Alli Spotts-De Lazzer, M.A. - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
Posted by in Blog The idea of someone not skinny—let alone “fat”—with anorexia nervosa goes directly against how the disorder is depicted in the media. For example, when you think of anorexia, what image comes to your mind? Is it the gaunt model on the runway? The back view of the ultra-thin female curled up so you can see…Read more »
Posted by in Blog The media has portrayed the looks of the three most well-recognized eating disorders—anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder (BED)—as distinct, and judgments are often made about the severity and social stigma of each. OSFED, which stands for “other specified feeding and eating disorder,” is the catchall term for behaviors and attitudes almost fit one of the other three. It, too,…Read more »
Posted by in Blog While reading about treatment guidelines for eating disorders, I ran into this fairly recent study on the duration until recovery from eating disorders. Try to take a breath before you read this next part, the quote from an article, Clinical Approach to Eating Disorders: An Update, by Hay and published in 2020. EXCERPT “Research supports…Read more »
Posted by in Blog We live in a diet-minded culture. The annual revenues of our diet industry exceed $60 billion. About 90 million people in the United States are on a diet each year, which is almost one-third of our nation’s population. Daily, our technology and media offer a relentless flow of messages: we need to “lose weight,” “get…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Recently, Marti Noxon told her recovery story in film, To the Bone. It has stirred quite a lot of controversy from people saying it furthers old myths, doesn’t show appropriate treatment, is outdated, perpetuates stereotypes, and more. OK. All these may have truth. AND I have some compliments for this Hollywood warrior who bravely told…Read more »
Posted by in Blog A while ago, my colleague and friend, Dr. Lauren Muhlheim, and I wrote a paper (Eating disorders and scope of competence for outpatient psychotherapists). While researching potential medical consequences of different eating disorder behaviors, we came across something that is supposedly not common and there is very few articles on it: acute massive gastric dilatation.…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Quite a few months ago, I read “Habit learning and anorexia nervosa: A cognitive neuroscience hypothesis,” by Steinglass and Walsh. This research revealed that a person with anorexia nervosa might actually make food decisions from an area of the brain associated with the habit. This may help to explain why it can be so difficult for…Read more »
Posted by in Blog The following blog is intended to help loved ones to understand what having an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other specified and unspecified feeding and eating disorders, and likely avoidant/restrictive feeding and eating disorder) can/might feel like for the person who is afflicted. Please feel free to see if it helps…Read more »
Posted by in Blog The following continues to be the most influential combination of words in my life. This hung on a plaque in my childhood home (Thank you, Mom and Dad). I remember being so young and fascinated by it–sounding out the words. I remember going to the family room dictionary (Yes, a big, big paper one with…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Organic. Pure. Clean. Healthy. Great words. And wanting to pursue a ____________ (insert whichever word applies in the blank–Organic. Pure. Clean. Healthy) lifestyle often is inspired by good intentions. However, for some of us, things can go haywire. Instead of ____________ (insert whichever word applies in the blank–Organic. Pure. Clean. Healthy) improving our lives and…Read more »