Understanding Emotional Eating
Eating can be a psychological act. The term “emotional eating” is often thrown around with a negative connotation, but it can be misunderstood. There are numerous occasions in which eating is emotional: popcorn at the movie, corn dogs at the fair, ice cream with a friend, etc. We eat the foods we love, foods that […]
Signs of Eating Disorders in College-Aged Boys
An estimated eight million Americans suffer from eating disorders. One in eight of those are male. While eating disorders are more prevalent in girls, the potential for boys and young men to suffer from eating disorders should not be ignored. Teenage and college-aged boys, like girls, experience pressure to perform at school or sports, pressure […]
Importance of Sleep for College Students
Most adults in America, and even more so college students, are not getting the right amount of sleep each night. A sleep guide released by the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, reports that only 40% of adults get the right amount of sleep each night. Only 11% of college students surveyed met […]
Top Five Myths About Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is an eating disorder that is often misunderstood. By acting on misconceptions about the disorder, well-meaning parents or loved ones of an individual suffering from bulimia may inhibit recovery and healing. As with common myths and misconceptions about anorexia, myths about bulimia are devised for any number of reasons from simple ignorance to denial. […]
Sugar Addiction and the Brain
If you experience strong cravings for sugar, don’t pass them off as something to be ignored. Research has revealed that sugar shares some of the same addictive properties found in substances like nicotine and heroin. Foods that are high in sugar may actually trick your brain into consuming more. How sugar addiction works Addictive substances […]
Understanding Night Eating
Night Eating Syndrome has recently gained increased attention, as doctors are recognizing its connection to obesity. Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a type of food addiction defined by an unusual eating pattern in which an individual gets more than half of their daily caloric intake after 8pm. An individual suffering from NES will eat a […]
Four Tips for Creating Realistic New Year’s Resolutions
Forty to 45% of Americans will make a New Year’s Resolution this year. Surprisingly, come summer 2013, 40-46 % of those individuals will have been successful at keeping their resolutions, according to John Norcross, psychology professor at University of Scranton. Why do more than half of all people who make a New Year’s Resolution fail […]
If It’s Not One Thing, It’s Your Mother
All addictions, including food addictions, develop as a result of a delicate “dance” between an individual’s genetic predisposition and environmental inputs. Studies suggest that the percentage of genetic predisposition can be as high as 50%. This could sound like an alarming statistic until you consider the flip side of that same number – 50% of […]
5 Tips for Surviving Holiday Office Parties
‘Tis the season for holiday parties. While that may evoke joy and cheer for some, for individuals struggling with an eating disorder — be it food addiction, overeating, anorexia or bulimia — the thought of holiday parties can cause anxiety and stress. Particularly when it comes to office parties at work. If you suffer from […]
When Do You Need Inpatient Care for an Eating Disorder?
Eating disorders exist on a wide range of severity levels. Some people with eating disorders are able to maintain their lives with few symptoms or complications from their disease. Others have reached such an extreme level that the patient’s life is in clear danger. Treatment options for an eating disorder also range from regular therapeutic […]