Articles: Click on the titles below to learn more

Advocacy:

Project to determine the effects of fat caliper testing and exposure to stories about eating disorders in middle school and/or high school?

Research:

Current Research and News 2010
Eating Disorder Research

Project to determine the effects of fat caliper testing and exposure to stories about eating disorders in middle school and/or high school? Help us examine these questions, we need your feedback....

Dear Healthy Within Visitors:

Healthy Within is dedicated to the treatment and prevention of eating disorders. We are beginning a new project to determine various influences on body image and self-esteem. There are two questions we are current posing to young men and women to learn more about how their experiences in middle school and/or high school may have led to issues such as body hatred, body image issues and eating disorder behaviors.

The first question we are posing is, " Were you affected in middle school or high school by a story of a person with their eating disorder?" We would like to determine how exposure to these stories may have had a positive or negative influence on your body image or related to the development of eating disorder behaviors.

Secondly, "Did you ever have any kind of fat testing done in middle school or high school?" If, so how did this effect your perception of you body, your self esteem, etc?

Please direct your responses to these questions to Dr. Divya Kakaiya with the word "Advocacy" in the subject line.

Does your school use calipers to measure your child's body fat?

In the September, 1993 issue of our newsletter, Working Together, ANAD reported on the practice in schools of using body fat measurement to determine the fitness of students. Apparently, not much has changed since then.

The fat calipers/skin fold test was actually developed for use with triathletes, 25 years of age or older, according to the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis. The problem is that, for many years, this measurement has been used by school districts around the country to measure children in high schools, junior highs, and even grade schools. The result is that youngsters, who should be provided with adequate nutrition for their growing bodies, are instead going on diets because they think they are fat!

ANAD Resource person and a concerned mother, Patti Bahnick, is doing something about this. When Patti's nine-year-old daughter told her about the fat testing that had been administered nine months earlier, her daughter had already begun to eliminate breakfast, bedtime snacks, and a significant portion of lunches and dinners from her diet. After discovering how common this reaction to the fat testing was among her daughter's classmates, Patti consulted with ANAD President, Vivian Meehan, and did some additional research on the subject. Armed with that research, she was able to convince officials in her own school district to eliminate fat testing. As PTA president of her local school, Patti presented her research at the Illinois state PTA convention, where a resolution was passed pledging to work toward the elimination of fat caliper testing throughout the state.

In addition to working toward implementation of the resolution at the state level, Patti, with ANAD's help, is seeking to present the same resolution for the consideration of the national PTA at its convention in June, 2001. In order to do so, she is required to present adequate and substantial documentation as to the use of fat testing in schools in all 50 states.

You can help! If you have information that the fat calipers/skin fold test or other fat testing is being used in your school, please obtain documentation as to what testing is being done and its repercussions on the students in your district. Specify grade levels or student age and type of fat testing done. If your school district has eliminated fat testing, please send documentation on why this was done. To get additional information on this issue, contact ANAD or e-mail Patti at pkbahnick@aol.com.

Current Research and News 2010

Personality Dimensions in Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Obesity. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences in personality dimensions among individuals with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, non-binge eating obesity, and a normal-weight comparison group as well as to determine the extent to which these differences were independent of self-reported depressive symptoms. Method: Personality dimensions were assessed using the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire in 36 patients with bulimia nervosa, 54 patients with binge eating disorder, 30 obese individuals who did not binge eat, and 77 normal-weight comparison participants. Results: Participants with bulimia nervosa reported higher scores on measures of stress reaction and negative emotionality compared to the other 3 groups and lower well-being scores compared to the normal-weight comparison and the obese samples. Patients with binge eating disorder scored lower on well-being and higher on harm avoidance than the normal-weight comparison group. In addition, the bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder groups scored lower than the normal-weight group on positive emotionality. When personality dimensions were reanalyzed using depression as a covariate, only stress reaction remained higher in the bulimia nervosa group compared to the other 3 groups and harm avoidance remained higher in the binge eating disorder than the normal-weight comparison group. Conclusions: The higher levels of stress reaction in the bulimia nervosa sample and harm avoidance in the binge eating disorder sample after controlling for depression indicate that these personality dimensions are potentially important in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of these eating disorders. Although the extent to which observed group differences in well-being, positive emotionality, and negative emotionality reflect personality traits, mood disorders, or both, is unclear, these features clearly warrant further examination in understanding and treating bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Source: Compr Psychiatry. 2010 Jan-Feb;51(1):31-6. Epub 2009 May 2.; PMID: 19932823.

