Official Recognition of Binge Eating Disorder Will Change Lives, According to Eating Recovery Center

Eating disorders treatment center explains four reasons that acknowledgment of the most common and often misdiagnosed eating disorder will positively impact millions of men, women and children

Denver, CO, May 07, 2013 – Binge eating disorder (BED) will become an official mental health diagnosis this May when it is included – for the first time – in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), the manual that mental health professionals use to diagnose and treat mental disorders. According to Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, this shift has the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life of individuals struggling with this devastating disease.

“BED has long been underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as a mental health issue, due in large part to its classification as only a provisional eating disorders diagnosis in the DSM,” said Emmett Bishop, MD, FAED, CEDS, founding partner and medical director of outpatient services and program development for Eating Recovery Center. “The acceptance of BED as a recognized and treatable mental illness has the potential to lead to more access to care, open new avenues to insurance coverage and diminish the stigma that many of its sufferers have faced.”

BED is characterized by compulsive, out-of-control episodes of eating followed by shame, guilt and depression and is often accompanied by serious medical and psychiatric comorbidities. The most common eating disorder, BED affects as many as 3.5 percent of American women and 2 percent of American men.

To help healthcare providers and the general community better understand why this shift is so significant, Eating Recovery Center shares the top four reasons why BED’s inclusion in the DSM-V is a life-changing development for the millions of individuals struggling with this disease.

1. Better understanding and less stigma. With a clearly defined set of diagnostic criteria, healthcare professionals will be better able to help patients and families identify the issue and seek effective eating disorders treatment. In addition, the acknowledgement of BED as an officially recognized mental illness is likely to help families and friends understand that their loved one cannot simply “go on a diet,” “stop eating so much” or “sign up for Weight Watchers.” The underlying issues are much more complex.

2. Validation of BED symptoms. Not merely a casual description of occasional overeating, BED is a serious condition with clearly articulated diagnostic criteria. People with BED have learned to cover up negative feelings such as anger, sadness, boredom, stress or guilt through food. Binge eating behaviors can also be accompanied by an unhealthy preoccupation with body image, size and compulsive behaviors, including over-exercise or over-spending.

3. Increased access to eating disorders treatment coverage. Mental health parity laws require that coverage for treatment of biologically based mental illnesses, such as eating disorders, be no less extensive than the coverage provided for any other physical illness. Although the inclusion of BED as an official diagnosis in the DSM-V does not guarantee improved coverage, clinicians are hopeful that the change will further validate this illness and spur changes to insurance coverage standards that could improve access to BED treatment.

4. Less misdiagnosis among BED sufferers. Because BED is frequently misunderstood, it is not uncommon for clinicians to recommend patients to seek help for their weight issues at weight-loss or gastric bypass clinics. In reality, these individuals require binge eating disorder treatment to address their underlying relationship with food, eating and body image. In addition, BED is also often overlooked in individuals that are normal weighted due to widespread misperception that sufferers of BED must be overweight.

“For too long, people who have struggled with binge eating disorder have been stigmatized and misunderstood,” said Dr. Bishop. “The classification of binge eating disorder as an official mental illness will help us promote education, dismantle common misperceptions and help patients and families secure appropriate treatment that supports lasting recovery.”

In response to increasing demand for specialized binge eating disorder treatment, Eating Recovery Center offers comprehensive binge eating disorder programming. For more information about binge eating disorder treatment, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

About Eating Recovery Center:
Eating Recovery Center is an international center providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder. Under the leadership of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults 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. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In an effort to increase patient access to care throughout the United States, Eating Recovery Center partners with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program in Sacramento, Cali., and The Moore Center for Eating Disorders in Bellevue, Wash. Summit offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. The Moore Center offers Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services. 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:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, Colo., 80206
(303) 433-7020
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

Eating Recovery Center Addresses Connection Between Compulsive Exercise and Eating Disorders

Eating disorders treatment center identifies common warning signs and reveals challenges to identifying compulsive exercise behaviors

Denver, Colo, March 20, 2013 – Professionals specializing in the treatment of men, women and children with eating disorders are observing a growing trend among their patients, who are increasingly engaging in compulsive exercise. According to Eating Recovery Center, an international center providing comprehensive treatment for eating disorders, the connection between excessive exercise and eating disorders generally stems from food-, body- or weight-related issues that drive the excessive physical activity. In fact, a study by Brewerton found that nearly 40 percent of patients with anorexia nervosa engaged in compulsive exercise behaviors.

