According to a recent survey by the University of West England (UWE), a staggering four out of five British men are unhappy with their bodies.

Of the 384 British men studied for the survey, 35% of them said they would happily exchange a year of their life for the ideal body shape.

The survey showed that the biggest male body hang-up was muscularity, with 60% saying that they wished their arms, chests and stomach were more muscular.

This revelation goes some way to explaining why one in five men questioned was following a high protein diet, and almost one in three used a protein supplement.

Body image has traditionally been a female concern, with much controversy surrounding the portrayal of the female form in the media. With size 0 models setting an unachievable ideal for many young girls across the world, cases of depression and low-self esteem in recent years have soared. Now men are beginning to feel the pressure as they become increasingly preoccupied by their own body image issues.

Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, who led the study at UWE, said: “We need to take a collaborative approach to promoting an environment that values diversity in appearance and promotes healthy body image.”

Dr Diedrichs made it clear that whereas she does not promote obesity, trivialising male body issues could be just as unhealthy to society.

Negative body image is a major contributing factor to the rise in eating disorders. In light of the Dr Diedrichs’ study, there should now be more demand for support services helping men to overcome their body image issues.

If you are a man suffering with low self-esteem or an eating disorder, you may benefit from visiting a counsellor. A counsellor may be able to help you find the source of these issues and get you back on track towards reaching your goals. 

View and comment on the original BBC News article. 

Scientists in Australia believe that giving obese people counselling based on the same psychological approach as for those with anorexia, could help them with their battle against weight.

The researchers revealed their findings after discovering that obese or severely overweight people and those suffering with anorexia, share a similar condition that affects the brain, even though they are literally at opposite ends of the scale.

It was concluded that both obese and anorexic people have executive function disorders (EFD), which results in them struggling to organise their daily lives. Previous studies have drawn links between anorexia and executive function disorder and scientists can point to the strictness that those with the eating disorder apply, not only to food, but also to their whole lives as evidence of the brain disorder.

Now researchers from the University of NSW have discovered that obese people are prone to executive function disorder too, after reviewing 38 studies on obesity and high-level brain function.

However, where EFD can encourage anorexic people to have a rigid way of life, it affects obese people in the opposite way, making them too flexible and unable to solve certain problems. Scientists have deduced that EDF can play havoc with an obese person’s brain when it comes to food, affecting their ability to plan diets and to associate bad food choices to weight gain.

Cognitive remediation therapy, a form of psychological counselling, has seen some success for anorexics as it strengthens thinking skills. This therapy is also used to treat people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Schizophrenia.

Lead researcher at the University of NSW, Evelyn Smith, now believes this type of therapy could help obese people to combat their weight issues as diets and exercise programmes fail them.

A trial will begin involving 10 obese people, who will undergo cognitive remediation therapy for a month to see if this can help them to lose weight.

View the original New Zealand Herald article here.

According to a UK study of over 11,000 mothers, women with a history of eating disorders may struggle to fall pregnant quickly and are twice as likely to need fertility treatment than the general population, reports BBC News.

In a study of more than 11,000 women, a team of researchers from King’s College London and University College London have found that 39.5% of women who had a history of bulimia or anorexia took longer than six months to fall pregnant. In addition, these women were also more likely to require fertility treatment, with 6.2% of women with an eating disorder history needing the treatment compared to just 2.7% of the general population.

Lead researcher Dr Abigail Easter commented that despite eating disorders delaying conception, a high number of unplanned pregnancies suggest that the women affected are significantly underestimating their chances of falling pregnant.

Dr Easter recommends that women who are planning conception seek treatment for their eating disorder prior to trying for a baby. She also recommends that health professionals become more aware of eating disorders then whey are assessing fertility and treating women.

Spokeswomen Mary George from the eating disorders charity Beat, has said that women who do have an eating disorder often don’t consider the health implications that it may cause in the future.

Preventing the body from consuming all of the nutrients it needs could lead to illness, and mothers wishing to fall pregnant should seek help for any symptoms which may be indicative of an eating disorder as early on a possible.

If you or someone you know are affected by an eating disorder and you would like to find out more, please visit our eating disorder fact-sheet for further information.

The figures, which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the Brownies and eating disorder charity B-eat, also revealed that 197 of the cases involved children aged between five and nine, 98 involved children aged between five and seven, 99 involved children between eight and nine, 400 involved children between 10 and 12 and 1,500 involved children between 13 and 15.

Experts from both B-eat and the Brownies agree that the celebrity culture is partly to blame for glorifying size zero figures and believe that the growing numbers are indicative of the fact that young children are still idealising the thinnest figures.

Research which was carried out by the Brownies themselves revealed that a large percentage of the girls aged just seven already identified an outlined drawing of a thinner women as more popular than those with a slightly larger outline.

