demi lovato

An eye opening report from CNN highlights how prevalent ED is in our culture.

The report uses a 10 year old girls' body dysmorphia to highlight how a young impressionable girl (or guy) might slip into unhealthy disordered eating. (article is here)

"Shae" felt pressured by older peers to lose "a few extra pounds."  Her mom panicked and did what she thought would be the best thing for Shae - tried to entice her to eat more and then tried to force her to do so.

 The gradual weight loss was not immediately noticeable to Shae's mom, even the pediatrician stated Shae was still in the "healthy" weight range for a girl of her age and height (at a checkup that was still in the early stages of the eating disorder).

 Eventually, beyond the physical symptoms, her personality went though a change as she became withdrawn, anxious and depressed.

 Shae eventually was hospitalized numerous ties until she started to turn to healthier eating patterns while in treatment at Remuda ranch.

Social Pressure Leads to Distorted Self Body Image (or Body Dysmorphia)

 Younger and younger children are being affected by societal pressures to lose weight.  Kids today are exposed to many more messages about body image - even when those messages are couched in a positive campaign like one about "fitness" or an "anti obesity campaign."

- even if they are victims of the "most dangerous disorder in the DSM -IV"(the treatmetn practitioner's "bible" of psychological issues).

Eating Disorders are Somewhat Hereditary 

 There are certain genetic traits that are passed along to children that might make them more prone to anorexia.  Examples of these include:

• perfectionism
• high levels of anxiety
• obsessive-compulsive tendencies
• depression
• addiction

What to Do If your Tween is Exhibiting Symptoms of Bulimia or Anorexia

 GET HELP.  It is very important that you get help quickly from an Eating Disorder professional.

  Feel free to contact our treatment center for a referral in your area.

In October, Lovato spent three months in an inpatient rehab facility in Illinois after her parents staged an intervention and told her that she needed help. Her parents got concerned after they noticed Lovato had a nervous breakdown.

Lovato’s nervous breakdown peaked while she was on tour with the Jonas Brothers in November. Lovato punched another dancer in the face while on a flight to Peru over a misunderstanding. 

In April, Lavato quit her popular Disney show and wants to focus on her singing career. After she quit, Disney representatives said in a statement, “We respect Demi’s decision to focus full-time on her music and not immediately return to her acting career.”

In an interview with 20/20 she said her disease started when she was a little girl. At school she said she was a victim of bulling. Lovato said that she did not know why the kids where so mean to her and the only excuse they would say is because she was fat.

Lovato told People magazine that she stopped eating at 12-years-old. She lost 30 pounds and weighed 95lbs at 5ft 3in. When she was 15 she was only eating two meals a week, but her body had become adjusted and was no longer losing weight.

Then Lovato tried other forms of unhealthy weight loss. She started using laxatives and during the filming of Disney’s Camp Rock she began suffering from bulimia. Lovato said, “At my worst, I was doing it five times a day. I threw up so hard and so much it was just blood in the toilet.”

Her eating disorder was also accompanied by self-mutilation. Lovato would take blades and cut her wrists as a way, as she said, “relieving pressure when I was stressed and had anxiety.”  She said that she was 11-years old when she first cut her self. “It was a way of expressing my own shame, of myself, on my own body” Lovato said.

Lovato would hide her scares and new wounds with bracelets and makeup until one red carpet pose showed her scares for the first time. After her scares were exposed she assured her family that everything was alright, but continued cutting herself in other places. She said she was being sneaky.

Now after eating disorder rehab she said it’s the first time she has been able to feel good. She recently got a new tattoo across her wrist that reads “stay strong”. The tweet that followed her bikini body exposure read, “I've been working so hard to get healthy and fit… I want any girl/guy out there who struggles with body image or confidence to know that it IS possible to find peace with yourself.”