“Compulsive exercise is obligatory in nature, and it doesn’t have to be a certain type of exercise or be performed for a minimum duration,” explains Jennifer Lombardi, MFT, executive director of Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, a partner program of Eating Recovery Center. “When evaluating if exercise is compulsive in nature, it’s important to look at the intention behind the movement, if there is a sense of urgency or agitation when individuals can’t engage in the exercise behavior, there is likely an issue. It’s also important to consider exercise in the larger context of an individual’s eating and body image history; exercise is one of those behaviors that means something different to people struggling with eating disorders due to their temperament and brain chemistry.”

Lombardi and the eating disorders experts at Eating Recovery Center explain that individuals engaging in compulsive exercise generally fall into one of two categories: those exhibiting significant exercise compulsion as part of their eating disorder; or individuals that did not initially exhibit excessive exercise behaviors, but began to do so as their eating disorders improved.

In other words, some eating disordered individuals abuse exercise as a compensatory behavior following a bingeing session or to give themselves “permission” to eat. Others may begin to engage in excessive exercise as what they believe to be a “healthy” part of eating disorders recovery. What these individuals do not realize, is that the frequency and volume of their exercise has taken the place of other eating disordered behaviors as an anxiety management tool and poses significant health complications, including joint injuries, stress fractures, muscle tears, tendonitis, fatigue and dehydration.

Eating Recovery Center encourages families, friends and healthcare professionals to be mindful of five common warning signs of compulsive exercise behaviors, including:

1. Exercising excessively “just because” as opposed to intentional exercise in preparation for a competition.

2. Refusing to miss a workout, regardless of weather or injury.

3. Exercising takes precedence over all other activities, including work, school and spending time with friends and family.

4. Experiencing a heightened level of anxiety if unable to engage in exercise.

5. Displaying an elevated rigidity and perfectionism with regard to exercise behaviors.

However, it is important to note that popular cultural narratives around exercise in the United States can pose significant challenges to identifying compulsive exercise—alone or occurring alongside an eating disorder.

* Exercise is healthy. There has been a major cultural shift around the notion that exercise helps us, not only in supporting general health and maintenance of a healthy weight during an obesity “epidemic,” but also as a tool to manage anxiety and stave off depression. This idea, and myriad variations of encouraged and acceptable frequencies of exercise (30 minutes each day; five days a week; etc.) can challenge the identification of dangerous patterns and/or normalize compulsivity, even during assessment by medical professionals.

* I am a competitive athlete. Overreaching is a common method of competitive athletes, and it is based on a principle of training that encourages the athlete to push beyond the body’s current ability to improve stamina and performance. Overreaching should not be confused with overtraining, which involves excessive intensity and duration, inadequate recovery time, unhealthy psychological state and malnutrition. Athletes that are overreaching are usually taking in sufficient nutrients and “fuel” to support their purposeful training activities, whereas athletes that are overtraining are nutritionally depleted and are exercising at extreme levels “just because.”

* I feel most confident when I am exercising and/or competing in my sport. Endorphins released during exercise make us “feel good.” Interestingly, compulsive exercisers often present with higher self-esteem despite having lower body-esteem. This paradox makes complete sense considering the temperament of those suffering from an eating disorder. These individuals are high achievers, see the world in a rigid, “black and white” way and tend to have low reward dependence. Due to the cultural reinforcement around exercise, patients feel good about themselves because they are excelling at something considered to be a “healthy” behavior. Additionally, exercise is concrete, measurable and accepted, and individuals with low reward dependence can do it well and push themselves privately.

* There is no official diagnosis; exercise compulsion must not be a real disorder. The treatment community and the American Psychological Association agree that more research is necessary to validate a formal diagnostic category for exercise compulsion in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. However, exercise compulsion is a very real compensatory behavior for many individuals struggling with disordered eating.

