Eating Disorders and Cultures in Transitions

Mervat Nasser
Melanie A. Katzman
Richard A. Gordon

In 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being', Tereza is staring at herself in the mirror. She wonders what would happen if her nose were to grow a millimeter longer each day. How much time would it take for her to become unrecognizable?

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Should we try to incorporate more cultural aspects into therapy?

Court Ruling Requires Insurer to Pay Cost of Residential Treatment for Eating Disorder

EDMONDS, Wash., Nov 29, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- In the wake of a federal court ruling this summer that a California woman's insurance company should pay for residential treatment that she received for anorexia nervosa, psychologist Dr. Gregory Jantz echoed the court's opinion that residential care can be medically necessary to treat severe eating disorders.

Dr. Jantz, a nationally renowned specialist in eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, said that round-the-clock care can be required for such disorders because treating them effectively involves constantly monitoring patients' food intake and retention.

"Even intensive outpatient programs for eating disorders don't allow the opportunities for observation and intervention that a residential setting affords to therapists, nutritionists and nurses," said Dr. Jantz, who founded and operates The Center for Counseling and Health Resources, a residential treatment center based in Edmonds, Wash. Dr. Jantz is also the author of many books, including the best-selling Hope, Help and Healing for Eating Disorders, and operates the eating disorders website Caring Online.

According to Jantz, the California case revolved around Jeanene Harlick, an anorexia sufferer who received lifesaving treatment several years ago at a residential facility in St. Louis. Harlick had battled anorexia for more than 20 years, and when her condition worsened in 2006 despite intensive outpatient therapy, she checked into the Castlewood Treatment Center. Staff at Castlewood had to use a feeding tube to sufficiently increase Harlick's caloric intake.

Jantz said that Harlick's insurance company, Blue Shield of California, refused to pay for her nine-month stay at Castlewood, likening it to assisted living care, which her policy did not cover. Harlick's lawyers argued that undergoing residential treatment for anorexia is more comparable to receiving care at a skilled nursing facility, something that was covered by her policy.

The case hinged on application of California's 1999 mental health parity law. Parity laws were passed by some states to require insurers to cover treatment of mental illnesses to the same extent that they cover medical care or surgical procedures for physical ailments and injuries. A federal mental health parity law was passed in 2008, and the Harlick ruling is expected to have repercussions throughout the health care and health insurance industries.

SOURCE: The Center for Counseling and Health Resources

                 The Center for Counseling and Health Resources          Ann McMurray, 888-771-5166          AnnM@aplaceofhope.com            

When eating is a disease

The hindu

Girls and young women are more prone to eating disorders, which result in major health issues

Soujanya is a pretty young girl and has just entered the third year of college. In the past two years, she has gone from being an overweight adolescent to an extremely thin, starved-looking girl.

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What cultural aspects of India could be a protective factor against ED's?

Eating disorder needs to be addressed

CHEENU PRASHAR
Consulting Dietician, Max Healthcare, Delhi

Anorexia nervosa is a condition characterised by a refusal to maintain a minimal normal body weight ( defined as 15 per cent below average weight for height), voluntary self-starvation and an intense fear of becoming fat. These individuals achieve abnormally low weight by severely dieting, fasting and often by exercising compulsively. Most cases (90 per cent) are female, coming from the upper or middle class.

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How can we make society aware of the increase in ED in India?

Simple Steps To Stop Overeating

The Times Of India

Most of us think we overeat because we're hungry or the food tastes really good. But it's not that simple.

Scientists says the two most important factors that influence how much we eat are visibility and convenience — which is why we can never pass up those biscuits when they're handed round. But a few simple tricks to stop overeating could help you lose 15-20lbs a year, effortlessly.

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What do you think has more of an impact on how much we eat? Is it the visibility or convenience?

More Than 2000 Kids Treated For Eating Disorders in Last 3 Years! Read more: More Than 2000 Kids Treated For Eating Disorders in Last 3 Years! | Med

MedIndia by VR Sreeraman

More than 2,100 children, less than 16 years, were treated for eating disorders in the last three years, finds a study.

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Do you think that more and more people are getting treatment for their ED? Or do you think that ED are just on the rise and the same percent of people are getting treated?

Bulimic disorders and sociocentric values in north India

D. Bhugra á K. Bhui á K. R. Gupta

Abstract Background: Previous studies have shown low rates of eating disorders in some developing countries. We set out to investigate the prevalence of bulimia in an
all-female college population in north India and relate it to sociocentrism of the culture.

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What causes ED to suddenly go on the rise in certain developing countries?

Eating Disorders in India

T.N.SRINIVASAN, T.R.SURESH, VASANTHA JAYARAM, M.PETER FERNANDEZ

Data on the nature and extent of major eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia is lacking in
non-white, native populations of the developing world, leaving a gap in understanding the determinants of these disorders. In a study on 210 medical students examined by a two-stage survey method, 31 subjects were found to liave distress relating to their eating habits and body size not amounting to criterion-based diagnosis of eating disorders. The characteristics of this eating distress syndrome are described in relation to the major eating disorder

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Do you think that results from research should be more generalizable to other types of populations?

Eating Disorder East and West: A Culture Bound Syndrome Unbound

Richard A. Gordon

Debate Question
Eating Disorders appear to be on the increase in developing countries, as is evident from case reports and research data. What are the likely mechanisms for this phenomenon?

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What type of prevention programs can we put in place to avoid the rise in ED?

Are you addicted to food?

The Times of India by Norbert Rego

Food addiction, although controversial, has recently gained attention in scientific literature and comes under the realm of atypical eating disorders.

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Do you think that over eating is more dangerous than under eating? Why or why not?