eating Disorders that are responsible for both weight gain and weight loss. Marci lays out a great list of statistics, including many that I have been telling people about for quite some time. Sadly, many just don't seem to get it. Maybe her list will hit harder (here's hoping)

Her blog is wonderful! Every time I am sent an email notification of a new post I am always eager to read it. 

Several studies have revealed some very SCARY facts: 

Girls as young as 6 and 7 are already worried about getting fat. 25% of them have already dieted. 

81% of 10-year-old have already been on a diet. 

Average-weight girls and overweight girls are just as likely to be on diets. 

By the age of 13, 50% to 70% of girls believe they are overweight. 

Young girls look to peers and parents as role models. They often first hear about diets at home. 

Some girls are afraid of playing sports, for fear of “bulking up” 

Most young women feel significantly worse about themselves after reading a fashion magazine. 

NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) 

NEDA's Mission NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care. NEDA envisions a world without eating disorders. On their website you will find many helpful links and a wealth of information. There are also events, fundraisers, volunteer and intern opportunities, outreach programs, testimonials, research findings,recovery resources, family and friends sections, and so much more.

 ***NEDAwareness Week***  - the largest education and outreach effort on eating disorders in the United States, taking place February 24-March 2, 2013. The theme is "Everybody Knows Somebody" Find out more info here. If that is even just a little bit helpful, then I am so happy. If not, I'm sorry for rambling on - I do that a lot.

NEDA Awareness Week

Through my own (miss)adventures down the rabbit hole and the multiple journeys back, I have gotten to know NEDA. 

NEDA is the official Eating Disorder Association and it is wonderful. Over the years I have been to many sites that are geared towards this audience but I have never found one as indispensable as NEDA. Their information is unmatched, as is their resources. This is not just an organization for those afflicted, it is a place for everyone. Moms, dads, siblings, friends, men, women, young, old, and everything in between. 

Eating disorders do not discriminate. This week is NEDAwareness Week. 

The purpose of this week is to gain awareness and educate as many people as possible. Their theme is Everyone Knows Someone. How true! I wanted to do a special post(s) for this event, but once again had my dates mixed up. I didn't realize until yesterday that NEDAwareness is this week! 

Confession: I'm totally throwing this together at the last minute. 

Something that I have always found incredibly disturbing is the blind ignorance that people have towards eating disorders. I know that for me, I was petrified of very notion that I might have an eating disorder. I watched the health class videos and the after-school specials. I knew I wasn't the stereotype. Yet, I was so scared of anyone even thinking I might have one - not because I would be pressured to get better, but because of the negative view towards these disorders and myths that entangle them. I aim to help clear that up. 

Eating disorders do not discriminate! The portrayal of a young (usually white) female with poor self-esteem is very inaccurate. Men are afflicted just as women are. Every age bracket suffers - the very young, very old, and every age in between.

Everyone's battle is unique. The only thing that is a constant is the danger. A paper by Papadopoulos studied more than 6000 individuals with AN over 30 years using Swedish registries. Overall people with anorexia nervosa had a six fold increase in mortality compared to the general population. Reasons for death include starvation, substance abuse, and suicide. Importantly the authors also found an increase rate of death from ‘natural’ causes, such as cancer. Source: NEDA By: Walter Kaye, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Director, UCSD Eating Disorder Research and Treatment Program, University of California, San Diego One thing that is probably the most alarming to me (especially now, as a mother) is the upward trend that has steadily kept building. 

By age 6, girls especially start to express concerns about their own weight or shape. 40-60% of elementary school girls (ages 6-12) are concerned about their weight or about becoming too fat. This concern endures through life (Smolak, 2011). 

 

These diseases are serious business! Complications of Anorexia Nervosa:

• Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
• Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
• Muscle loss and weakness.
• Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
• Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
• Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common.
• Growth of a downy layer of hair—called lanugo—all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm.

A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder (Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales, & Nielsen, 2011). Complications of Bulimia Nervosa

• Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death.
• Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium,sodium and chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors.
• Potential for gastric rupture during periods of binging.
• Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting.
• Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting.
• Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse.
• Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis.

Complications of Binge Eating Disorder (BED):

• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol levels.
• Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels.
• Type II diabetes mellitus.
• Gallbladder disease.

There are other, atypical eating disorders like EDNOS  (eating disorder not other-wise specified**)  orthorexia, and diubulimia. 

**DSM has officially changed the EDNOS term and criteria to better diagnose the "gray area" category of eating disorders that many fall into. I will be writing a post on this later (8/13)

For more information on specific topics visit their Articles section. 

There is also a database of support groups/networks as well as recourse links 

 NEDA also provides free, online screenings and a click to chat feature in the help and support section. 

 

Eating Disorder Links and Resources

 

NEDA - (National Eating Disorder Association) 

Operation Beautiful 

Something Fishy 

MGEDT - (Men Get Eating Disorders Too) 

Eating Disorder Hope  

Fit vs Fiction 

Recovery Warriors (paper.li Recovery Warriors) 

Voice in Recovery (twitter: @VoiceinRecovery)

Advocacy Aspirations

Day 5 for the WEGO Health blog challenge is Aspirations. 

