Misconceptions abound regarding Eating Disorders in Men

Issue 5
June 2010
Inside this issue:
**********
Eating Disorders in Men
Cover
Body Image Network
Page 2
Chairpersons Message
Page 3
Walk for Hope
Page 5
Bridge to Hope
Page 9
Programs and Services
Page 10
Golf Tournament
Page 12
Ultra-Skinny Models
Banned
Page 13
News & Events
Page 15
Contact Us
Page 16
Board of Directors
Vince Withers (Chair)
Wilf Curran (Vice Chair)
Gerry Angel – Treasurer
Dr. Natalie Beausoleil
Stephanie Kendall (Corner Brook)
Dr. Olga Heath
Dr. Anna Dominic
Patrick Collins (Conception Bay
North)
Ronald Ryan
Cathy Skinner
Patricia Nash
Monty Keough
Staff
Tina Martin
Misconceptions abound regarding Eating Disorders
in Men
By Gail Johnson, Straight.com
Publish Date: June 15, 2010
Back in 2002, Alan Stock weighed 357 pounds. That year, the Langley resident was in a terrible car crash. He was also in the process of coming out. As a way of dealing with so much stress, Stock started walking. A
lot. Then he started running. By 2004, he had lost more than 120 pounds
and completed his first marathon. The more weight he shed, the more he
ran and the less he ate. At last, he felt in control of his life.
But he soon had to admit that his compulsion to lose weight was in fact controlling him. By
the end of 2004, Stock had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. He spent the next four
years in and out of treatment.
With the season of strutting it at Kits Beach here, women aren’t the only ones who
are desperate to get their bodies “beach-ready”. Men are under increasing pressure to
conform to unrealistic physical standards, and as Stock can attest, they’re also susceptible to eating disorders.
“At one point, I was eating 700 calories a day and running 90 miles a week,” Stock says in
a phone interview with the Georgia Straight. “If the weight went up by a pound or two, I
would run an extra 18 miles and burn it off. I felt like I was capable of anything.
“But then my body started to fight back,” he explains, noting that he began having
cardiac problems: a dangerously low heart rate as well as arrhythmias. Doctors contemplated giving him a pacemaker. They also told Stock to consider writing a will.
“It’s scary when you actually hear that from a medical professional,” he says.
In the Public Health Agency of Canada’s 2001-02 Health Behaviour of SchoolAged Children survey, four percent of boys in grades 9 and 10 reported anabolic steroid
use for the purpose of altering their physique. But more and more, the beefcake look is
falling out of favour as the waiflike appearance gains popularity. In the fashion world, men,
just like their female peers, are encouraged to be skinny to the point of being undernourished.
Psych-folk musician Devendra Banhart has boasted about starving himself to look
good in clothes, while Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid have gone public with their
experiences with anorexia. (Quaid called his condition “manorexia”.)
In 2007, Harvard researchers reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry the results of the first national study of eating disorders in adults. It found that 25 percent of
those with anorexia or bulimia in the United States were male, as were 40 percent of
binge eaters.
The University of Minnesota’s Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a populationbased study of approximately 5,000 teenagers, found that more than one-third of boys
engage in unhealthy weight-control behaviours, such as fasting, vomiting, skipping meals,
using laxatives, or smoking to control appetite.
Yet parents of boys and even doctors often overlook the problem.
“Even within the health-care profession, many people are surprised by the number of males who have eating disorders,” Vancouver health-care consultant and eatingdisorder researcher Paul Gallant says in a phone interview.
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Gallant adds that misconceptions abound regarding eating disorders in men.
“The number one misconception is that all males with eating disorders are gay,” Gallant says, noting that research shows that fewer than half of men affected are homosexual.
Yet despite the prevalence of these conditions in men, treatment and support groups are predominantly
geared to women.
Stigma is another barrier to seeking help. Many men don’t want to come across as unmanly due to having a
health issue so strongly associated with women.