Treatment is available to address compulsive exercise—occurring either alone or alongside a diagnosed eating disorder.

“A thorough medical evaluation is also a critical component of assessment, as exercise relates very directly to physical health and medical status,” continues Lombardi. “However, it’s critical that an eating disorders specialist is part of the multidisciplinary treatment team – including a therapist, dietitian, primary care and/or sports medicine physician – to help facilitate patient assessments and assist in the identification of dangerous patterns of behavior despite the common challenges imposed by our cultural beliefs about exercise.”

“Running on Empty: Exercise Compulsion and Eating Disorders” is available for complimentary viewing through Eating Recovery Center’s On Demand Professional Development Series. In this video, Lombardi explores current research examining the addictive nature of exercise, exercise in eating disorders recovery and interventions for compulsive exercising.

For more information about compulsive exercise, eating disorders and effective treatment, visit EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:
Molly Koch
Communications Strategy Group
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
mkoch@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com

2012 Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference Features Nation’s Leading Experts

Registration Now Open for Educational Conference for Professionals Showcasing Innovative Eating Disorders Treatment Strategies, Highlighting Trends and Addressing Upcoming Changes in the Field

Denver, CO, July 03, 2012 - Denver, Colo., has emerged as a national hub for the treatment of eating disorders. This August, the experts who elevated Denver to this status, along with a group of other highly regarded professionals, will gather in the Mile High City to share trends, new research and emerging best practices in the field of eating disorders treatment at the 4th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference. Formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Eating Disorders Conference, the event will be held August 10-11, 2012, and is hosted by the Eating Recovery Center Foundation, a non-profit organization established to promote education, research and patient access to treatment.

“In the eating disorders field, it is imperative that we share resources, best practices and promising research in order to help our patients achieve the best outcomes possible,” said Kenneth L. Weiner, MD, FAED, CEDS, chief executive officer and founding partner of Eating Recovery Center, an international center for eating disorders recovery. “The Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference is a forum in which professionals and advocates alike can learn from each other, collaborate and share the innovative practices that are moving our field forward.”

This interactive educational program features plenary speakers, panel discussions and Q&A sessions, and supports connection and collaboration among attending physicians, therapists, nurses, dietitians, advocacy organizations and other members of the eating disorders treatment community. Highlights of the 2012 eating disorders conference include:

* Eating Disorders in the DSM-V: What Might We Expect?; Joel Yager, MD, FAED

* Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Action; Enola Gorham, LCSW, CEDS

* The State of Evidence-Based Treatment in the Field of Eating Disorders; Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS

* Updates in Refeeding Practices for Adolescents with Anorexia in the Inpatient Setting; Ovidio Bermudez, MD, FAED, FSAHM, FAAP, CEDS

* Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Eating Disorders: A New Adjunct to Treatment; Emmett Bishop, MD, FAED, CEDS

The 2012 Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference will again be held at the Denver Marriott City Center. Prior to July 12, 2012, registration for professionals is $150 and includes all sessions, 12 continuing education credits, conference handouts and resources, lunch and dinner on Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday and periodic refreshment breaks. Single-day registration is $100. Student-discounted registration is $125 and $75 for single-day attendance. Space is limited and registration prior to the event is recommended. Register instantly online at EatingRecoveryCenter.com or by mail after completing the registration form.

This year, Eating Recovery Center will also offer conference attendees the opportunity to attend a pre-conference four-hour ethics workshop. Titled "Should Gandhi Have Been Force Fed: Ethical Issues in the Treatment of Eating Disorders," the workshop will be held Friday, August 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., prior to the start of the general conference. Presenters include eating disorders treatment expert Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, chief clinical officer of Eating Recovery Center; Rev. David W. Kenney, MA, MA, Cand. D.Be., of The Clinical Ethics Consultancy; and Andrew Braun, MBA, chief operating officer of Eating Recovery Center. Workshop registration costs $25 with conference registration and $50 without conference registration.

