Books and Articles — Eating Disorders

UC Research Examines College Students' Knowledge About Eating Disorders, by University of Cincinnati. October 31, 2011.  “They're the prime demographic for developing eating disorders, yet new research out of the University of Cincinnati suggests that it could be difficult for college students to notice the warning signs.”

Eating Disorders a New Front in Insurance Fight, by Andrew Pollack. New York Times, October 13, 2011.  “People with eating disorders like anorexia have opened up a new battleground in the insurance wars, testing the boundaries of laws mandating equivalent coverage for mental illnesses.”

Hospitalizations for Eating Disorders Declined, but Big Increase Seen in Pica Disorder, by Agency for Healthcare Reseacrh and Quality. September 08, 2011.  “Eating disorders as the primary reason for entering the hospital declined by 23 percent from 2007 to 2008 and 2008 to 2009, after a steep and steady increase from 1999 to 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The severity of eating disorders also lessened, with symptoms like irregular heartbeat and menstrual disorders declining by 39 percent and 46 percent, respectively. However, from 1999 to 2009, hospitalizations jumped 93 percent for patients with an eating disorder called pica, which causes them to eat largely non-edible substances such as clay, dirt, chalk, and feces. Women and children, including those with autism and other mental or developmental disorders, are most likely to suffer from pica.”

Genetics Complicate Recovery from Eating Disorders, by Rick Nauert. July 28, 2011.  “An international team of scientists has identified possible genetic variations that could influence a patient's recovery from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia. Researchers believe their findings may augment development of effective interventions for the most treatment-resistant patients with these disorders.”

Support Program Helps Caregivers of Mentally Ill Cope, by Traci Pedersen. Psych Central, June 28, 2011.  “Caring for a family member with mental illness can take its toll, but a widely available education and support program for relatives of the mentally ill called Family-to-Family (FTF) can significantly improve a family's coping ability.”

Genetic Link to Anorexia?, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, November 22, 2010.  “Researchers have identified both common and rare gene variants associated with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.”

Parents Allowed: Family-Focused Therapy Works Better for Teens with Eating Disorders, by Maia Szalavitz. Time Magazine, October 05, 2010.  “The first randomized controlled trial to compare outcomes of family-based treatment to individual therapy for teenagers with anorexia has found that involving the family in treatment is more than twice as effective as individual care.”

Study Examines Pro-Anorexia and Pro-Bulimia Websites, by Tim Parsons. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, June 17, 2010.  “A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examines the content and messages presented by websites that appear to support or encourage eating disorders”

Tools to Reduce Stigma of Mental Illness, by Rick Nauert. Psych Central, May 14, 2010.  “Researchers have announced a new intervention that can improve the quality of life and self-esteem among persons with serious mental illness.”

Raiding the Refrigerator, but Still Asleep, by Randi Hutter Epstein. New York Times, April 07, 2010.  “A surprising number of adults, mostly women, are sleep eaters who binge on junk food while still asleep.”

Self-help treatment effective for binge eating, researchers say, by Madison Park. CNN, March 31, 2010.  “Help to control binge eating could be as simple as a self-help book and check-ins with a health educator, according to new research out this month.”

New Rules Promise Better Mental Health Coverage, by Robert Pear. New York Times, January 29, 2010.  “The Obama administration issued new rules that promise to improve insurance coverage of mental health care for more than 140 million people insured through their jobs. Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services, said the new rules guard against “needless or arbitrary limits.” In general, under the rules, employers and group health plans cannot provide less coverage for mental health care than for the treatment of physical conditions like cancer and heart disease.”

Massachusetts expands mental health parity, by Nan Shnitzler. New England Psychologist, October 15, 2009.

Parenting and Food: Eat Your Peas. Or Don’t. Whatever., by Frank Bruni. New York Times, August 29, 2009.  “How can parents coach children away from unhealthy eating without provoking insecurity and obsession?”

Staying Sane May Be Easier Than You Think, by John Cloud. Time Magazine, June 22, 2009.

What's Eating Our Kids? Fears About 'Bad' Foods, by Abby Ellin. New York Times, February 25, 2009.  “Many experts worry that some parents are becoming overzealous in efforts to engender good eating habits in children.”

A season of dread: Holidays hold a daunting challenge for those with eating disorders, by Erica Noonan. Boston Globe, December 13, 2007.