 We are supposed to write what our dream activism aspirations are. No limitations - money, time, health, or otherwise. We are told to dream BIG! 

Wow, no limitations? Really? That should make it easier, but it doesn't. I've become so used to my limitations that its hard for me to think outside of them. After a while, I started to grasp the idea and actually formed something - and through that "dreaming big" I was able to find things that were actually with in my limitations. Coolness. Identifying these aspirations helped me realize what I really want to advocate about and what isn't all that important to me. 

Chronic illness - yeah, I have them and they suck. I have battled them for years. Yet, I know so many other people who are doing an amazing job advocating for them that I don't really feel the need to (Living With Bob and Just Mildly Medicated, I'm talking about you!) That leaves me with EDs and special needs. These are equally important to me. I watched my family struggle to provide what my sister needed (wheelchairs, specialized therapy, modified housing and vehicles, etc) and I know how hard it is. My ED almost took my life. The fact that it was so heavily influenced by the chronic illnesses I faced made it much harder to be properly treated. My Advocacy Aspirations ED (in order from most realistic to Dream Big No Limitations)

• Gain blog traffic
• Meet other advocates
• Be able to pay some bills with my blog
• Link up with NEDA and participate in events and
• Speak at events
• Host an event
• Link people together with organizations who can help
• Help place people in treatment centers/ help fund their treatment (it's ridiculously expensive and most insurances don't cover them)
• Start a charity or program of some kind

Special Needs (same order minus the "blog" stuff because, well, it's the same blog)

• Raise awareness
• Link families together with local resources and support networks - and through that, help families obtain those critical things that are so hard to get: wheelchairs, therapy, lifts, prosthetics, braces, etc.
• Link families together with enrichment organizations/events (recreational, fun stuff)
• Help my mom start her non-profit

A Dangerous Blind Spot

As NEDAwareness week wraps up, I'd like to leave you with one last post. 

 *Note: I do plan to add other posts pertaining to this subject well after this week is over ;) 

There is a lot of attention on the current childhood obesity epidemic that seems to not only over shadow another epidemic, but fuel it altogether. 

In a CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) article from 2004, Dr. Joan M. Johnston addresses the push towards eliminating childhood obesity upon receiving a package as part of an obesity-awareness campaign for family physicians and pediatricians. 

She writes: "I am disgusted by the cavalier disregard for eating disorders exhibited in the medico-cultural war against obesity." 

This publication had ZERO mention of eating disorders. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that BED (binge eating disorder) is infact an actual eating disorder. Am I wrong? Did this phenomenon occur purely out of poorly educated choices, or is this much more complex issue than the health industry would like us to think? It is beyond ignorant to think that anyone in America who is overweight (or has a child who is) doesn't already have a plethora of information regarding the issue or, even worse, doesn't already know they are over weight. Johnston later sums up this eating disorder blind spot by stating that "For such individuals, launching a frontal assault on the symptom (obesity) instead of dealing with the underlying cause (the eating disorder) may simply catalyze the transformation of their disorder into anorexia or bulimia nervosa." 

The quick fix of caloric intake vs expenditure will have devastating results. With out addressing the person as a whole and just focusing on the numbers we set up for poorer health. It doesn't take very long before you are so far down the rabbit hole that you realize the "control" you thought you had was just a mirage (remember: most EDs are not about the food or the weight,they are much more complex than that). 

Up to 20% of those lost in wonderland will die from their eating disorder. That is a number far HIGHER than the risk of death from diabetes or heart disease related to obesity. Johnston sums up with "By adding the official voice of family physicians and pediatricians to the consumerist messages already bombarding them about diet and exercise, we will be endorsing the exploitative purveyors of these messages. We will be telling our kids that they are not okay, and we will drive many of them into the waiting arms of anorexia and bulimia." Combine that knowledge with the fact that this was in 2004 and both the health-care industry and our government's attention to this issue has increased exponentially while still having this blind spot is terrifying.

In today's Huff Post Parents an article spot lights a school who sent home "fat letters" to all students with an elevated BMI. 

Seriously, I can't even go into detail about this article because it is so maddening. PLEASE follow the link and see for yourself. BMI and I have been long-time enemies. It is purely height in relation to weight and does NOT account for muscle mas or bone structure. In another insightful article, Time Magazine's website (Time Ideas) that was published last Thursday focuses on this issue and adds some great points: "promoting healthy eating, regardless of one’s weight or age, seems like a positive thing on the surface. But here’s the potential downside: We know kids and teens react differently than adults to external pressures like persistent messaging. Sometimes these pressures can translate into incredible waves of anxiety and fear. At the extreme, a healthy-weight youth could be pushed to monitor his weight more frequently or even begin an unsupervised diet — behaviors that might represent an impending eating disorder." As someone who started out trying be healthy and wound up almost dead, I can't stress the truth in this statement enough. There is no doubt that the current level of obesity in this country is alarming and needs to be addressed, I just feel that there MUST be a better way than how we're doing it now.