One difficulty with mental health, and perhaps especially dieting, obesity, and eating disorders, is that much of our conventional wisdom is inaccurate.
For example, nearly everyone knows that diet and exercise are essential for weight loss, right?
What most don't know is ...continue reading
Men who have eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder often think that they are unusual in battling with these problems. Not so, but until recently it could seem true because very few men were willing to share their stories. Thankfully, Brian Cuban has broken the taboo with his memoir, Shattered Image: My Triumph Over Body Dysmorphic Disorder Body dysmorphic disorder is an intense preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in physical appearance.
Brian's story begins with childhood social anxiety, being bullied and rejected by peers for his size and awkwardness, and being ridiculed by his mother for his weight. ...continue reading
Have you ever skipped a meal so you can drink alcohol without putting on weight?
You may have drunkorexia, a popular term for the combination of excessive drinking and anorexic behaviors. Drunkorexia is linked to body image concerns. That’s why it is particularly common among weight-conscious young women, but muscle-conscious men can have it, too. People who have drunkorexia are very aware of the caloric values of food, drink and exercise, and will do whatever it takes to be able to drink the alcohol. ...continue reading
Yoni Freedhoff's article on parenting children who are overweight argues that child obesity is not a problem of personal choice or too little will power. Young children who are overweight are well-aware that they are overweight. They have already suffered negative consequences, such as bullying, lectures, and shaming.
The primary problem is that we are living in a culture in which a flood of calories comes at kids. For children eat Froot Loops for breakfast and Happy Meals for dinner, over-consumption of calories is the norm. Who decided what these children would eat? Who bought those items?
Freedhoff's suggestion to parents who are concerned about their children's health and weight: "Live the life you want your children to live."