Gallant says that to advance the prevention and treatment of eating disorders in men, their voices need to be
heard. Services designed to meet their needs are vital, and research must include men.
“The message we’re giving males is not ‘You’re not welcome here’ but rather ‘We’re not really familiar with
you,’?” Gallant explains. “So why would they want to go there? Most males don’t seek treatment.”
Causes of eating disorders are complex. Many factors combine to make men and women prone to eating disorders, including low self-esteem, perfectionism, a family history of disordered eating, childhood obesity, and depression.
According to the Toronto-based National Eating Disorder Information Centre, symptoms of anorexia nervosa
include an inability to maintain a normal or healthy weight; an obsessive desire to be thinner; a fear of weight gain; repeated denials of hunger; and signs of starvation, such as hair loss, feelings of bloating, yellowed palms, and dry,
pasty skin.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of binging and purging. People with bulimia may maintain a
“normal” weight but attempt to control calories by vomiting or using laxatives or diet pills. They might also exercise excessively or skip meals.
Cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, and support groups are among the approaches to treatment of eating disorders.
Aside from medical care addressing his physical and mental health and ongoing efforts to manage stress, what
helped Stock deal with his condition was attending support groups for men with eating disorders.
“It was comforting to talk to people who were going through the exact same thing as me,” Stock explains. “It’s a stereotype that it’s a girls’ issue.”
The Body Image Network is a group of individuals and organizations committed to promoting a positive social environment through sharing information on body image, self-esteem, obesity and eating disorders. We are academics,
advocates, researchers, dietitians, social workers, counselors, psychologists, doctors, teachers, nurses and students.
Mission:
The Body Image Network exists to promote positive body image and prevent eating disorders for all. Through education, awareness, research, advocacy and collaboration we encourage eating well, being active and feeling good
about oneself. We distribute current information to professionals and to the general public. We organize awareness
events and speak in the media. We review, conduct and participate in research. We advocate for the inclusion and
promotion of positive messages related to body image in the media, school and curricula. We continue to build the
Network and identify and build partnerships in the community.
Body Image Network is now on Facebook
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Chairpersons Message
Since my involvement with the Eating Disorder Foundation I have come to better understand the scope and
plight of persons suffering from Mental Health Disorders. Not many of us understand that Mental Health Disorders affect about 20% of the population. The most startling and upsetting statistic indicates that 20% of youth between 12-24
years are dealing with a Mental Health issue. Mental Health Disorders affects more people each year than any other
health condition.
The Minister of Health and Community Services, Honorable Jerome Kennedy, has made it very public that he
intends to treat Mental Health matters as one of his highest priorities. I have talked to the Minister on several occasions about this and I want to assure you he plans to back up his strong commitment with more tangible treatment and
support programs and with a sense of urgency. The News Release below will give you some indication of his proactive
approach to date.
Health and Community Services
June 29, 2010
New Provincial Advisory Council to Address
Mental Health and Addictions Issues
A new Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Advisory Council has been appointed, effective immediately,
by the Honorable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community Services. Minister Kennedy made the announcement last week during the Working Together for Mental Health provincial conference in St. John’s.
“Staying connected and well-informed about what is happening throughout the province from a mental health
and addictions perspective is critical for our government,” said Minister Kennedy. “The Provincial Mental Health and
Addictions Advisory Council will report directly to me and will advise on key mental health and addictions matters
needed in order to enhance services and improve the lives of those living with mental health and addictions issues.”
Vince Withers, Chairperson and founding member of the Eating Disorders Foundation of Newfoundland and
Labrador, has accepted the role of Chairperson; and, Dr. Nizar Ladha, forensic and general psychiatrist and PresidentElect of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, will fill the role of Vice-Chair of the advisory council.
