By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
5 common myths about eating disorders
36bfde488d71fe5f68d44ad8c8c4148c3dc662d2ce33ee66d403484475d0e3fd
Eating disorders are serious life-threatening mental illnesses. Eating disorders are treatable, but often go undetected due to common misconceptions. - photo by Emily Fonnesbeck
Eating disorders are serious life-threatening mental illnesses.

National surveys show that 20 million American women and 10 million American men will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is not a single, specific cause its usually a variety of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that combine to create the vulnerability in the individual.

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week happens each year during the month of February and this year's awareness week is Feb. 26 - March 4.

This year's theme is Lets Get Real with the goal of expanding the conversation to real issues facing eating disorder prevention and recovery. This is an opportunity to raise awareness about eating disorders, bust eating disorder myths and misconceptions, share stories, and help those struggling to access the help they need.

Eating disorders are treatable, but often go undetected for a few reasons: misconceptions about what they are and who they affect, and the cultural normalization of food and weight preoccupation.

Below are common myths and misconceptions:

Myth #1: You can tell if someone has an eating disorder based on how they look.

The media often portrays individuals with eating disorders to be emaciated, female, young and white. In reality, eating disorders affect individuals of all shapes and sizes, ages, genders and ethnicities. Too often, individuals delay treatment because they arent thin enough to have an eating disorder, so its important that we recognize this as a common misconception.

Myth #2: Eating disorders are a lifestyle choice and are about vanity.

Eating disorders are life-threatening mental illnesses with serious physical and mental ramifications. Eating disorder behaviors are often used as a way to cope with uncomfortable emotions or difficult life events. Once the disorder has taken hold, it becomes a functional and self-sustaining process that is difficult to break free from. A patient can choose to pursue recovery, but it will require the help of a team of professionals ideally consisting of a therapist, dietitian and physician and possibly others, depending on the case.

Myth #3: Eating disorders are caused by bad parenting.

As stated, eating disorders are caused by a variety of factors. They are not a choice; no one chooses to have an eating disorder. Affected families are very diverse and 50 to 80 percent of a person's risk for developing an eating disorder comes from genetic factors, according to the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt. Causation has far more to do with the genetic predisposition of the individual than with any environmental stimulus. That said, families can be a great support to their loved one while in recovery.

Myth #4: Eating disorders are only about food and weight.

You may be tempted to tell someone with an eating disorder to "just eat" or "just stop eating," but its far more complex than that. While recovery from an eating disorder will include interventions for normalizing food patterns and behaviors, there are underlying issues that need to be addressed in order to make a full recovery. This is why a full treatment team is essential.

Myth #5: Once a patient is at a 'normal weight,' they have recovered from an eating disorder.

According to the Eating Disorder Institute, the three facets for eating disorder recovery are:

  • Body acceptance: including weight restoration for some, but ultimately full acceptance of the genetic set point that quite possibly may exceed BMI standards of "normal"
  • Repair of physical damage
  • Developing new neural patterns in response to anxiety triggers.
As you can see, its about more than just weight.

These myths can lead to stigma, making it difficult for individuals to seek treatment. It can also affect the medical professionals ability to identify and diagnose an eating disorder that falls outside of the stereotype. National Eating Disorder Awareness Week gives us the opportunity to educate the public on these issues.

This is especially important given the nutrition, diet and weight-obsessed culture we live in. Its become culturally acceptable to struggle with food and body image, so someone that has a serious eating disorder could easily fly under the radar and delay treatment. The quicker an eating disorder is diagnosed and treatment interventions begun, the better the chance at a full recovery.

If you suspect that you or someone you love could be struggling with an eating disorder, you can use this short screening tool from the NEDA to determine if its time to seek help.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.