Thursday, March 29, 2012

Eating Disorders in Children are on the Rise; Eating Recovery Center Urges Prevention at Home

Leading Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders Treatment Program Offers 10 Tips to Help Parents Prevent Eating Disorders

Denver, CO, March 29, 2012 - Between 1999 and 2006, hospitalizations for eating disorders in children 12 and younger rose 119 percent, according to a 2010 study by the American Academy of Pediatrics. In an effort to curb the growth of anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder in this young patient population, Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery, urges parents to take preventive measures at home to stop eating disorders before they start.


“While clinicians have yet to identify the absolute keys to preventing eating disorders, we do know that positive parental involvement and heightened awareness can help foster the development of healthy relationships among children, their bodies and food,” explains Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAAP, FSAHM, FAED, CEDS, medical director of child and adolescent services at Eating Recovery Center.

Eating Recovery Center offers 10 recommendations to help parents practice eating disorders prevention at home:

1. Understand your own feelings and attitudes toward body image, body size, weight and health.

2. Model healthy attitudes and behaviors toward eating, exercise, body weight and shape and self-acceptance. Children will often mirror their parents’ thoughts and actions surrounding these issues.

3. Educate yourself about the complex nature of eating disorders. An informed parent is more aware and more likely to notice early warning signs or concerning behaviors.

4. Help your child manage stress. Reduce complexity in your child’s life to prevent or relieve anxiety and fear, which may lead to disordered eating in children who are particularly vulnerable to stress.

5. Focus on eating at ease during mealtimes. Promoting the social value of mealtimes strengthens family ties and relationships. Stressful, tense eating situations are counterproductive in efforts to develop healthy patterns around food consumption.

6. Maintain open lines of communication. Interaction is the antidote for the isolation and secretiveness that can sometimes allow a child to transition negative beliefs and attitudes into disordered eating behaviors.

7. Examine your child’s dieting and exercise habits. From a neurochemical perspective, these are not always benign activities. With the help of a medical professional, explore whether weight loss or increased exercise are healthy choices that support normal growth and development.

8. Monitor the beliefs and attitudes of your child’s friends. Children are eager to fit in and will often mimic their friends’ attitudes and behaviors—even those that are negative and potentially destructive.

9. Watch your child’s technology use. Websites and social media create a sense of “community” in which your child can learn about and compete at disordered eating behaviors. Studies have shown that both pro-eating disorder and pro-recovery online messages have risks to impressionable young minds.

10. Be aware of anxiety and depression, and seek care if your child shows signs of these conditions. The negative self image that is often associated with these conditions can lead to efforts to manage emotional insecurities via dieting and exercise.

“Even if parents are not able to prevent eating disorder-related behaviors in their children, prevention activities – such as being well informed about eating disorders and recognizing changes in attitude or behaviors that may suggest your child is at risk – are invaluable for enhancing early recognition and timely intervention,” continues Dr. Bermudez.

If your child begins showing symptoms of disordered eating, immediately seek eating disorders support from a qualified professional. Early intervention significantly improves the likelihood of recovery. For more information about Eating Recovery Center’s eating disorders treatment programs for children and adolescents ages 10 through 17, please visit www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About Eating Recovery Center:
Eating Recovery Center is an international center for eating disorders recovery providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, and the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, in partnership with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in Sacramento, California. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, our collaborative programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults. Our integrated programs offer patients a continuum of care that includes Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient services. Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change. For more information please contact us at 877-218-1344 or info@EatingRecoveryCenter.com or confidentially chat live on our website at www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Shannon Fern
Communications Strategy Group
East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 433-7020

FRA welcomes Prediction of Timber demand increase

A recent report in the Financial Times has provided a boost for the forestry investment industry, as it outlines how timber demand could increase by 55 per cent by 2050, according to FRA.

Bainbridge Island, WA, March 29, 2012 - A recent report in the Financial Times has provided a boost for the forestry investment industry, as it outlines how timber demand could increase by 55 per cent by 2050, according to Forestry Research Associates (FRA).

The feature begins by talking about how sustainable forestry investments are “flourishing” as the commodity’s value will rise “exponentially” as demand starts to exceed supply.

The increase in the demand for timber will result from the growing population and the increasing wealth of highly populated nations such as India and China, whose demand for raw materials is on the up as they invest billions in infrastructure and housing.

FRA’s analysis partner Peter Collins said, “We welcome the report from the FT, which plainly advocates investment in sustainable forestry projects as a viable, ethical and profitable alternative to traditional investments, such as stocks and shares, which are anything but reliable in the current economic climate.”

The report explains that biological growth means that tree value rises regardless of the market conditions for timber. When combined with the rising prices that are expected to result from the increase demand, investors could see huge returns for relatively small investments.

The FT also talks about how timber has been the only asset to experience price rises during three of the four market collapses in the past century. Forestry investment has, as a result, begun to attract those who are keen to diversify their investment portfolios with a asset class that is not aligned with general economic trends

Through projects like those run by Greenwood Management in Brazil, individuals can invest as little as EUR 10,000 to buy their own section of plantation land, which will be devoted to growing non-native, sustainable trees for domestic use and export to emerging economies. Mr Collins added, “Sustainable forestry projects also help to add to the earth’s carbon sequestration capabilities and contributes to habitats and green space for people and animals to enjoy.”

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394

Luxury Travel Ltd to Promote Vietnam Food Tour Programs as Niche

This 9 day food tour with Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) allows travelers to discover the fascinating culture, scenery and food of Vietnam, while staying at the best hotels and dining at wonderful authentic restaurants.

Hanoi, Vietnam, March 29, 2012 -  This 9 day food tour with Luxury Travel Ltd (www.luxurytravelvietnam.com) allows travelers to discover the fascinating culture, scenery and food of Vietnam, while staying at the best hotels and dining at wonderful authentic restaurants.

Gourmet travelers travel around Vietnam, from the South (starting in Ho Chi Minh City), to Central Vietnam (with the highlights of Hue and Hoian) and ending in the North (Hanoi).

It is said that Vietnamese culture expresses itself differently in these three parts of the country. This is clearly reflected in the culinary life of local residents in each area.

“The food is one of the most enjoyable things about the Asian continent and Hanoi is Asia's 10 greatest street food cities for sure. During the tour, travelers will discover the fascinating landscape and taste traditional Vietnamese food in the best authentic restaurants. Nothing is more wonderful than combining these dining adventures, along with luxury accommodations at 5-star hotels, where you can experience Vietnam-style service.” said Pham Ha founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd.

Luxury Travel Ltd is a long established specialist in luxury privately guided and fully bespoke holidays in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Luxury Travel is excellent in designing tailor-made tours and providing unique travel experiences to fulfill the most sophisticated traveler’s expectations. Luxury Travel Ltd won numerous travel awards for excellent performance including the most recent award: Best Luxury Tour Operator in Vietnam.


Contact:
David Nguyen
Luxury Travel Group Ltd
5 Nguyen Truong To Street
Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi 84444
Vietnam
84439274120