Eating Disorders: Focus On Bone Health

Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Some eating disorders greatly increase your risk for developing poor bone health/osteoporosis. Don't underestimate the importance of keeping your bones strong and healthy.

Risk Factors

• Female
• Older age
• Family history of osteoporosis or broken bones
• Being small and thin
• Certain race/ethnicities (Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino ... African Americans are also at risk)
• History of broken bones
• Low sex hormones:Low estrogen levels in women, including menopause
• Missing periods (amenorrhea),Low levels of testosterone and estrogen in men
• Diet
• Low calcium intake
• Low vitamin D intake
• Excessive intake of protein, sodium and caffeine
• Inactive lifestyle
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Certain medications such as steroid medications, some anticonvulsants and others
• Certain diseases and conditions such as anorexia nervosa, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal diseases and others.

More info:

• More Risk Factors
• Risk Groups
• Prevention
• Treatment
• Bone Mass Measurement: What The Numbers Mean
• Anorexia and Osteoporosis
• What People With Anorexia Nervosa Need To Know About Osteoporosis
• What Parents Need to Know About Children's Bone Health
• Bone Density Test

Why Exercise Is Important To Bone Health:

• Bone is living tissue and becomes stronger by exercising (just like muscle does)
• Regular exercise will increase bone density
• Bone density begins to lessen when we reach our 30's (so starting a regular exercise routine in our 20's and continuing it throughout life can prevent bone loss)
• Increases balance, strength, and coordination (lessening our risk of falling)

Weight-bearing exercise is the best choice for bone health. You can vary your choice of exercises to get the best benefits and to keep it interesting.

* Please note that you should always check with your physician before starting any exercise routine. In addition, special care must be taken if you already have low bone density or osteoporosis and the advice of a professional /specialist should be sought and followed.


Examples Of Low and High Impact Weight-Bearing Exercises:

• Hiking
• Jogging
• Walking
• Climbing Stairs
• Dancing
• Tennis
• Weight-Training
• Jumping Rope
• Soccer
• Basketball

More on Exercise and Bone Health:
Bone Builders: Exercise
Childhood and Adolescence


Don't forget the importance of good nutrition. Eating properly is essential to not only bone health, but overall health as well.

A Sample Of Foods That Help Bone Health:

• Seeds
• Nuts
• Leafy Greens
• Oysters
• Beans
• Fish
• Dairy
• Fruit
• Molasses
  

A Sample Of Things To Avoid:

• Too much salt
• Alcohol
• Coffee (more than 2 cups per day can increase bone loss)
• Smoking
• Diuretics
• Sugary Drinks
• Poor Nutrition
• Purging
• Lack of Physical Activity

More on Nutrients Important To Bone Health:

Calcium Counts (pdf )
Other Nutrients and Bone Health At A Glance (pdf)

Check out these Bone Health Orgs/Sites for more Information, Resources, and Help:

• National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF.org)
• International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOFbonehealth.org)
• Bone Health For Life Org
• Best Bones Forever Gov
• Osteopenia.com
• Better Bones.com
• National Institute of Arthritis Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS)
  
• Promise To Me
  

sources linked above
picture source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/s-t-r-a-n-g-e/2306555723/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Articles On Eating Disorders

The Mind/ Body Dialogues Teach UNH Students TO Love The Genes They Were Born With

Alexis Macarchuk

Student volunteers took to the stage Monday night in the University of New Hampshire's second production of the Mind/Body Dialogues, which celebrated Love Everybody Day.
The cast of 11 assembled to perform the scripted dialogue, which tackles a number of body image issues ranging from anorexia, bulimia and obesity to drug addiction.

Kathleen Grace Bishop, the director of Education Promotion, said, "This dialogue is important because everyone could use some help related to their body image. This is a lifelong struggle for people."

Hosted by the Office of Health Education and Promotion, the play was intended to spark discussion on campus about how people view themselves and treat their bodies.

The event illuminated some startling statistics while sharing a number of poignant experiences related to body issues.
In a survey conducted at UNH in 2001 aimed at finding where UNH stands on body issues, 25 percent of students had symptoms of eating disorders and over half the people surveyed said they knew people with eating disorders.
Linda Hayden, who oversees the fitness and wellness program at UNH, believes this unhealthy behavior related to diet and exercise on college campus happens for a number of reasons.
Hayden believes the media, advertising, and peer pressure influences students. These sources try to tell students how they should look and what their bodies should look like.

The Mind/Body Dialogues try to dispel the myth that there is only one set image of beauty and health.

"A healthy body image is when you appreciate your body for what it is, when you realize that you don't have to change it," Bishop explained. "Love the genes that you were born with. Try to remember that everyone is beautiful in their own way."
Kayleigh, a sophomore who attended the play and requested anonymity, said she liked the story about a mother of four who likes her body most when she's in the grocery store.

Read in full here.