The new Eating Recovery Center Foundation (ERCF) was established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) foundation with a three-fold purpose: to provide professionals in the eating disorders field with education and development programs that increase their knowledge and strengthen clinical treatment skills; to support research initiatives that deepen our understanding of these illnesses and how they can best be treated; and to create a fund that provides financial grants to Eating Recovery Center patients who require financial assistance.

For more information or to register for the 4th Annual Eating Recovery Center Foundation Eating Disorders Conference, visit http://bit.ly/EatingDisordersConference2012 or call 877-218-1344.

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. Under the personal guidance and care of Drs. Kenneth Weiner, Craig Johnson, Emmett Bishop and Ovidio Bermudez, programs provide a full spectrum of services for children, adolescents and adults 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. Denver-based facilities include the Behavioral Hospital for Adults, the Behavioral Hospital for Children and Adolescents, the Partial Hospitalization Program and Outpatient Services for Adults, and the Partial Hospitalization Program for Children and Adolescents. In addition, Eating Recovery Center, partnering with Summit Eating Disorders and Outreach Program, offers Partial Hospitalization and Outpatient Services in Sacramento, California, as well as Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient Services in Fresno and Roseville. 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

3225 East 2nd Avenue

Denver, CO 80206

303-433-7020

sfern@csg-pr.com

http://www.csg-pr.com

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

sfern@csg-pr.com

http://www.csg-pr.com

Eating Disorders Treatment Award Named in Honor of Eating Recovery Center’s Dr. Craig Johnson

Center’s Chief Clinical Officer Honored by National Eating Disorders Association

for Outstanding Contributions to the Eating Disorders Field

Denver, CO, November 02, 2011 - Nationally recognized eating disorders expert, Craig Johnson, PhD, FAED, CEDS, has been honored by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), with the creation of a prestigious professional award in his name. The “Craig Johnson Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice and Training,” which was awarded for the first time at NEDA’s annual conference in October, recognizes top eating disorders professionals who have distinguished themselves with their contributions to eating disorders knowledge, training and treatment.

Dr. Johnson is chief clinical officer of Eating Recovery Center (www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com), an international center for eating disorders recovery, providing comprehensive treatment for anorexia, bulimia, EDNOS and binge eating disorder.

“Craig Johnson is one of the most passionate, dedicated and talented clinicians treating eating disorders,” said Lynn Grefe, president and chief executive officer of NEDA. “As a pioneer in the field, he has shared his knowledge generously with all who enter this field, and has been a torch of inspiration for others in the search for more effective treatments.”

Dr. Johnson has been a leader in the eating disorders field for more than 30 years. He is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Oklahoma Medical School and has formerly held faculty appointments at Yale, University of Chicago and Northwestern University Medical Schools.

An innovator in eating disorders treatment, Dr. Johnson has built eating disorders programs at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University Medical School, Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, and has contributed significant clinical expertise to the development of Eating Recovery Center’s programs.

Dr. Johnson has been actively involved in treatment research. As a principal investigator on two National Institute of Mental Health funded collaborative studies, he has made significant contributions to the field’s understanding of the role of genetics in eating disorders and the effectiveness of Family Based Therapy in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. He has authored three books and more than 80 scientific articles.

In his commitment to advancing eating disorders understanding and treatment implications, he has served as founding editor of the International Journal of Eating Disorders, co-founder of the International Conference on Eating Disorders, founder of the Academy for Eating Disorders and co-founder of the Eating Disorders Research Society. He is also a founding member and past president of NEDA.

“It is not hyperbole to say that Craig is our field's pre-eminent visionary, for it was his prescience and vigor that led to the creation of the Academy for Eating Disorders, now home to research scholars and practitioners alike,” said Michael Strober, PhD, Franklin Mint chair in eating disorders, professor of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorders Program at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. “There is no doubt that Craig's legacy will be timeless.”

The 2011 Craig Johnson Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice & Training was awarded to Kelly Vitousek, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii; co-director of the Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Honolulu and director of its eating disorders program. She also serves on the editorial board of The International Journal of Eating Disorders.

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. 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 http://www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com.

Contact:

Shannon Fern

CSG|PR

3225 East 2nd Avenue

Denver, CO 80206

303.433.7020

sfern@csg-pr.com

http://www.EatingRecoveryCenter.com