ScienceDaily: Eating Disorder News

Sexual harassment linked to 'purging' -- in men

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:43:43 EDT

Men who experience high levels of sexual harassment are much more likely than women to induce vomiting and take laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to control their weight, according to a surprising finding.

Rethinking treatment goals improves results for those with persistent anorexia

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:24:24 EDT

Patients with severe and enduring anorexia nervosa stuck with treatments in a clinical trial and made significant improvements with just a slight modification of the standard goals and methods of care. Participants reported improved quality of life, mood and social adjustment.

The biology behind binge eating

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:13:13 EDT

Female rats are much more likely to binge eat than male rats, according to new research that provides some of the strongest evidence yet that biology plays a role in eating disorders.

Binge eating curbed by deep brain stimulation in animal model

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 21:17:17 EDT

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in a precise region of the brain appears to reduce caloric intake and prompt weight loss in obese animal models, according to a new study.

Brain imaging studies reveal neurobiology of eating disorders

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:15:15 EDT

Walter Kaye, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. and colleagues are beginning to be use advanced brain imaging technologies to study and improve eating disorder treatments.

Unhealthy eating can make a bad mood worse

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:27:27 EDT

Taking part in unhealthy eating behaviors may cause women who are concerned about their diet and self-image to experience a worsening of their moods, according to researchers.

Deep brain stimulation shows promise for patients with chronic, treatment resistant anorexia nervosa

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:08:08 EST

In a world first, a team of researchers has shown that deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with chronic, severe and treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa (anorexia) helps some patients achieve and maintain improvements in body weight, mood, and anxiety.

Peer pressure trumps 'thin' ideals in the media

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:36:36 EST

Peers exert a greater influence on teenage girls' dissatisfaction with their bodies than do thin ideals in television or social media use, according to new research.

'Connection error' in brains of anorexics

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:15:15 EST

Researchers have found altered connectivity in the brain network for body perception in people with anorexia: The weaker the connection, the greater the misjudgement of body shape.

Perfectionism and eating disorders: Complex issue

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:20:20 EST

Two aspects of perfectionism are involved in body dissatisfaction and the development of eating disorders, according to a new study. Adaptive perfectionism is high standards driving a person towards achieving a goal body image, and maladaptive perfectionism is concerned with mistakes and other people’s opinions.

Secretive food concocting: New characteristic of binge eating identified

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:07:07 EST

A new study suggests food concocting -- the making of strange food mixtures like mashed potatoes and Oreo cookies, frozen vegetables mixed with mayonnaise, and chips with lemon, pork rinds, Italian dressing and salt -- is common among binge eaters. The findings reveal that 1 in 4 survey participants secretly create concoctions.

Binge eating, overeating may be associated with initiating use of marijuana, other drugs

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:36:36 EST

Overeating and binge eating may be associated with initiating use of marijuana and other drugs in a study of adolescents and young adults.

Eating disorders in teens: Could the emergency room be a good place to spot them?

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:21:21 EST

Could the emergency room be a good place to spot undiagnosed eating disorders among teens, and help steer them to treatment? A new study suggests that could be the case.

New bulimia treatment developed

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:14:14 EST

An eating disorders research team has developed a successful bulimia nervosa therapy that can provide patients an alternative for treating this debilitating disorder.

More plus-size models could change women’s obsession with thin bodies

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:01:01 EST

Women's obsession for thin bodies could potentially be changed if advertising showed more plus size models, suggests a preliminary study.

This is your brain on food: Studies reveal how diet affects brain functions

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:17:17 EDT

New studies explore the neurological component of dietary disorders, uncovering evidence that the brain's biological mechanisms may contribute to significant public health challenges -- obesity, diabetes, binge eating, and the allure of the high-calorie meal.

Link between creativity and mental illness confirmed in large-scale Swedish study

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:49:49 EDT

People in creative professions are treated more often for mental illness than the general population, there being a particularly salient connection between writing and schizophrenia, according to researchers whose large-scale Swedish registry study is the most comprehensive ever in its field.