According to Susan Ringwood, chief executive of eating disorder charity B-eat said there are a number of genetic factors that play a role in the development of eating disorders but cultural pressures and body image is now influencing young people more than ever before.

“The ideal figure promoted for women these days is that of a girl, not an adult women. Girls see the pictures in magazines of extremely thin women and think that is how they should be.” She said.

If you believe you child may be suffering form an eating disorder then please visit your GP as soon as possible so that they can provide you with the appropriate support and advice on the next steps. Alternatively, to contact a counsellor or psychotherapist dealing with this issue please use the search tool located on the homepage of this site.

View the original Telegraph article.

Continuing scientific research into eating disorders suggests that parents are not to blame for their development and it is biological causes that are more significant than anything a parent does or does not do.

Back in the 1970s eating disorders were very much attributed to the way parents raised their children, especially the mother. Famously, the 1978 book The Golden Cage written by Hilde Bruch implied that the mothers of anorexic girls and boys were too cold, too warm, smothered their children with treats or ignored them and went to work.

However, the notion that whatever mothers did was wrong is now less favoured and many psychology and health experts are urging parents not to blame themselves if their child does develop an eating disorder.

According to Mary George from the eating disorder charity Beat, many parents blame themselves for their child’s anorexia or bulimia, but they should not assume guilt.

George explains that the more we learn ‘it becomes clear that parental influence on its own would not be responsible for a child developing an eating disorder’.

Modern research is continually revealing biological causes which could be behind anorexia, and sufferers have a tendency to display specific underlying genetic traits such as an obsessive desire for order as well as perfectionism.

Back in 2007 a Swedish paper revealed that the physical process of starving yourself could actually trigger symptoms of anorexia in the brain. When healthy male participants were asked to eat less food during a six month study period, they began to actually think like anorexics. If you eat too little food for too long, it is possible that anyone can become anorexic.

Though parents are not blameless in every case, such as households in which there is violence or sexual assault, mothers do not cause eating disorder in the way which many have previously assumed and families enduring an eating disorder should not load the blame upon themselves.

If your family has been affected by an eating disorder then family counselling is a service which could help you. Though eating disorder counselling is the most beneficial form for sufferers themselves, family counselling is a way for every family member to be heard so that you can better understand each other and cope with the situation as a unit.

If this sounds like something which you feel may be able to help you then please use our advanced search to find a family counsellor in your local area.

Counsellors and psychotherapists often offer special offers and discounted prices for sessions involving the entire family so discuss this with them upon inquiry.

View the original Telegraph article.

26 year old Emma Veness from Birmingham is just one of many mothers-to-be who find themselves developing odd cravings. Now pregnant with her second child, Emma has found herself drawn to the taste and smell of furniture polish, so much so that she has had to seek medical advice.

The 26 year old told the Daily Mail that she now has to eat polish at least three times a day to keep cravings under control and since falling pregnant has consumed around three cans through either spraying directly into her mouth or by spraying onto a duster and sucking.

‘While I’m pregnant I try to stop myself and limit it to just a few times a day, as I’m scared of harming the baby. But I know that if I only had myself to think about I would be eating can after can of the stuff.’ She said.

Concerned that her strange habit may be affecting the health of her baby, Emma, who has low iron levels, visited the doctor to see what steps she could take to put a stop to her habit. Her GP confirmed that she was suffering from ‘Pica’ and recommended that she try to eat chocolate in the place of polish.

‘I feel so guilty about doing it as I don’t know whether it might be harming the baby, but I could have a million chocolate bars and it wouldn’t make any difference – when I want polish, it’s the only thing that will do.’

A spokesman from the eating disorder charity Beat has said that this condition can have serious long term health implications especially in pregnant women so doctors should really try to educate themselves about Pica.

‘We would urge GPs to make themselves more familiar with this condition and other disordered eating patterns so people can get the help they need.’

For information about eating disorders and how counselling may be able to help, please visit our fact-sheet for further details.

View the original Daily Mail article.

Editor in chief of Italian Vogue Franca Sozzani, has put three plus-sized models on the cover of the June 2011 issue in the latest step of her campaign against pro-anorexia websites and blogs.

Tara Lynn, Robyn Lawley and Candice Huffine are pictured on the front of this months Vogue Italia seductively displaying their gorgeous curves in a beautiful lingerie shot taken by fashion photographer Steven Meisel.

Sozzani recently hit the headlines for starting a petition against pro-anorexia websites and blogs which support the disorder and encourage young people to be competitive about their bodies.

Sozzani commented: “I did some research and found that there are countless pro-anorexia websites and blogs that not only support the disorder, but also urge young people to be competitive about their “body shape”.

Sozzani also recently launched a ‘curvy’ section on the Italian Vogue website (vogue.it), a section for ladies with glamourous curves featuring  advice on how to style your clothes to make the most of your figure.

