• The Forum Moderator

    Welcome. Our event will begin in just a few minutes.

  • The Forum Moderator

    We’re so glad you could join us. We will begin shortly.

  • The Forum Moderator

    This event is in collaboration with PRI’s The World. Take a look at their “Across Women’s Lives” section to see coverage of a plethora of issues that impact women in particularly. http://www.pri.org/verticals/across-womens-lives

  • The Forum Moderator

    The PSA you just saw is courtesy of the National Eating Disorders Association.

  • The Forum Moderator

    Dr. Field is an investigator with the Growing Up Today Study, which is following factors that impact children’s health. More info is here: http://gutsweb.org/

  • The Forum Moderator

    This event also is part of the Dr. Lawrence H. and Roberta Cohn series.

  • The Forum Moderator

    Dr. Weigel is from a center that is focused on eating disorders at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA. That center’s website is here: http://www.mcleanhospital.org/programs/klarman-eating-disorders-center

  • Fredrick Agyekum

    Is it possible body builders male and female to have eating disorders?

    • The Forum Moderator

      Thank you for this question. We have passed it along.

    • Tom Weigel

      Yes, this is quite common–there are similar issues in wrestling where someone needs to make their “weight class” at a certain time.

  • The Forum Moderator

    We will have a Q&A at the end of this event. Post your questions here. Or email them to theforum@hsph.harvard.edu

  • The Forum Moderator

    This news clip is courtesy of Reuters. We thank them for letting us use it.

  • Kia

    What is EDNOS?

  • Angela

    Can some of the physical consequences of eating disorders be reversed, specifically bone frailty and reduced heart size?

    • The Forum Moderator

      Thank you for this question. We’ll pass it along.

    • Tom Weigel

      Reduced heart size is typically reversed once someone is at a healthy weight and without eating disorder behaviors for about six months.

  • Debbie

    I’m recovering from anorexia and want more than anything to “pay it forward” by helping others who might be struggling and spreading the word on how frightening and serious these illnesses are. How can I help?

    • The Forum Moderator

      Thanks so much for posting here. Debbie. I am really glad to hear that you are in the process of recovery. We have passed along your question, but we can also ask Claire Mysko from NEDA after the event and share what she says. She likely has some guidance.

      • Debbie

        Thank you for addressing during the webcast. I am looking into the NEDA Star program and would love to hear from Claire if/when she’s able.

    • Kathryn

      NEDA has a host of volunteer opportunities if you are looking to get involved https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/positions/volunteer

  • jessica sides

    is there any push to require coverage for dietitians on the outpatient level?

  • Jill Hahn

    How much is known about adults who have suffered chronically since childhood from an eating disorder?

  • The Forum Moderator

    Thanks to all our viewers. We are passing along these wonderful questions for our Q&A. We will get to as many as we can. We will ask our panelists to come here after the event, too, to see if they can answer questions.

  • Rebecca

    How static are the diagnoses? In other words, do people shift between AN and BN and BED, or do people seem to be stable in one diagnosis over the life-course? How has the addition of OSFED to the DSM 5 changed the way clinicians diagnose eating disorders?

    • Tom Weigel

      It is common for patients to move form Anorexia to Bulimia. Also, depending on their phase of recover, someone may meet different diagnostic criteria at different points in time. OSFED, as you mentioned, could be used for someone closer to recovery. That being said, many people with OSFED are quite ill.

  • Kia

    I was just about to ask a question regarding body image in different ethnic groups- I’m glad it was mentioned. What would the moderators like to do in the future regarding the body image challenges that minorities may go through. For example, as a woman of color, I find that there is pressure to fall into “Eurocentric” ideals that is perpetuated by the media. If I walk into any beauty store, I can easily find skin bleaching cream on the shelves, and have recently received criticism for no longer straightening my hair and the impact it will have on my prospects for obtaining a job after grad school. How do members of the panel seek to treat this?

    • Christin Walker

      That’s a great question. There are stigmas that are associated with having dreads and women not fitting a certain stereotype. I feel like there is a fine line that has to be followed in order to penetrate certain occupational fields

  • Christin Walker

    As an athlete, there are many pressures to maintain certain weights. What is the best way to go about creating change and refocusing these stressors.