Pro-anorexic bloggers interviewed

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 11:08:08 EDT

A new research study suggests there may be benefits to the controversial activities of "pro-ana" bloggers, the online community for people with eating disorders. Most of the 33 bloggers from seven countries interviewed for the study said their writing activities provide a way to express themselves without judgment, which the authors believe can be crucial to their treatment.

Girls with eating disorders regain healthy fatty acid levels when their weight normalizes

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:48:48 EDT

A study of teenage girls with eating disorders has shown that reduced essential fatty acid levels returned to normal once the girls increased their weight to a healthy level.

Childless women with fertility problems at higher risk of hospitalization for psychiatric disorders

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:44:44 EDT

Based on the largest cohort of women with fertility problems compiled to date, Danish investigators have shown that women who remained childless after their first investigation for infertility had more hospitalizations for psychiatric disorders than women who had at least one child following their investigation.

Binge eating improves with deep brain stimulation surgery

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:25:25 EDT

Deep brain stimulation reduces binge eating in mice, suggesting that this surgery, which is approved for treatment of certain neurologic and psychiatric disorders, may also be an effective therapy for obesity.

Eating disorder behaviors and weight concerns are common in women over 50

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:09:09 EDT

Eating disorders are commonly seen as an issue faced by teenagers and young women, but a new study reveals that age is no barrier to disordered eating. In women aged 50 and over, 3.5 percent report binge eating, nearly eight percent report purging, and more than 70 percent are trying to lose weight. The study revealed that 62 percent of women claimed that their weight or shape negatively impacted on their life.

Role of cellular protein demonstrated in regulation of binge eating

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:40:40 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated in experimental models that blocking the Sigma-1 receptor, a cellular protein, reduced binge eating and caused binge eaters to eat more slowly.

Brain circuitry is different for women with anorexia and obesity

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:16 EDT

Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? Researchers have now shown that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women.

Pleasure eating triggers body's reward system and may stimulate overeating

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:34:34 EDT

When eating is motivated by pleasure, rather than hunger, endogenous rewarding chemical signals are activated which can lead to overeating, according to a recent study. The phenomenon ultimately affects body mass and may be a factor in the continuing rise of obesity.

Binge eating may lead to addiction-like behaviors

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:18:18 EDT

A history of binge eating -- consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time -- may make an individual more likely to show other addiction-like behaviors, including substance abuse, according to researchers. In the short term, this finding may shed light on the factors that promote substance abuse, addiction, and relapse. In the long term, may help clinicians treat individuals suffering from this devastating disease.

Family life study reveals key events that can trigger eating disorders

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:56:56 EDT

Eating disorders can be triggered by lack of support following traumatic events such as bereavement, relationship problems, abuse and sexual assault, according to new research. Even changing school or moving home can prove too much for some young people and lead to conditions such as anorexia or bulimia.

Antipsychotic drug may be helpful treatment for anorexia nervosa

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:20:20 EDT

Low doses of a commonly used atypical antipsychotic drug improved survival in a mouse model of anorexia nervosa, researchers have recently reported. The result offers promise for a common and occasionally fatal eating disorder that currently lacks approved drugs for treatment.

Two genes do not make a voter

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:11:11 EST

Voting behavior cannot be predicted by one or two genes as previous researchers have claimed, according to a professor of public policy and political science.

School obesity programs may promote worrisome eating behaviors and physical activity in kids

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:12:12 EST

A new report examines the possible association between school-based childhood obesity prevention programs and an increase in eating disorders among young children and adolescents. In a new poll, 30% of parents report at least one worrisome behavior in their children that could be associated with the development of eating disorders.

Experts urge BMI method for calculating weight in kids with eating disorders

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:18:18 EST

Researchers compared three common methods for calculating expected body weight of adolescents with eating disorders and found that the body mass index percentile method is recommended for clinical and research purposes.

Decades-old treatment guidelines for anorexia challenged

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:57:57 EST

Adolescents hospitalized with anorexia nervosa who receive treatment based on current recommendations for refeeding fail to gain significant weight during their first week in the hospital, according to a new study.

