Latest news with #NationalEatingDisordersAwarenessWeek
Boston Globe
25-02-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
It's National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and it's more important than ever
Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up Meanwhile, social media is a double-edged sword. Yes, it offers more avenues for comparison and judgment — and unrealistic, doctored images on AI — but also more representations and narratives around diverse body shapes. Kids today are more exposed to language around body image than ever before, for better or for worse. Advertisement 'That's a small positive: There's more awareness. I think the younger generation are more aware of diet culture, fat-shaming, and body positivity. They get it in ways that our generation, and our parents' generation, did not,' says Emily Gordon, a clinical psychologist in Natick who specializes in adolescent eating disorders. Feb. 24-March 2 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I talked to Alperovitz and Gordon about what to know, and how to help, if you suspect your child struggles with body image and eating. On how eating disorders originate : McLean is participating in a large-scale study examining genetic predisposition to eating disorders. For now, the current understanding is that they're multifactorial: 'There's a biological component. There's a psychological component. And, clearly, there's a social cultural component as well,' Alperovitz says. 'There's more research to be done around the biology and really determining vulnerabilities through DNA.' Advertisement We do know that younger people are especially susceptible because their bodies are changing so rapidly; life in general often feels overwhelming, and restricting eating can be a way to assert control. 'We can't take control of all the things that are going on in the world, but weight and food lends itself really nicely to being able to count calories or monitor in quantitative ways. It gives folks a sense of taking some control over a world that may feel largely beyond them,' he says. Gordon sees patients whose eating disorders began because they were simply trying to boost confidence; eating healthfully was a self-esteem strategy that turned into a fixation. 'What happens is, people will turn to food and their body as a way of feeling good about themselves. We want people to have other ways of feeling good about themselves: People end up in trouble with an eating disorder when they've tried to be healthy, or they've tried to feel good, and then it's sort of gone awry. We really want to give people ways to regulate their systems, to express their feelings, and to not feel like they have to change themselves in order to be OK,' she says. On misconceptions around eating disorders: Eating disorders affect all sizes and genders. 'There's often a myth that eating disorders affect young, white, rich girls, not boys, and girls who are thin. That misses a lot,' Alperovitz says. 'Eating disorders affect people of all shapes, sizes, genders, sexual orientations, races. It really crosses the gamut. … They deserve support just as much as anyone.' On red flags: Be aware of how your kids approach their relationship to food. Do they restrict certain foods? Are they starting to avoid social situations for fear of judgment around body shape or size? Are they losing weight or avoiding certain places, like restaurants, to adhere to an eating plan? Advertisement 'Exercise and eating healthy aren't bad things. But if they become compulsive and exist at the expense of other things that are meaningful, such as seeing friends and family, or being able to go to a certain place, then we're really crossing a line,' Alperovitz says. Gordon looks for all-or-nothing thinking around food, and 'rigidity and lack of flexibility,' she says. 'It's so tricky, because in our culture, [eating healthfully] is idealized. Of course, we want people to be healthy. But when people start to do it in a rigid way, when people start cutting food out, when they start avoiding meals or snacks or having to exercise at the expense of other things in their lives,' there's a problem, she says. On encouraging neutral conversations around size: Gordon urges families to be aware of how they talk about bodies at home. It can be second nature to comment on someone's weight loss (especially with all the new drugs out there) or to remark that someone looks great if they've gotten thinner; the virtue of smallness is so ingrained in our culture. It's also important to talk to kids about what they see on social media. For instance, a friend's daughter recently shared an Instagram account for her high school where people post Prom dress photos so nobody will overlap an outfit. Even the most benign comments focused on how people looked. Give your kids a safe place to share what it feels like to look at those photos and comments, even if you can't solve the problem. Advertisement 'Ask: 'How does that make you feel when you see that? What do you think it's like for other kids?' We can engage with curiosity, and we can also have empathy. ... We can be there as a support and like a place for our kids to say, 'This is really hard,'' Gordon says. On how to address a potential eating disorder: Alperovitz stresses that there's often a secretive component to eating disorders; kids might not disclose an issue directly and won't respond well to confrontation. Parents can set a subtly productive tone by having 'an inclusive approach to food, and seeing all foods as part of a spectrum,' he says. Be aware of using judgment-driven labels such as 'junk food.' 