Members of the advisory council will bring diverse backgrounds, knowledge and experience in the area of
mental health and addictions. They are:
•
Peter Ralph, Chairperson, CHANNAL;
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•
Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director, Choices for Youth;
•
Ron Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Turnings;
•
Mary Walsh, actor and social activist;
•
Michelle Kinney, Deputy Minister, Nunatsiavut Government;
•
Des Coombs, Regional Director of Mental Health and Addictions, Central Health;
•
Jocelyn Greene, Executive Director, Stella Burry Community Services;
•
George Skinner, Executive Director, Canadian Mental Health Association-Newfoundland and Labrador Division
•
Lisa Goudie, Regional Manager Mental Health and Addictions, Western Health.
A provincial mental health public forum was held on June 23, 2010, followed by a mental health conference on June
24, 2010. This provided an important opportunity for the general public, mental health professionals and community
groups to come together to discuss mental health issues in Newfoundland and Labrador. Transforming the province’s
mental health system and the importance of self-help and peer support were the main themes of the forum and conference. Both events were well attended with approximately 150 people at the public forum and almost 140 people at the
conference.
“We were very pleased to have such a tremendous turnout at both the public forum and conference last week,” said
Minister Kennedy. “We heard loud and clear some of the mental health issues in our province, and also appreciation
for what our government is doing to improve mental health and addictions services for the individuals and families who
need them. We need to acknowledge that we are all affected by mental health and addictions issues.”
Budget 2010: The Right Investments - For Our Children and Our Future includes an investment of $7.2 million to
strengthen mental health and addictions services in the province including $2.4 million for continued planning and construction of a new residential treatment centre in St. John’s for children and youth with complex mental health needs;
$2 million to further a new residential treatment centre in Grand Falls-Windsor for children and youth with addictions;
$2 million for the planning and development of an adult residential addictions treatment centre in Harbour Grace;
$482,900 to enhance child psychiatry services at the Janeway Hospital; and, $300,000 to support new communitybased projects, with a focus on mental health and addictions issues.
Media contact:
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca
2010 06 29
10:05 a.m.
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2nd Annual Provincial Walk for Hope
This years Walk for Hope was a great success. In addition to increasing eating disorder awareness, we raised
about $14,000.00 and some 300 - 400 walkers put on their running shoes and walked the trails in their areas. We were
delighted to see so many of our friends and supporters participating in the Walk, it’s this kind of support that encourages
the Foundation to continue to focus on its mandate of supporting our eating disorder families.
Thanks to everyone who participated, made a pledge or coordinated the event in their area. We appreciate this
commitment and support, and you need to know that your contribution is making a very positive difference.
Note of Thanks
The Foundation wishes to extend its thanks and appreciation to the following community organizers for their hard work
and dedication in helping make our 2nd Annual Provincial Walk for Hope a great success;
Caroline Andrews, Melissa Power, Emily Roche, Dolores Withers, Lindsay Boland and Janice Kelsey - St. John’s
Brenda Lee Goodyear - New-Wes-Valley
Bernice Goodyear - Lumsden
Vicki Parsons - Indian Bay
Jill Hammond - Clarenville
Patrick Collins - Conception Bay North
Ken Ralph - Corner Brook
Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who accepted pledge sheets and helped raise the importance of Awareness
and Early Treatment of Eating Disorders. Thanks to all who participated in the Walk for Hope across Newfoundland &
Labrador, we truly appreciate your ongoing support and friendship. Hope to see you all again next year.
Chairperson Vince Withers welcomes participants at the 2nd Annual Provincial Walk for Hope
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Minster of Health and Community Services Honorable Jerome Kennedy cuts the starting ribbon.
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Approximately 160 walkers participated in the Walk for Hope at the Long Pond location
Jonah Goodyear of Pool’s Island starts the Walk for Hope at Business Pond in New-Wes-Valley
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Participants finishing their Walk for Hope in New-Wes-Valley
Participants prepare for the Walk for Hope in Corner Brook
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Bridge to Hope
To support family members of persons with an eating disorder,
the Centre for HOPE offers the Bridge to Hope group. This eight week
group provides support, education, and hope to those who are assisting
their loved ones on the journey to wellness.