New approach to management of overeating in children

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:58:58 EST

Overeating, whether in children or adults, often takes place even in the absence of hunger, resulting in weight gain and obesity. Current methods to treat such overeating in youth focus on therapies that restrict what kids may eat, requiring them to track their food intake and engage in intensive exercise. Psychiatrists are now developing new ways to treat overeating in children and adults.

Do deficits in brain cannabinoids contribute to eating disorders?

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:52:52 EDT

A new report suggests that deficits in endocannabinoid function may contribute to anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Endocannabinoids are substances made by the brain that affect brain function and chemistry in ways that resemble the effects of cannabis derivatives, including marijuana and hashish. These commonly abused drugs are well known to increase appetite, i.e., to cause the "munchies." Thus, it makes sense that deficits in this brain system would be associated with reduced appetite.

Study shows why underrepresented men should be included in binge eating research

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:12:12 EDT

Binge eating is a disorder which affects both men and women, yet men remain underrepresented in research. A new study has found that the medical impact of the disorder is just as damaging to men as it is to women, yet research has shown that the number of men seeking treatment is far lower than the estimated number of sufferers

Atypical antipsychotics appear to be effective for only few off-label uses, study suggests

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:16:16 EDT

A review of previous studies suggests that even though atypical antipsychotic medications are commonly used for off-label conditions such as behavioral symptoms of dementia, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, these medications are effective for only a few off-label conditions, and that the benefits and harms of these medications for these uses vary, according to a new article.

Research into eating disorders and fertility reveals mixed picture

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:18:18 EDT

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are associated with fertility problems and negative attitudes to pregnancy, according to a new study. The research also revealed high rates of unplanned pregnancies in women with a history of anorexia, suggesting they may be underestimating their chances of conceiving.

School obesity-prevention curriculum can reduce medical costs

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:14:14 EDT

Teaching middle-school children about nutrition and exercise and encouraging them to watch less TV can save the health care system a substantial amount of money, suggests a new economic analysis.

New study sheds light on role of genetics in recovering from eating disorders

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:35:35 EDT

A substantial number of people with eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa have a chronic course. They are severely underweight and have a high likelihood of dying from malnutrition. No treatment has been found that helps people who are chronically ill. Now, a new study sheds light on the reason that some people have poor outcome.

Evidence for 'food addiction' in humans

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:40:40 EDT

New research suggests that people can become dependent on highly palatable foods and engage in a compulsive pattern of consumption, similar to the behaviors we observe in drug addicts and those with alcoholism.

Eating disorders impact brain function, new brain research suggests

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:49:49 EDT

Bulimia nervosa is a severe eating disorder associated with episodic binge eating followed by extreme behaviors to avoid weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or excessive exercise. It is poorly understood how brain function may be involved in bulimia. A new study examined the brain response to a dopamine related reward-learning task in bulimic and healthy women.

Patients with eating disorders have an elevated rate of death

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:46:46 EDT

Individuals who have eating disorders have an elevated mortality rate, especially those with anorexia nervosa, according to a meta-analysis of previous studies.

Pregnancy-related depression linked to eating disorders and abuse histories

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:30:30 EDT

Having a history of eating disorders or abuse may increase a woman's risk for developing depression during and after pregnancy, according to new research. The finding could influence how doctors screen patients during prenatal visits.

Children as young as ten vomit to lose weight, with highest rates in boys

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:18:18 EDT

Children as young as ten are making themselves vomit in order to lose weight and the problem is more common in boys than girls. 13% of the 8,673 girls and 7,043 boys who took part in the research admitted they made themselves sick to lose weight. But the figures were much higher in younger children, with 16% of 10-12 year-olds and 15% of 13-15 year-olds vomiting. The figures fell to 8% in 16-18 year-olds. The study of 120 schools also found that 16% of the boys made themselves sick, compared with 10% of the girls.

High amounts of the hormone leptin are linked to decreased depression

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:23:23 EDT

Women who have higher levels of the appetite-controlling hormone leptin have fewer symptoms of depression, and this apparent inverse relationship is not related to body mass index (BMI), a new study finds.