'They may not have as much nutritional value, but they're food, and they shouldn't be pathologized as evil,' he says. Kids can internalize that. If so, their eating could become dangerously restrictive. 'There are eating disorders that evolve out of a pure effort to be healthy, which is a really good thing, but then evolve to a point where it's so restrictive that they're in trouble nutritionally,' he says. If you do notice a change in eating habits, he recommends approaching the issue directly, not at mealtime, from a place of curiosity. 'The more we walk on eggshells, the more we treat [an eating disorder] as a pathological thing that can't be talked about, and we almost reinforce secrecy around it. I would be kind, curious, and direct: 'Are you struggling? Are you missing things because of this?'' Hopefully, you can preempt an issue before it becomes severe, and your child will return to nourishing eating habits on their own. Providers encourage parents to look for small improvements: adding back in a restricted food; eating a bit more. Advertisement 'But, again, eating disorders can often be secretive and shame-based, and it may be hard to talk with parents about. It may be easier to talk to a therapist or a primary care doctor around their relationship with food and their bodies,' Alperovitz says. On finding help . Therapy can be hard to find. In Massachusetts, the Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association ( Looking for a podcast? Gordon likes 'Maintenance Phase,' 'Burnt Toast,' 'Food Psych,' 'ED Matters,' and 'The Eating Disorder Recovery Podcast.' And, if you're having a tough time finding a therapist who specializes in eating disorders, your child's primary care doctor is a good place to start. They can assess growth and evaluate overall health from a purely objective standpoint. Kara Baskin can be reached at
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Girard firefighter honored for 65 years of service
A.F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Company celebrated one of their own. Current Fire Police Captain Robert 'Doc' Orr was honored for 65 years of serving the Girard community. Doc Orr first started as a volunteer firefighter when he was 18 years old and now, even at 83-years-old he continues to go on emergency calls. Bicentennial Tower lighting up for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Whether it's a house fire, forest fire, EMS call, or even the delivery of a baby, Robert 'Doc' Orr has seen it all in his time as a first responder. It all started when he was 17, and before he was able to join the company. 'The chief of the fire police was always giving me the devil because I was chasing the fire trucks to a fire, or whatever. He said, 'Why don't you join the fire department?' I wasn't old enough, I was only 17. They didn't have junior firemen back then,' he said. And just a month before he turned 18, he put in his application so by his 18th birthday, he could be approved to join them. Erie coffee shops go cup-to-cup at Erie's Best Coffee competition In the time since Orr has held almost every title the department has to offer and has gone on thousands of calls. 'I've been the chief, assistant chief, deputy, all of that,' he said. He even fought forest fires across the country in his prime and to this day serves as a council member for the Borough of Girard, something he's done for 37 years now. Today, Orr is the captain of the fire police and even at 83, company officials told us he went on about 140 emergency calls last year alone. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Orr said he recognizes volunteerism is down and said young people need to carry the torch. 'We've got a lot of nice young people in the department. We're not really hurting for people, but we need more commitment of the younger people to carry on because lord knows we all aren't going to last forever,' he explained. Being a volunteer isn't just taxing on the member but their family as well. And his wife said they've done a lot to make it work. 'We've been married for 58 years and that's a commitment itself. I truly admire all of the things he's done for the community and I help wherever I can. We make a good team,' said Sue Orr, Doc's wife. FBI offering active shooter safety advice after weekend shooting 'Thanks to my wife for helping do everything in the fire department. She's backed me every minute of the way,' Doc went on to say. Doc said his fire hasn't gone out yet. As long as he continues to be in good health, he says he'll still do his part in keeping his community safe as he's done for a lifetime already. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bicentennial Tower lighting up for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