The Bridge to Hope group is offered to any family member seeking information about the struggles their loved one is facing.
The term “family” is used in its broadest sense, and refers to any individual who plays a major role in the life of the person living with an eating disorder.
Benefits of the Group
Provides education about eating disorders
Mutual support from other families
Safe environment to share experiences and concerns
Opportunity to meet and ask questions of professionals who provide
services to people with eating disorder
participants invited to join Parents of Hope or Partners of Hope support
groups following completion.
When and Where do we meet?
Weekly meetings during an eight week period.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Guest speakers attend meetings on a regular basis
Refreshments provided
Please Contact:
Nancy White, MSW, RSW
Social Worker
HOPE Program
709-752-3617
nancy.white@easternhealth.ca
Kim Sorlie, MSW, RSW
Social Worker
Adolescent Medicine Program
Janeway Children’s Hospital
709-777-4889
kim.sorlie@easternhealth.ca
General Inquiries
HOPE Program
35 Major’s Path
Suite 101
St. John’s, NL
A1A 4Z9
Phone: 709-777-2041
Fax: 709-777-2042
Adolescent Medicine
Janeway Children’s Health and Rehab Centre
St. John’s, NL
A1B 3V6
Phone: 709-777-6300
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Eating Disorder Foundation of NL
Programs and Services for 2010
Client Consultation Program
For many eating disorder families, having an experienced person to speak with and confide in is very important. This is why the Foundation has opened its doors to anyone who just needs to talk and some direction in the next
steps to recovery. The Foundation receives emails, telephone calls and office visits from eating disorder persons and
family members who are looking for help and don’t know what their next step to recovery should be. Office Visits are
extremely helpful and give participants the direction to access the resources they need. The Foundation encourages
ongoing contact and to rely on us for follow-up support.
Families Supporting Families Support Group
The Foundation offers a Support Group to parents and partners supporting persons with eating disorders. The
objective of this group is to respond to the needs of families who are supporting a love one who has been diagnosed
with an eating disorder. They are lead by a healthcare professional and a parent. It allows parents and partners to
share their stories with other families, as well as share information and available resources. These sessions are very
informative and guide families to the next step to more formal treatment and support services. Sessions are usually
scheduled every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the number of requests we receive from families.
To register for the next Families Supporting Families Support Group please email us. Registration is Free.
Public Awareness and Education Presentations
The Foundation is dedicated to promoting research and providing public support services and information
about matters related to eating disorders, including information on available treatment services for individuals
and families who experience disordered eating. The Foundation offers presentations to Service Clubs,
Public Meetings, Companies, Healthcare groups, Parent Teacher Association’s and post secondary
schools. This presentation focuses on understanding eating disorders including the definition of an
eating disorder, the causes and signs of an eating disorder, recent research, current treatment
programs and the benefits of early detection and early treatment. To book a presentation please
contact Tina at 722-0500.
Resource Material Loaner Program
One of the most important actions you can take when you are supporting a love one who has
been
diagnosed with an eating disorder is to educate yourself. The more educated and informed you are about
the disease, the easier it will be for you to cope, understand and communicate with your love one. Because of the importance
of education, the Foundation has developed an extensive library of books, periodicals, brochures, DVDs & VHS tapes
available for public use. We encourage the public to drop by the Foundation to take advantage of these free loaner
materials. All materials are available on a loaner basis for 6 weeks. For a complete list of resource materials please
click here.
Facebook and Email
The Foundation understands that coming forward to ask for help can be very stressful for some people and
many are not ready for a one on one session at our office however they still have questions and concerns that need
answering. To meet the needs of such individuals we keep in touch through Email and our Facebook group. Individuals who initially contact the Foundation through Email or Facebook will in time visit our office for a one on one discussion.