Judge Approves Settlement Of Suit Against Aetna Over Coverage For Eating Disorders.

Healthy Habits: Eating Disorder Warning Signs

By NANCY HUFFMAN
Eating disorders are serious conditions that cause physical and emotional damage. I know you can't force a person with an eating disorder to change their behaviors or beliefs, but you can make a difference by showing that you care, offering your support and encouraging the person to seek professional help. While people with eating disorders usually try to hide the problem, there are warning signs you can watch for. My heart goes out to the families of those with this disorder. If you're looking for a good reference site, check out Anglefire.com. It's a great site that deals with eating disorder issues and offers some of the signs that might be present.

Note: Any combination of these symptoms can be present in any eating disorder, and not all signs are always present in every person who engages in these behaviors.

Signs of food restriction:

Wearing baggy clothing (to hide weight loss)

Making excuses for not eating

Obsessively measuring/weighing food

Looks pale

Constantly feeling cold at normal room temperatures

Read in full here.

Eating Right for Bone Health

By Jovanda Biston

Osteoporosis is normally associated with older women. That is because this disease of the skeleton, in which bones become brittle and are prone to fracture, usually occurs in women over 55 years of age.

But it can also affect men and younger women.

What may be even less well-known is that steps to prevent primary osteoporosis, which commonly occurs after menopause or develops due to age-related bone loss, should ideally be taken from as early as childhood.

The World Health Organisation said bone formation is most active during childhood and adolescence and that bone length and girth increase as the teenager grows, ending at early adulthood when peak bone mass is attained.

Dr Manju Chandran, a consultant endocrinologist at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), said: "It has often been said that osteoporosis is a paediatric disease that manifests in geriatric times."

Dr Chandran is director of SGH's osteoporosis and bone metabolism unit, the country's first and only unit that caters specifically to the management of patients with osteoporosis and other bone disorders. He explained that getting your bones in peak shape during the growth period from puberty to the early 20s is extremely important. It will pay off in your later years.

The attainment of peak bone density or mass is heavily influenced by nutrition, hereditary factors, hormonal effects and the environment. The growth years are thus crucial to averting the risk of osteoporosis in later life.

Dr Chandran said that people who have a history of an eating disorder in their growing years can develop secondary osteoporosis. This type of osteoporosis occurs as a result of the treatment of another disease or condition, or as a result of the condition itself.

Read in full here.

sources:http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202425462558&pos=ataglancehttp://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2008/10/24/News/The-Mindbody.Dialogues.Teach.Unh.Students.To.Love.The.Genes.They.Were.Born.With-3504155.shtml http://health.asiaone.com/Health/Wellness%2B%2540%2BWork/Story/A1Story20081025-96299.html http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20081027/LIFESTYLE/810270319 picture source:bigfoto.com

Anorexia and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become fragile, increasing the risk of breaking. It can progress painlessly if not prevented or if left untreated.

"Any bone can be affected, but of special concern are fractures of the hip and spine. A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity."

Women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.

Risk Factors

• Certain people are more likely to develop osteoporosis than others. Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and broken bones are called "risk factors." Many of these risk factors include:
  
  • Being female
  • Older age
  • Family history of osteoporosis or broken bones
  • Being small and thin
  • Certain race/ethnicities such as Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino although African Americans are also at risk
  • History of broken bones
  • Low sex hormones
    
    • Low estrogen levels in women, including menopause
    • Missing periods (amenorrhea)
    • Low levels of testosterone and estrogen in men
  • Diet
    
  • Low calcium intake
  • Low vitamin D intake
  • Excessive intake of protein, sodium and caffeine
  • Inactive lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Certain medications such as steroid medications, some anticonvulsants and others
  • Certain diseases and conditions such as anorexia nervosa, rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal diseases and others.

The Anorexia Nervosa-Osteoporosis Link

From the National Institutes of Health's Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center

Anorexia nervosa has significant physical consequences. Affected individuals can experience nutritional and hormonal problems that negatively impact bone density. Low body weight in females causes the body to stop producing estrogen, resulting in a condition known as amenorrhea, or absent menstrual periods. Low estrogen levels contribute to significant losses in bone density.

In addition, individuals with anorexia often produce excessive amounts of the adrenal hormone cortisol, which is known to trigger bone loss. Other problems — such as a decrease in the production of growth hormone and other growth factors, low body weight (apart from the estrogen loss it causes), calcium deficiency, and malnutrition — contribute to bone loss in girls and women with anorexia. Weight loss, restricted dietary intake, and testosterone deficiency may be responsible for the low bone density found in males with the disorder.

Studies suggest that low bone mass (osteopenia) is common in people with anorexia and that it occurs early in the course of the disease. Girls with anorexia are less likely to reach their peak bone density and therefore may be at increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture throughout life.

Helpful links:
What People With Anorexia Nervosa Need To Know About Osteoporosis
National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF.org)
Bone Density Test


Sources: linked in post.