The Bicentennial Tower is lighting up this evening for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. White Pine Center for Healing is celebrating Eating Disorder Awareness Week in an effort to bring awareness, understanding, and support to a vast majority of community people who experience eating disorders. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health issue, second to opioid abuse. 'A person in this country dies from an eating disorder every 52 minutes. The top two causes of death are cardiac issues and suicide so these are serious serious mental health issues they're not a choice they're not a lifestyle they are a range of diseases that really affect the entire body,' said Mary Machuga the executive director of White Pine Center for Healing. The Bicentennial Tower will light up Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Greenspace Health and Project HEAL Announce an Educational Partnership to Drive Data-Driven Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ahead of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Greenspace Health and Project HEAL are launching an educational partnership to explore the impact of Measurement-Based Care (MBC) in delivering high-quality eating disorder treatment . This collaboration will examine how MBC enhances patient outcomes, improves treatment personalization, and ensures equitable access to care through real-time progress tracking and data-informed decision-making. To launch this initiative, the organizations will host a live educational webinar, 'Enhancing Eating Disorder Treatment: The Value and Impact of Measurement-Based Care.' This session will explore the role of Measurement-Based Care , demonstrating how technology-driven insights and real-time patient data elevates treatment effectiveness. EVENT DETAILS: Thursday, March 13, 2025 from 1pm – 2pm ET Link to Registration – Virtual Event via Zoom PANELISTS: Carsen Rhys Beckwith, Program Director from Project HEAL will moderate the session, highlighting key trends in the pursuit of high-quality and equitable eating disorder treatment. Jesse Hayman, Chief Growth Officer from Greenspace Health will introduce MBC and demonstrate how it is reshaping care delivery. Dr. Wendy Oliver Pyatt, Co-founder and CEO of Within Health and Galen Hope, will share insights on implementing the Greenspace MBC platform within ED services. In just five months Within Health has seen impressive results: 114 active patients have completed over 1,500 assessments , averaging 13 assessments per client . This has led to a 93% assessment completion rate, 81% therapeutic alliance, and 34% symptom improvement . Additionally, 21.67% of clients achieved reliable recovery on the PHQ-9 for depression , demonstrating MBC's potential to enhance long-term treatment success. 'We believe that everyone with an eating disorder should have the resources and opportunities they need to recover,' said Akiera Gilbert, CEO at Project HEAL. 'This partnership reflects our shared commitment to breaking down systemic barriers and expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based treatment for everyone on their recovery journey.' 'Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, yet they remain underrecognized and undertreated. Research shows that early recognition and intervention—especially within the first three years—are critical to recovery, while delays significantly worsen outcomes,' said J esse Hayman, Chief Growth Officer, Greenspace Health. 'This partnership is a crucial step in advancing early intervention and ensuring that individuals struggling with eating disorders receive the high-quality, personalized, and evidence-based care they deserve.' To learn more about Measurement-Based Care or to register for this webinar, please visit ABOUT GREENSPACE Greenspace transforms mental health services by improving the way that mental healthcare is accessed, measured and delivered. Their Measurement Platform enables mental health providers and organizations to implement consistent, evidence-based measurement (often referred to as routine patient-reported outcome measures or PROMs) into their practice. This model is proven to significantly improve patient results while generating valuable data for organizations to enhance their quality of care. Greenspace's MBC solutions have been implemented across over 500 community and private clinics, hospitals and healthcare systems, improving the patient experience and driving better-coordinated care and outcomes. To learn more about MBC, please visit ABOUT PROJECT HEAL Founded in 2008, Project HEAL is a national eating disorder nonprofit focused on creating equitable access to care. Their mission is to break down systemic, healthcare, and financial barriers to eating disorder treatment, and their vision is that everyone with an eating disorder has the resources and opportunities they need to recover. Through advocacy, research, cash assistance grants, free treatment placements, insurance navigation support, and now clinical assessment, Project HEAL helps low-income, underinsured, and often marginalized individuals access life-saving treatment - for free. ABOUT WITHIN HEALTH Within Health ( is the first comprehensive, remote eating disorder treatment provider created and supported by a team of clinical experts in the field, with treatment plans tailored to be accessible and personalized to meet each patient with the treatment they need when and where they need it. Within's clinical expertise is matched with advanced proprietary remote patient monitoring technology, offering a higher level of care and delivering intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial hospitalization program (PHP) eating disorder treatment services. Integrating individual therapy, remote patient monitoring, advanced nutrition therapy, and personalized meal support, this holistic approach is designed to halt the progression of eating disorders, avert relapses, and promote sustainable recovery. 604.603.0657 SOURCE: Greenspace Health Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/19/2025 08:32 AM/DISC: 02/19/2025 08:32 AM
