Eating disorders and disordered eating. Although the two terms are at times used interchangeably, they are not the same. Yes, there are some similarities between the two. Disordered eaters will often skip meals, follow restrictive fad diets, and even, fast for hours without eating. But who’s to say they’re not just doing this because they […]
In a world that remains hyper-fixated on appearance and idealized body image, the prevalence of eating disorders continues to be a concern in the medical and mental health community — in particular, the prevalence of eating disorders among women. While men and those who identify as male can certainly develop disordered eating, women are more […]
Have you ever thought about eating disorders? They are proven to be the silent killers for people who struggle with them, and the ugly truth is the fact that despite all the efforts, they are still being stigmatized by society, and pretty much underestimated when it comes to their seriousness. However, you should know that […]
I was a full-blown feminist by the time I started college. I also had a full-blown eating disorder. As a teen I marched on Washington for women’s rights. I put out a zine called Wonder Woman. I played drums (and by “played” I mean I aggressively and skill-lessly beat the shit out of a floor […]
A new study suggests that girls suffering from anorexia display similar personality traits to those with autism, such as lack of empathy, high focus on detail, and rigid behavior. In some instances, girls with anorexia scored five times higher in autistic qualities than non-anorexic girls on the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Simon Baron-Cohen [Is this person related […]
The number of people experiencing various mental illnesses continues to grow. Some experience only emotional symptoms, while others have physical symptoms tagging along as well, making the entire ordeal all the more challenging. Many mental illnesses still have unknown causes but, fortunately, most of them can be effectively treated. Take a look at the most […]
A few weeks ago, I was sitting at my boyfriend’s living room table, alone, in the middle of a weekday afternoon, my laptop open, trying to fend off both a cold and a bad mood. I was frustrated that I couldn’t pick amongst the multiple documents I had open that required my urgent attention, and […]
Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating… For some people, these words are just something they occasionally hear or read about in the media. But for millions of others around the world, these words make a terrible everyday reality. Eating disorders affect more than 10 million people only in the US, about 725,000 in the UK, […]
I recently signed up for six sessions with a personal trainer, LaMarcus, and told him my goals: get more toned and lose a few pounds. Then he weighed me. I clocked in at 125, and he asked me if that’s what I expected. “Yeah, but I’d prefer to be closer to 122,” I told him. […]
