http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/eating_disorders/ Read the latest medical research on anorexia nervosa, bulimia, compulsive overeating and binge eating. What is the long-term outlook? en-us Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:05:01 EST Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/eating_disorders/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm According to a new study, eating a meal quickly, as compared to slowly, curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full. The decreased release of these hormones, can often lead to overeating. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091025162457.htm Existing research has shown that rates of binge eating are almost identical between white and African-American adult women. A new study finds that among college age women, rates are higher among Caucasian women. When do rates begin to match up, and why? Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091025162457.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006093349.htm Expectant mothers who eat excessive quantities of licorice during pregnancy could adversely affect their child's intelligence and behavior, a study has shown. A study of 8-year-old children whose mothers ate large amounts of licorice when pregnant found they did not perform as well as other youngsters in cognitive tests. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006093349.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908151334.htm Using an animal model of binge eating, researchers discovered that deactivating the basolateral amygdala, a brain region involved in regulating emotion, specifically blocked consumption of a fatty diet. Surprisingly, it had no effect on the rat wanting to look for the food repeatedly. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908151334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185712.htm Regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese, according to a new study. Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185712.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025239.htm Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 40 years, which may mean today's children become the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, a leading obesity expert says. Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102024.htm Overconsumption of fatty, sugary foods leads to changes in brain receptors, according to new animal research. The results have implications for understanding bulimia and other binge eating disorders. Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102024.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185718.htm A new study of childhood obesity in the United States has found that some social factors, such as the presence of friends, may put overweight youths at greater risk of overeating. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185718.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803092612.htm Anorexic patients drastically reduce food intake and are often not capable of changing their behavior. This can lead to life-threatening weight loss. Using MRI technology, scientists have discovered for the first time processes in brain metabolism that explain this disturbed eating behavior. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803092612.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090730111149.htm Researchers have identified factors that may increase overweight adolescents' risk of engaging in extreme weight control behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, the use of diet pills, laxatives and diuretics, as well as binge eating. Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090730111149.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102026.htm Exposing rats to a context associated with eating chocolate activates a part of the brain's reward system known as the orexin system. The results have implications for the development of new drug treatments for overeating. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727102026.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729100936.htm A year ago, researchers reported that fewer than half the patients previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder received an actual diagnosis of bipolar disorder after using a comprehensive, psychiatric diagnostic interview tool -- the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. In this follow-up study, the researchers have determined the actual diagnoses of those patients. Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729100936.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721144640.htm New imaging technology provides insight into abnormalities in the brain circuitry of patients with anorexia nervosa (commonly known as anorexia) that may contribute to the puzzling symptoms found in people with the eating disorder. Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090721144640.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623111949.htm Eating disorders are frequently seen as psychological or societal diseases, but do they have an underlying biological cause? A new study shows that the levels of a brain protein differ between healthy and anorexic women. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090623111949.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418081930.htm In everyday life, someone who takes a perfectionist's approach to activities might be admired or even rewarded with a pat on the back. These attitudes are tied to a commonly held, but mistaken, belief that perfectionism will ultimately produce achievement and social success. But a psychologist warns that perfectionism is not a healthy, or even effective, approach to life's challenges. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090418081930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402143754.htm Getting your teenager to drink a chocolate milkshake isn't something most parents need to worry about. But this is just the approach used in one treatment for anorexia nervosa. Known as Behavioral Family Therapy, or the Maudsley Approach, parents are called up on to supervise the eating habits of their anorexic child, feeding them high-calorie meals like milkshakes and macaroni and cheese until they regain a healthy weight. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090402143754.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326134012.htm Many adults who were diagnosed as teenagers to be suffering from anorexia nervosa cannot work due to psychiatric disorders. A follow-up 18 years after the onset of anorexia has shown that one in four are on disability benefit or have been signed off sick. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326134012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090317095018.htm A researcher has analyzed the role played by a number of emotional variables, such as the way in which negative emotions are controlled or attitudes to emotional expression, and to use these variables as tools to predict the possibility of suffering an eating disorder. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090317095018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090306103649.htm Preschoolers whose parents forced them to clean their plates, ate 41 percent more snacks when at school. Part of this is because preschool snack time was one place where they could regain control of what they ate. Unfortunately, it was for the worse and not the better. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090306103649.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203081618.htm New research has investigated the relationship between adolescents' perception of their physical qualities and their psychological well-being and unwellness. Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090203081618.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090106102904.htm Researchers observed that while young adults enjoy and value time spent eating with others, 35 percent of males and 42 percent of females reported lacking time to sit down and eat a meal. They further noted that "eating on the run" was related to higher consumption of unhealthy items like fast foods and lower consumption of many healthful foods. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090106102904.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090105175031.htm Women with bulimia nervosa appear to respond more impulsively during psychological testing than those without eating disorders, and brain scans show differences in areas responsible for regulating behavior, according to a new report. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090105175031.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090102163237.htm Lots of experts disagree over the seemingly obvious notion of keeping weight off by trying to eat less -- a debate that centers on whether the practice backfires, leading to binging and weight gain. Sat, 03 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090102163237.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081215074404.htm Researchers have developed a new form of psychotherapy that has been shown to have the potential to treat more than eight out of ten cases of eating disorders in adults, a new study reports. Fri, 19 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081215074404.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210171916.htm Children with diabetes are at an increased risk for developing eating disorders, and researchers want to know if it's their disease or treatment that's to blame. Tue, 16 Dec 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210171916.