Though Binge Eating Disorder (BED) was just categorized as an eating disorder in 2013, it is more common in the U.S. than anorexia and bulimia combined, with considerable evidence it is three times as prevalent. Maybe you have a mental picture of who suffers from BED: the “headless fatty” [showing obese bellies and lower body […]
Males don’t present like females with eating disorders
This statistic is false – males make up one in 10 of those with an eating disorder. But it’s the statistic most frequently quoted in the media. Why? Because this number represents the percentage of males seeking treatment. The reality is males make up at least 1 in 4 of those with anorexia and bulimia […]
Talking about LBGTQ, BDD, and ED (but not GD)
Lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer people have long united using the acronym LGBTQ. Though their specific identities may differ, these groups share a common struggle for change that will benefit all involved. Sadly, members of this community share more than a struggle to attain equal rights. Body image issues and eating disorders impact LGBTQ […]
You have to risk a lot to recover from an eating disorder
When clients first come in for treatment at our program, they are palpably nervous. It happens without fail. Many will hypothesize the nerves comes from social anxiety, being surrounded by all these new people in treatment with them. But it’s much more. The anxiety stems from six essential risks associated with treatment of an eating […]
When “Clean Eating” Goes Too Far
While you may have never heard of the term orthorexia, chances are that you’ve recently seen a magazine headline or social media posting about “clean eating” in the last 24 hours. From green smoothies to three-day cleanses to Paleo diets, we all seem to be obsessed with the latest trend that claims to be the […]
Recovery looks like this
Want to know what the biggest fear of being recovered from an eating disorder is? The shape of one’s body when they are recovered. They desperately want to know, “What does recovery look like?” The reality is we don’t know for each person. But what we can absolutely talk about is what recovery looks like […]
Where Does Joy Come From? | The Body Image Center
I’m here with my son at his drum lesson. And you know what I don’t see? Frowns. Not one kid has a frown. As I was walking in from the parking lot, there was one little girl, barely 4 feet tall, carrying her drumsticks in one hand and holding her father’s hand in the other. […]
A simple list of Thanks
There are going to be a lot of articles published this week about how to survive the stress of Thanksgiving while you’re struggling with an eating disorder. I thought about writing one too, but kept coming back to one simple thought. When we work with individuals who have eating disorders, the biggest tool we have […]
Transgender stories
Sexuality and gender identification one of the most intimate self-exploratory journeys a person can go through. It’s challenging enough for the average teen to deal with your changing pubertal body, changing voice, boys and girls no longer having cooties, raging hormones, unexplainable feelings and mood swings, etc. Now image adding the extra element of trying […]
Binge behavior: it’s more than just the food
While we are certainly known for our binge eating disorder treatment program in Howard County, we recognize that many folks come to us looking for treatment for other compulsive behaviors. Those may include compulsive spending, sex, and the like. All of this comes down to one term: binge behavior. The purpose of binge behavior is […]