Anorexic girls have increased bone density after physiological estrogen treatment, study finds

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:20:20 EDT

Estrogen therapy improves low bone density due to anorexia nervosa in teenage girls with the disease when given as a patch or as a low oral dose that is physiological (close to the form or amount of estrogen the body makes naturally), according to a new study.

People with body-image disorders process 'big picture' visual information abnormally

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:15:15 EDT

People suffering from body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD -- a severe mental illness characterized by debilitating misperceptions that they appear disfigured and ugly -- process visual information abnormally, even when looking at inanimate objects. The findings are an important step in developing treatments to change their self-perceptions.

Does eating give you pleasure, or make you anxious?

Fri, 20 May 2011 09:27:27 EDT

While most people have a great deal of difficulty in dieting and losing weight, particularly if a diet extends over many months or years, individuals with anorexia nervosa can literally diet themselves to death. In fact, this disorder has a very high death rate from starvation. A new study sheds light on why these symptoms occur in anorexia nervosa.

Spring babies face anorexia risk, study suggests

Wed, 04 May 2011 14:50:50 EDT

Anorexia nervosa is more common among people born in the spring, a new study has found. The researchers say their study -- which is the largest to date -- provides 'clear evidence' of a season-of-birth effect in anorexia.

When washing becomes a compulsion

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:13:13 EDT

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often diagnosed too late in children and adolescents. Experts point out that appropriate early recognition and treatment can positively affect the course of the disease.

Researchers tie Parkinson's drugs to impulse control problems

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:41:41 EDT

Researchers found that dopamine agonists used in treating Parkinson's disease result in impulse control disorders in as many as 22 percent of patients.

Prevalence of eating disorders among adolescents studied

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:18:18 EST

Eating disorders are prevalent in the general US adolescent population and are associated with other psychiatric disorders, role impairment and suicidality, according to a new article

Binge eaters' dopamine levels spike at sight, smell of food

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:43:43 EST

A brain-imaging study reveals a subtle difference between ordinary obese subjects and those who compulsively overeat, or binge: In binge eaters but not ordinary obese subjects, the mere sight or smell of favorite foods triggers a spike in dopamine -- a brain chemical linked to reward and motivation. The findings suggest that this dopamine spike may play a role in triggering compulsive overeating.

Secret society connecting through the Internet feeds eating disorders, researchers say

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:22:22 EST

Researchers reveal a new social support group that's emerging on the Web -- a secretive society to encourage negative behaviors associated with eating disorders.

Women with eating disorders draw a different picture of themselves than women without, study suggests

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:21:21 EST

Women suffering from anorexia or bulimia draw themselves with prominently different characteristics than women who do not have eating disorders and who are considered of normal weight, suggests a new study.

Facebook users more prone to developing eating disorders, study finds

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:17:17 EST

The more time adolescent girls spend in front of Facebook, the more their chances of developing a negative body image and various eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and exaggerated dieting, according to a new study.

New study reveals impact of eating disorders on Native Americans

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:16:16 EST

Scientists in Connecticut have carried out one of the first psychological studies into eating disorders in Native American (NA) populations. The research provides new insights into the extent to which Native American populations experience eating disorders, revealing that women are more likely to report behavioral symptoms then men, while challenging views that NA men and ethnically white men will experience different psychological symptoms.

Gene links to anorexia identified: Largest genetic study of the eating disorder detects common and rare variants

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:08:08 EST

Scientists have identified both common and rare gene variants associated with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. In the largest genetic study of this psychiatric disorder, the researchers found intriguing clues to genes they are subjecting to further investigation, including genes active in neuronal signaling and in shaping interconnections among brain cells.

Compulsive eating and the holiday season can lead to serious weight gain

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:21:21 EDT

Dealing with extended family, increased commitments and even celebratory occasions can cause a compulsive overeater to gain too much weight during the holiday season.

Women with anorexia nervosa more likely to have unplanned pregnancies, study finds

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:22:22 EDT

A new study has found that women with anorexia nervosa are much more likely to have both unplanned pregnancies and induced abortions than women who don't have the serious eating disorder.