We currently have over 400 Facebook members who stay in contact with the Foundation and with each other
for support. Feel free to post questions to the discussion board or send us a private message. We respond in confidence to all posts. Click here to join our Facebook group.
Website
The Foundation’s website is a living website in the sense that it is updated daily with the Foundation’s latest
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news and events. It provides important and easy to read information to our viewers and is an ideal way to keep up to
date on the Foundation’s activities. It also includes available research and informational materials obtained from pertinent websites and recently published need to know information.
Newsletter
The Foundation produces and distributes a quarterly newsletter to approximately 5000 people via email. This
newsletter highlights the Foundation’s most recent activities and upcoming events. It shares success stories of eating
disorder persons and links to the latest news articles regarding eating disorders. We welcome articles, success stories
and other website information for publication. This is your newsletter; any suggestions to improve its content would be
welcomed.
Brochures
The Foundation brochures are designed to provide need to know information including the types and causes of
eating disorders, statistics, contact information and a Check Yourself for an eating disorder. These brochures are distributed at all of the Foundation’s events, to those visiting our office and are available by request. Also available is an informative brochure on the Renata Elizabeth Withers Center for Hope outlining the details of this program.
Monthly Hope Always Message
The Foundation also issues a monthly Hope Always Message sharing important need-to-know information for
both eating disorder persons and their families who support them. It’s generally serves as a News Alert on some important message about eating disorders.
Media Relations and Newspaper Articles
The Foundation has a full program of Media Relations activities such as press releases, feature stories, interviews, public service announcements etc. These opportunities to spread our message of awareness and early treatment
are critical if we are to reach all parts of the Province.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week
The first week in February each year, the Foundation holds an Eating Disorder Awareness Week. The primary
purpose of the week is to advocate and highlight eating disorders through a series of awareness programs, seminars,
public meetings, media events etc. The week is set aside as a time to reflect on the needs of families for improved support and treatment programs.
Research Grant Program
The Foundation each year provides a modest funding grant for a group/organization/person who engages in a
specific and well defined Research Project designed to advance our knowledge and understanding of eating disorders.
Listserv Program
The Foundation has developed a Listserv Program designed to inform, on a regular basis, more than 5000 recipients of pertinent information about eating disorders. This is an extensive email list which includes families, volunteers, media, healthcare professionals, educators etc. If you would like to join our listserv please email us at
info@edfnl.ca and we will add your name to our list.
Volunteer Recognition Program
The Foundation has a large list of volunteers who contribute and support our various programs and our message
of ‘Early Detection and Early Treatment”. These volunteers are a vital part of the Foundation and each year during Eating Disorder Awareness Week the Foundation recognize and award volunteers (an Individual, a Business, a Community
Group) in appreciation for their outstanding commitment and contribution in support of the aims and objectives of our
foundation.
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Scholarship Program
Each year the Eating Disorder Foundation invites applications for two $1000.00 Renata Elizabeth Withers Memorial Scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to two individuals who are studying in a post secondary institution
within NL and whose course of study is related, broadly speaking, to eating disorders/disordered eating and plan to
continue in the healthcare field. Scholarships are presented during Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Fundraisers – Golf Tournament, Walk of Hope and Concert of Hope
These fundraisers allow the Foundation to continue its various advocacy, awareness and support programs for
our eating disorder families. The support of individuals, community groups and businesses has certainly helped us
achieve many of our objectives to date. We encourage our supporters and clients to participate in these events as it
maintains an essential “communication link” particularly those needing our support.
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Australia to ban ultra-skinny models
•
•
•
By Caroline Marcus
From: The Sunday Telegraph
June 27, 2010
A model backstage at London Fashion Week. Australia is to tell designers not to hire models with dangerously low
BMIs / AFP Source: AFP
•
•
•
New code of conduct for fashion industry
Mags to phase out cosmetic surgery ads
Designers told not to hire skinny models
SKINNY models could be banished from catwalks and magazines under a major overhaul of the fashion indusDiets for rapid weight loss and cosmetic surgery advertisements will also be phased out of magazines, while clothing
labels will be asked to stock a wide range of sizes under a new industry code of conduct.