Increased Mortality in Bulimia Nervosa and Other Eating Disorders. Objective: Anorexia nervosa has been consistently associated with increased mortality, but whether this is true for other types of eating disorders is unclear. The goal of this study was to determine whether anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder not otherwise specified are associated with increased all-cause mortality or suicide mortality. Method: Using computerized record linkage to the National Death Index, the authors conducted a longitudinal assessment of mortality over 8 to 25 years in 1,885 individuals with anorexia nervosa (N=177), bulimia nervosa (N=906), or eating disorder not otherwise specified (N=802) who presented for treatment at a specialized eating disorders clinic in an academic medical center. Results: Crude mortality rates were 4.0% for anorexia nervosa, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa, and 5.2% for eating disorder not otherwise specified. All-cause standardized mortality ratios were significantly elevated for bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified; suicide standardized mortality ratios were elevated for bulimia nervosa and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Conclusions: Individuals with eating disorder not otherwise specified, which is sometimes viewed as a "less severe" eating disorder, had elevated mortality risks, similar to those found in anorexia nervosa. This study also demonstrated an increased risk of suicide across eating disorder diagnoses. Source: Am J Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;166(12):1342-6. PMID: 19833789.

Figure Skating and Eating Disorders: In this exclusive two-part interview, figure skater Jenny Kirk offers a rare, brave and compassionate insider perspective on an eating disorder crisis threatening the future of the sport. Click http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesleyann-coker/jenny-kirk-on-figure-skat_b_430032.html.

Research on Eating Disorders:

Participants Needed for Online Research Study on Women with a History of Anorexia Nervosa. Research study examining various aspects of internal and external control as they relate to eating attitudes and recovery. The researcher is currently recruiting participants who have recovered from anorexia as well as those who remain symptomatic. If you are a woman between the ages of 18-45, who was initially diagnosed with anorexia nervosa between the ages of 13-25, you may participate in the online study. The Institutional Review Board at Fielding Graduate University has approved this research; participation is voluntary and anonymous. The study will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Click on the following link to participate: https://www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID= 131090. For more information, call Summer at 415-302-5486 or email anorexiarecovery@yahoo.com.

Duke Eating Disorders Program Treatment Study for Adolescents. Duke is currently enrolling families in their treatment study for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (threshold and subthreshold cases appropriate). Participants receive 6 months of psychotherapy at no cost and complete 6 months of follow-up assessment for which they receive monetary compensation. For more information call 919- 684-0149 or email edresearch@duke.edu.

Research on Sibling Relationships in Individuals who Suffer from an Eating Disorder. The researchers ask that those are suffering with an eating disorder take this survey on family relationships so that they can better understand these disorders. For more information visit http://alliant.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_4JDUgx3qLXexGUQ&SVID=Prod. Researcher: Katie Lanflisi, MA, Psychological Trainee, California School of Professional Psychology Alliant International University 5130 E. Clinton Way Fresno, CA 93727.

UCSD Researchers Seek Women Recovered from Eating Disorders: This study is being done at UCSD to determine if the brain can tell the difference incaloric content of food even if subjects cannot consciously tell. Women ages of 18-45, who are right-handed and are recovered from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa are eligible. This study involves the completion of interviews, questionnaires, a taste test and an fMRI scan. The total time commitment for this study is approximately 6-8 hours, which will be spread out over the course of several weeks. The compensation for completion of this study and all related materials will be $150. For more
information, contact UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program
at (858) 366-2525 or email edresearch@ucsd.edu.

UCSD Researchers Seek Men and Women Suffering From Anorexia Nervosa: This study is being done at UCSD to determine whether the medication quetiapine helps people suffering from anorexia nervosa by reducing core eating disorder symptoms, as well as symptoms of anxiety, depression and obsessionality, in addition to increasing BMI. Men and women between the ages of 18-65 and currently suffering from anorexia nervosa are needed. This study involves the completion of interviews, questionnaires, lab work and medication management. The total time commitment for this study is approximately 18 hours, which will be spread out over the course of 8-10 weeks. The compensation for completion of this study and all related materials will be $360. For more information, contact UCSD Eating Disorder Treatment and Research Program at (858) 366-2525 or email edresearch@ucsd.edu.