”Fashion has been always blamed as one of the culprits of anorexia, and our commitment is the proof that fashion is ready to get on the frontline and struggle against the disorder.” Said Sozzani.

If you are struggling to come to terms with an eating disorder and would like information about how counselling could help, please visit our eating disorders fact-sheet to find out more.

View the original Plus Size Tall article.

The campaign was fuelled by Wan’s personal experiences of being bullied whilst at school for being too tall, mixed race and overweight, leading to the development of low self-esteem and a negative body image.

Now Wan makes a living from getting people to talk about and love their bodies, a mantra he would like to spread to children who feel they are under pressure to conform to a stereotype.

Wan began the campaign back in 2009, during which his body image petition received 50,000 signatures but could not be rushed through before the general election and has since been on the back burner.

However, Wan is now back with his campaign and has re-booted interest by teaching a body image class outside the House of Commons.

Wan says that talking about body image in front of peers could help teens to grow up more confident about their body image and he wants to see the introduction of the issue as part of personal social health and economic education classes.

“Every single child needs to talk about body dysmorphia”, he said. “We keep it really isolated and I think that injures us as we get older because it becomes habitual.

Wan is soon to launch his new TV show Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth, a four part series which investigates teenagers and their body image.

Commenting on his campaign Wan said ”I’m not saying that kids will turn round and stop having eating disorders. I’m not saying that they will all of a sudden look in the mirror and say, ‘That’s it. I’m going to accept myself for who I am.”

“But just by opening up a dialogue and getting them to talk about it is as important as talking about maths or talking about science or talking about English”. He said.

For information about counselling and how it can help low self-esteem, low self-confidence and eating disorders please visit our Types of Distress section. If you would like to contact a counsellor in your local area please use the search tool located on the homepage of this site.

View the original BBC News article.

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from University College London’s Institute of Child Health, there were 208 recorded cases of eating disorders among children under 13 during their 14 month study.

Dr Dasha Nicholls who is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and lead researcher on the project, said : ‘Our study gives the first estimate of the incidence of early-onset eating disorders in UK and Irish children’.

‘It is too early to say if there has been a rise in the numbers of children with eating disorders in recent years, but we hope our research can be used as a baseline from which to monitor future trends’.

The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Psychiatry revealed that approximately three in every 100,000 UK and Irish children under 13 have some form of eating disorder

The researchers also found that of the young children suffering with an eating disorder, 37 per cent were suffering from anorexia, one per cent were suffering from bulimia or over eating, 43 per cent had another eating disorder. The remaining 19 per cent tried to avoid food, displaying symptoms of eating disorders but without being preoccupied with their weight or shape.

67 per cent of those with an eating disorder were preoccupied with their weight, 50 per cent with their body shapes and 43 per cent exercised obsessively.

Experts are now calling for action in improving the detection of ‘early-onset’ eating disorders among young children, but more needs to be done to help GPs recognise the symptoms.

Care services minister Paul Burstow commented on the study findings and expressed that the coalition Government is committed to improving mental health among the entire population, which is why they are investing £400 million to expand psychological therapies over the next four years.

‘Some of this funding will enable the development of stand-alone programmes that seek to extend access to these therapies for both children and young people’.

‘Early intervention is essential for those with eating disorders’.

If you are concerned about eating disorders and would like to find out more then please visit our fact-sheets for further information. To talk to a counsellor about this matter please visit the homepage and use the search tool to locate a qualified professional in your local area.

View the original article.

Orthorexia is the term used to describe an obsession with only eating what are deemed to be ‘healthy’ foods, and see’s sufferers cutting out certain food groups as well as becoming preoccupied with exercise.

The National Centre for Eating Disorders (NCFED) has said they receive in excess of 6000 calls and emails per year from young people struggling with orthorexia and have raised concerns about the fact that many vulnerable teens who are in this group are instead considered to be going through a stage of trying out ‘fad’ diets.

NCFED psychologist and eating disorder specialist Deanne Jade, said: “Orthorexia is a disorder not many people are familiar with and it’s not just a wish to eat in a healthy way. It’s really something that increasingly dominates your life. Within this disorder, there are a lot of rules about food, such as eliminating carbs, meat or fat.”

Jade also said that sufferers may experience anxiety when eating out or in front of people, a sign that it is serious if it is beginning to affect your social life.

“I call orthorexia the first cousin of anorexia. The people who show signs of orthorexia could go on to develop other illnesses and have serious health problems in the future.” Said Jade.

If you are concerned you may be suffering from an eating disorder then your first port of call should always be your GP who will be able to provide you with professional advice and support. It also helps many individuals to confide in someone they trust, as this will allow you to outlet your feelings. If you would like to talk to a counsellor in confidence about this matter then please visit our homepage and use the search tool to locate a qualified professional in your local area.

View the original article here.