Fighting eating disorders

Eating disorders are now affecting 8,000,000 people in the United States and 90% of them are women who are from every socioeconomic group. Research shows that 42% of first through third graders would like to be thinner and 81% of ten year olds are afraid they will be fat. Adolescents can develop eating disorders from ages 13 to 17 years old but it can be as young as 8 years old.

Adolescence is a time of emotional and physical changes in the body which can make them very vulnerable to eating disorders. This age group also faces academic stress and pressure from their peers to meet a certain standard to belong to their peer group. There is also the influence of the media and sports programs that influence their physical appearance.

Anorexia and Bulimia

The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Individuals with anorexia have an extreme fear of weight gain. They have a distorted view of their body size and will restrict food intake or exercise excessively. They will eat a minimal amount of calories and then obsess over what they have eaten. Bulimics will binge eat and then force themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or exercise excessively. Both are very similar but anorexics are very thin and underweight while the bulimic is a normal weight or can be over weight. Eating disorders will usually coincide with anxiety, depression, stress and substance abuse. They can also cause serious health problems that can lead to malnutrition and even death.

Treatment

Dr. Daniel le Grange of the University of Chicago has completed the first study in the United States on evaluating the treatment of eating disorders. His team found that family-based treatment was more effective than individual psychotherapy. Getting the family involved to support the adolescent was essential to the individual learning healthy weight-control behaviors.

If your adolescent is concerned about their weight you should avoid power struggles over food. Instead create a healthy lifestyle for your family. Involve them in planning and preparing healthy meals. Then make exercise a fun family activity that everyone can enjoy. If your adolescent continues to obsess about her appearance and weight then family counseling could be a positive intervention for your child.

Vitamin D and your health

During the winter season most of us will leave our homes before sunrise and it is dusk when we return. That leaves little time for us to be outdoors in the sunshine to obtain a natural supply of vitamin D. According to a new study released over 6 million or 1 in 5 American children may not be getting enough Vitamin D. This nutrient helps the body maintain a healthy calcium level, enhance immunity and prevent osteoporosis.


The November issue of Pediatrics published the study examining the blood levels of 5,000 children ages 1 to 11 years that represented the country’s population. They found that 20 percent tested below optimal levels. Humans obtain vitamin D primarily through sunshine, but low levels of light from November to March and the increased use of sunscreen have experts concerned. The study recommends that children are given a multi-vitamin that should include 400 IU of vitamin D as a supplement during the winter months.

Increasing your sun exposure for even 10 to 15 minutes a day can improve vitamin D deficiency. You can also adjust your diet to include more vitamin D foods such as beef, sardines, herring and salmon. There are also enriched vitamin D foods such as milk, bread and breakfast cereals. These recommendations apply to both children and adults so we can all have healthy bones and bodies.

Clear out the 'muck' in 2012

After storing the holiday decorations for another year, you may have promised yourself to clean out the clutter in your basements, attics, closets and home offices. If you are a recovering “clutter bug” and have difficulty determining what items you should keep or toss you might want to read the advice of this expert. Author Kathi Burns CPO wrote How to Master Your Muck! Get Organized, Add Space to Your Life, Live Your Purpose! She defines muck as “anything that keeps you limited, unproductive, unsuccessful or unfulfilled.”


Simplify your life


Author Ciji Ware of Rightsizing Your Life: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most wants us to follow the 80/20 rule. She states that you can safely let go of 80 percent of the papers that you’ve kept over the years. You can often find what information you need more quickly on the internet. It is faster and doesn’t create any clutter. Both authors believe it’s not just about clearing out the clutter but clarifying your life. Muck has been known to assault the human spirit by stealing your energy and creativity. It can clutter your home and office as well as your mind and your life. Growth requires space in your mind, body and spirit. Muck or clutter can hinder that growth.


Today workers in the United States spend six weeks a year looking for important documents. Employees waste 55 minutes daily looking for lost office supplies. Staff members can send and receive over 190 emails daily. Determine what muck you need to remove from your life. Small changes can energize you and bring clarity to your life. You will feel that your life is more manageable and your surroundings will reflect more of the individual that you are. Remove the muck from your life for a new perspective on life.

Persevere with your resolutions

A New Year’s resolution is a ritual of hope that can provide us with the opportunity to evaluate progress with our life goals or personal growth. Unfortunately, many of us will try to begin a resolution on January 1st when we are still eating unhealthy and are transitioning back into our regular routine. Eighty percent of people who try and begin their resolution on January 1st will fail to follow through with it by January 31st. If the resolution is focused on health and fitness goals, 90% will have quit by January 15th.

Persevere

Change involves sacrifice, motivation and willpower. Don’t focus on your past failures in 2011. That can overwhelm your thoughts with the negativity of debt accrued, pounds that were gained or relationships that failed. Begin by reviewing the positive aspects of your life. Think about things that you are proud of, what you are grateful for and how you have helped others in your life.

Start your resolution with small significant changes and build on each small success you experience. Set a goal to have a new experience every month this year. It can be as simple as going to a new restaurant each month, reading a book, taking a class or volunteering for a charity. Success with a simple goal will help to build confidence with a more challenging one. Reward yourself for each success. It doesn’t matter how long it takes for you to reach your goal as long as you continue to make progress.

Be fearless

Face your fears in 2012. You will become whatever your choices are, so be fearless this year. Each day you will get closer to obtaining your goal and when you begin to waiver on your resolution use your support system to help you persevere. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.” Eleanor Roosevelt