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210090819.htm Scientists have demonstrated that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse. Researchers found profound behavioral changes in rats that, through experimental conditions, have been trained to become dependent on high doses of sugar. Lab animals that were denied sugar for a prolonged period after learning to binge worked harder to get it when it was reintroduced to them. They consumed more sugar than they ever had before, suggesting craving and relapse behavior. Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081210090819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081007085534.htm Researchers are trying to pinpoint the factors that affect how much food a child eats, to stave off unhealthy relationships with food later in life. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081007085534.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081001093227.htm Women with a history of dieting or other restricted eating practices are at risk of gaining an inappropriate amount of weight during pregnancy. Researchers report that restrained eating behaviors prior to pregnancy were associated with weight gains above IOM recommendations for normal, overweight and obese women, and weight gains below recommendations for underweight women. Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081001093227.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080917095356.htm Women who have bulimia in pregnancy have more symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to pregnant women without eating disorders. A new Norwegian study shows that they also have lower self-esteem and are more dissatisfied with life and their relationship with their partner. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080917095356.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915121323.htm A novel clinical trial will compare the effectiveness of online cognitive behavioral therapy, delivered through a Web site and augmented with therapist-moderated, weekly online chat sessions, to face-to-face group therapy for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080915121323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080902102536.htm Middle school children who have a television or computer in their room sleep less during the school year, watch more TV, play more computer games and surf the net more than their peers who don't. Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080902102536.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728193235.htm A recent study reveals that university undergraduate women who actively participate in sports and exercise-related activities tend to have higher rates of attitudes and behaviors related to eating disorders compared to those who do not regularly exercise. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728193235.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604092852.htm Eighteen percent of teenagers who took part in a survey of 15-17 year-olds admitted eating problems. Students who reported suffering from anxiety earlier in adolescence were 20 times more likely to report problems. Anxiety was a bigger problem than dissatisfaction with appearance. 372 students took part and 57 percent were girls. Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604092852.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602160726.htm Risk factors for binge eating and purging may vary between boys and girls and by age group in girls, according to a new article. During 7 years of follow-up, 10.3 percent of the girls and 3 percent of the boys started to binge eat or purge at least once a week. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602160726.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521175755.htm Girls who make themselves throw up to control their weight are putting their health at risk, even if they do so only occasionally and even if their weight is in a healthy range, finds a study in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Analyzing data from nearly 2,800 high school girls in the National Eating Disorders Screening Program, researchers found that girls who vomited to control their weight just one to three times per month were 1.6 times more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles than girls who didn't report such vomiting. Thu, 22 May 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080521175755.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429151134.htm Researchers have found that a new obesity prevention program reduced the risk for onset of eating disorders by 61 percent and obesity by 55 percent in young women. These effects continued for as long as 3 years after the program ended. These results are noteworthy because, to date, the idea that we can reduce risk for future onset of eating disorders and obesity has been an unrealized goal: over 80 prevention programs have been evaluated, but no previous program had been found to significantly reduce risk for onset of these serious health problems. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080429151134.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm Sixty-five percent of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 report having disordered eating behaviors, according to the results of an online survey. An additional 10 percent of women report symptoms consistent with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, meaning that a total of 75 percent of American women surveyed endorse some unhealthy thoughts, feelings or behaviors related to food or their bodies. Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422202514.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080419021157.htm Good things come in small packages -- like the Nabisco 100 Calorie Pack. But do these portion-controlled offerings help dieters lose weight? Yes, according to new research. Dividing food into smaller portions creates a "partitioning effect;" a phenomenon where segmenting a resource, such as food or money, can dramatically affect consumption. Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080419021157.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319120318.htm When it comes to what we eat, men and women really are different according to scientific research. In general, men are more likely to report eating meat and poultry items and women are more likely to report eating fruits and vegetables. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319120318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314085032.htm Girls with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stand a substantially greater risk of developing eating disorders in adolescence than girls without ADHD, a new study has found. "Adolescent girls with ADHD frequently develop body-image dissatisfaction and may go through repeating cycles of binge eating and purging behaviors that are common in bulimia nervosa," said the psychologist who led the study. Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080314085032.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303164518.htm Testosterone appears to protect people against eating disorders, providing further evidence that biological factors -- and not just social influences -- are linked to anorexia and bulimia. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303164518.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303072640.htm Researchers have found further evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303072640.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080301214742.htm The majority of patients with narcolepsy/cataplexy experience a number of symptoms of eating disorders, with an irresistible craving for food and binge eating as the most prominent features. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080301214742.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080215103153.htm It's the French paradox redux: Why don't the French get as fat as Americans, considering all the baguettes, wine, cheese, pate and pastries they eat? Because they use internal cues -- such as no longer feeling hungry -- to stop eating, reports a new Cornell study. Americans, on the other hand, tend to use external cues -- such as whether their plate is clean, they have run out of their beverage or the TV show they're watching is over. Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080215103153.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206090457.htm A new study suggests that the DSM-IV criteria for eating disorders have limited clinical utility. Researchers recommend a broadening of the criteria for bulimia, anorexia and binge eating disorder. Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080206090457.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117202807.htm Researchers report on a new modality of treatment for bulimia nervosa, transcranial magnetic stimulation, in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a non-invasive, neurophysiological method, which affects cortical neurons with a short magnetic pulse. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is often associated with depressive symptoms and treatment with antidepressants has shown positive effects. Tue, 22 Jan 2008 11:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080117202807.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080111100639.htm People given a biological and genetics-based explanation for the causes of anorexia nervosa were less likely to blame people with anorexia for their illness than those given a sociocultural explanation, a study found. Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080111100639.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107181529.htm Adolescent girls who frequently eat meals with their families appear less likely to use diet pills, laxatives or other extreme measures to control their weight five years later, according to a new report. Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080107181529.htm