  • Christina

    I am a former fashion model and I am now doing evidence-based research in the fashion industry regarding eating disorders. One serious concern I have about BMI cutoffs, is that you are saying you are identifying a health/mental health problem in the model that are under the BMI cutoff, but you are then abruptly ending their provision and work from them without offering any type of help or recovery program. I think if we are truly helping the model – we need to offer help and provision if we are ending their livelihood for having a problem. I would love to hear your thoughts as a panel.

  • The Forum Moderator

    We thank you all for joining us today. I know we were unable to get to everyone’s questions, but we will ask our panelists to come here later to see if they can respond. And we thank you all for watching.

  • The Forum Moderator

    Thank you again. Join us again on September 29, 1-2pm, for a discussion about Zika in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Beyond: Risks and Response. ForumHSPH.org.

  • victoria

    Is this going to be aired again?

    • Forum Staff

      The video will be uploaded on this page shortly!

  • The Forum Moderator

    We have been asked about how to watch this again. The video will be posted on demand on this site tomorrow. It already is available on the Forum Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Forumhsph/ and we will post the video on YouTube and iTunes too.

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: Please talk about boys and males with eating disorders. Are they falling through the cracks more than females?

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: What kind of outreach is being done in new immigrant and ethnic communities where parents may not be fluent in English?

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: What can be done to change the “medical necessity” criteria used by health insurance companies to deny the adequate number of days needed in residential treatment or partial hospitalization programs?

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: What happens to people on Medical who are diagnosed with an eating disorder?

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: For those who are food insecure, is there a type of eating disorder that is characterized by irregular eating patterns (e.g. binge-eating when there is food, followed by periods of acute starvation state due to lack of food)? How does this relate to the “obesity paradox”?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sally received via email: Do families with relatives with a mental health diagnosis and/or substance use concerns have children more likely to develop an eating disorder? Are some individuals genetically more at-risk of developing an eating disorder?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sally received via email: What can be done to stop health insurance companies from using “medical stability” as a criteria for shorter stays in residential, partial hospitalization, and outpatient treatment programs? This seems to be “weighted” towards individuals diagnosed with anorexia. But, many people with an eating disorder are diagnosed with bulimia, binge eating or with eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS).

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sally received via email: How common is it for someone with an eating disorder to have one or two additional mental health concerns (like anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, etc.)?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sally received via email: What programs can be put in place to provide pre-teens with healthy body image messages?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sally received via email: What can be done to educate athletic coaches to stop emphasizing weight (e.g. in wrestling, swimming, gymnastics, track and field, etc.)?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Shreya (India) received via email: Can the risk for eating disorders be genetic ?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from David (WHO, Switzerland) received via email: Should there be a target discharge BMI for all anorexics admitted to hospital? If so, what should it be? Why?

  • Forum Staff

    Question received via email: Do children from wealthier socioeconomic backgrounds tend to have eating disorders more than children from ‘disadvantaged’ socioeconomic backgrounds? And if so, why?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Sylvia received via email: How does having multiple major surgeries from which one is unable to recover in the expected time affect one’s body image and emotional health?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Donna received via email: More evidence in the study of ED and obesity is pointing to our food supply and/or food use and the use of chemicals in agriculture and manufacturing as exposing people (especially genetically vulnerable individuals) to unknown pathogens. The human body, including the neuroendocrine and HPA axis, is vulnerable to the effects of these agents. This is only one possible factor among many for the subclinical and clinical incidence of ED in the US. Please discuss.

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Trupti (Jodhpur School of Public Health) received via email: What is the prevalence of eating disorder in South Asian countries?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Trupti (Jodhpur School of Public Health) received via email: What are the risk factors for binge eating?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Trupti (Jodhpur School of Public Health) received via email: What treatment options are available in terms of psychotherapy for binge eating as well as for bulimia?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Trupti (Jodhpur School of Public Health) received via email: How does depression and anxiety affect eating disorders, and visa versa?

  • Forum Staff

    Question from Trupti (Jodhpur School of Public Health) received via email: How is one’s mental health affected by different eating disorders?