Designers will be asked not to hire either models with a dangerously low body mass index (BMI) or excessively muscular
men.
Youth Minister Kate Ellis will today unveil a new body-image tick of approval, similar to the Heart Foundation's healthy
foods tick, to be awarded to magazines, modeling agencies and fashion labels that meet the following criteria:
- Disclose when images have been retouched and refrain from enhancing photographs in a way that changes a person's
body shape, for example, lengthening their legs or trimming their waist, or removing freckles, lines and other distinguishing marks.
- Only use models aged 16 or older to model adult clothes - both on catwalks and in print.
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- Refrain from using models who are very thin - or male models who are excessively muscular.
- Stocking clothing in a wide variety of sizes in shops to reflect the demand from customers.
- Using a broad range of body shapes, sizes and ethnicities in editorial and advertising.
- Not promoting rapid weight loss, cosmetic surgery, excessive exercising or any advertisements or editorial content
that may promote a negative body image.
In a world first, the Federal Government is trying to tackle the issue of body image so ordinary Australians do not feel
pressured to attain unrealistic cultural ideals of beauty. Ms Ellis said she was determined to stop the glamorization of
unhealthily thin women, which has been blamed for children suffering eating disorders.
"Body image is an issue that we must take seriously because it is affecting the health and happiness of substantial
sections of our community," Ms Ellis said.
"The symbol is a win for consumers. It will empower consumers to tell the fashion, beauty, media and modeling industries what they want and provide greater choice."
A panel of health and academic experts will spend the next six months defining the criteria that organizations have to
meet in order to be awarded the body image-friendly symbol.
The Government has also committed another $500,000 to develop new education programs with the help of eatingdisorder group The Butterfly Foundation.
The school program will see 2500 educators trained to teach 100,000 students aged between eight and 18 about positive body image, covering topics such as media literacy and self-esteem.
The code has already received the endorsement of teenage magazine Girlfriend, and Ms Ellis' office is currently discussing the code with leading modeling agencies.
The Australian Women's Weekly editor in chief Helen McCabe said her magazine would begin identifying digitally altered photographs of celebrities. Ms McCabe said readers wanted published images of women to be more realistic.
"As Australia's biggest-selling magazine, I am proud to be taking a leading role in what is going to be a gradual process
for the industry," Ms McCabe said.
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News and Events
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www.edfnl.ca
Facebook Group
The Eating Disorder Foundation of NL is
now on Facebook. If you wish to join our
group just login and search for us under nonprofit organizations or use the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?
ref=logo#/group.php?gid=101726733972
Foundation Awarenes
s Presentations
Visit www.easternhealth.ca
for more information of the
Center for Hope
and the
Community Capacity Building Project
The Foundation also of
fers a presentation rega
rding eating disorders to comm
unity groups. If your gr
oup is interested in a presentatio
n please contact the Fo
undation at
722-0500.
Public Support
To help us achieve our objective we are respectfully asking the public to support
our Mission : to provide improved treatment and support services for disordered
eating families.
To make a financial contribution to the Foundation you can;
*Drop by the Foundation office
*Mail a cheque or money order
*Make a donation online at www.edfnl.ca
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If you or someone you know need help and support dealing with an eating disorder, the Foundation is available and willing to help you find the support services you need.
Our door is always open, drop by or call anytime.
The Foundation Office is open Monday to Friday from 9AM to 4PM.
ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
31 Peet Street, Suite 208, St. John's, NL, A1B3W8
Phone: 709.722.0500
www.edfnl.ca
Fax: 709.722.0552
info@edfnl.ca