# data[].attributes.body
The need for a certain amount of protein to be eaten in a given sitting. Becomes quite pricey

# data[].attributes.body
Exercise is used as a weight control method. People with anorexia nervous, their exercise habits can become as compulsive and bad just as their eating habits can be.

Having both an eating disorder and exercise addiction can hurt the following, "a person's social life, self-esteem, and personal relationships".

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In the world of mental health treatment and diagnosis, the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was the fifth edition, added many new types of illness to their records. The DSM-V added several previously excluded mental illnesses such as hoarding disorder and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. There was also a focus on the greater classification of eating disorders, with official classifications of binge eating disorder and OSFED, which can include many disparate types of disordered eating behaviors.

The DSM-V also began to include some behavioral addiction disorders - hoarding disorder is one of them, as is gambling addiction. These disorders are based on the continued, compulsive repetition of certain behaviors that cause the brain to release certain mood-elevating chemicals, especially serotonin and dopamine. So other examples that were not included in the current DSM are video game addiction or sex addiction - and especially exercise addiction. Although exercise addiction is closely linked with both eating disorders and compulsive disorders like OCD, it is not yet listed as a separate disorder in the DSM-V.
What Is Exercise Addiction?
One of the reasons exercise addiction is not classified as a standalone disorder is that its diagnosis is somewhat dependent on the personal circumstances of the individual. For example, many professional athletes work out for hours every day, beyond the point of pain or through an injury. This person may fit many of the behavioral criteria, but without an internal, compulsive need to do so. Although their health is a concern (and for weight-dependent sports like boxing or gymnastics, weight control is also a reason for excessive exercise), their exercise patterns are driven by their profession.

In a 2011 study, released shortly before the DSM-V, the authors modified the traditional criteria for defining substance addiction to apply to exercise addiction. It's not a perfect comparison, but it highlights the difference between excessive exercise and compulsive exercise; the former may be part of a larger mental health disorder such as anorexia nervosa, but might not be considered an addiction, whereas the latter may be classified as a behavioral addiction in future editions of the DSM. The authors, Marilyn Freimuth, Sandy Moniz, and Shari R. Kim, included these factors in their description:

Tolerance: increasing the amount of exercise to feel the desired effect, be it a" buzz" or sense of accomplishment;

Withdrawal: in the absence of exercise the person experiences negative effects such as anxiety, irritability, restlessness, and sleep problems;

Lack of control: unsuccessful at attempts to reduce exercise level or cease exercising for a certain period;

Intention effects: unable to stick to one's intended routine as evidenced by exceeding the amount of time devoted to exercise or consistently going beyond the intended amount;

Time: a great deal of time is spent preparing for, engaging in, and recovering from exercise;

Reduction in other activities: as a direct result of exercise social, occupational, and/or recreational activities occur less often or are stopped;

Continuance: continuing to exercise despite knowing that this activity is creating or exacerbating physical, psychological, and/or interpersonal problems.

Exercise most likely goes undiagnosed or underdiagnosed because of the positive connotations people hold about working out. Many doctors, without the benefit of knowing their patient's compulsive patterns, would applaud extensive working out, and most people outside the medical and mental health professions claim they want to exercise more. After all, drug and alcohol addiction and gambling addiction have easily noted negative effects. In fact, some studies indicate that a person who experiences exercise addiction is more likely to develop other behavioral addictions like internet or video game addiction, as well as substances. These are "negative" behaviors that most people don't see as advantageous in the way they view exercise. However, exercise addiction can wreak havoc on a person's physical and psychosocial health.
Mental and Physical Health Problems Caused by Excessive Exercise
Notably, exercise addiction can cause various physical ailments related to repetitive stresses, such as problems with the joints in the knees and ankles from running, problems with the spine and shoulders from weight lifting, and others. Because the person generally works out even after suffering an injury, they can become exacerbated and become chronic injuries. In people with cardiovascular conditions (cause by excessive exercise or not), exercise addiction can trigger or worsen dangerous symptoms like arrhythmia.

In terms of behavioral health, exercise addiction interferes with a person's social life, relationships, and sometimes work. As an example, people with exercise addiction often cancel social engagements or skip them entirely to get more exercise in. Of course, if someone schedules time to go running, it's usually perfectly normal, but when they begin to miss important appointments, it's a cause for concern. As with any addiction, it also tends to take more and more exercise to attain the same feeling, so more time needs to be devoted to it, interfering with social lives and hurting relationships. Other signs that there may be an exercise addiction might be exercising at unusual times, interrupting sleep, or exercising in bad weather like a thunderstorm or blizzard, despite the risks and discomfort.
Exercise Addiction and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
The term "addiction" is somewhat controversial among mental health professionals as it relates to exercise. Many mental health experts consider addictions to be more impulsive behavior than compulsive, in that the behavior is driven by an impulse to attain a positive feeling, rather than doing the action because of a compulsive need. Crucially, disorders that feature repetitive, compulsive behaviors like anorexia nervosa or most famously obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are not considered addictions, although the behaviors associated with them are done repeatedly and ritualistically. Many professionals prefer the term "compulsive" or "excessive" exercise to describe this situation.

OCD is a useful comparison to compulsive exercise, and not only because people with OCD have a higher risk of compulsively exercising (as well as developing certain eating disorders). It's a psychiatric disorder that causes people to engage in repetitive behaviors like hand-washing or obsessively counting objects in order to avoid what they perceive as negative consequences. OCD sufferers suffer obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and a tendency for perfectionism. All these qualities are common in people who exercise compulsively and are common in eating disorders as well.

A study performed in 2006 showed a strong link between anorexia nervosa, OCD, and excessive exercise. Among the participants, who were all anorexia nervosa patients, those who displayed excessive exercise tendencies also showed a much higher rate of OCD symptoms than those who didn't. In the context of people with eating disorders, the researchers suggested that OCD and compulsive exercise can be considered as subtypes of the same disorder. Whatever the terminology, the study makes it clear that exercise addiction and OCD share many behavioral qualities.
Exercise Addiction and Eating Disorders
Excessive exercise is extremely common in people with eating disorders that are triggered by body image and weight loss concerns. These include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorders. They can also exist on their own, so many eating disorder treatment centers have developed exercise programs specifically to treat compulsive exercise. More often, the two disorders are linked in the same person, which requires co-occurring treatment to address either one effectively. This normally does not include medication as might be prescribed for OCD, but rather progressive behavioral training therapy and other talk therapy methodologies.

Exercise is used as a weight control method for people with many eating disorders. In people with anorexia nervosa, exercise can become as obsessive and compulsive as counting calories and restricting food intake. Many patients with anorexia nervosa are put on a weight-restoration program; this usually also includes a provision limiting exercise time and strenuousness. With bulimia nervosa cases, in which individuals binge eat and then engage in compensatory purges, the classic example of purging is self-induced vomiting. However, other purging methods are sometimes used, simultaneously or alternating. These include abusing laxatives or diet pills, but just as frequently involved excessive exercising.

In a psychosocial sense, having both an eating disorder and exercise addiction can hurt a person's social life, self-esteem, and personal relationships. Discomfort at mealtimes, or refusal to eat with others, and the aforementioned social challenges caused by compulsive exercise can pile up quickly and cause the person to avoid socializing to fulfill their compulsive tendencies. Combined with the health risks that can come with these disorders, there is also a high risk for these individuals to develop depression or anxiety.
Treatment Is Possible
Although exercise addiction and eating disorders sound grim when the results are described like that, neither is a cause to lose hope for a healthier future in recovery. Treatment programs are widely available to help people recover from these kinds of mental health disorders, and thousands of people have regained their healthy selves with help from those programs. Mindful movement classes, which include low-impact, self-aware practices like yoga, nature walks, and dance classes, can be used to reintroduce exercise into a recovered person's life without promoting the kind of excessive exercise patterns that caused problems in the past. In conjunction with mental health improvement techniques like group therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, eating disorders can also be effectively treated. Most programs will be able to coordinate both forms of treatment into an integrated program.

If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, compulsive exercise, or both, don't hesitate - effective treatment is available. Reach out today to get started on the path to recovery.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Exercise Addiction Relates to Eating Disorders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the world of mental health treatment and diagnosis, the most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which was the fifth edition, added many new types of illness to their records. The DSM-V added several previously excluded mental illnesses such as hoarding disorder and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

# data[].attributes.body
There are two "seasons" every year to every gym-goer. There's cutting season and bulking season. Both are polar opposites. One, you stuff food on your plate and eat until you no longer can't. The other consists of cutting to get in shape for the summer time.

# data[].attributes.body
The use of performance enhancing drugs are nothing but harmful to our bodies. They impact the amount of testosterone in our bodies that have long lasting impacts. Increased chance of infection, high blood sugar, and cancer, is just a few of the long list of negative impacts Steroids bring to the table.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Page Not Found | National Institute on Drug Abuse

# data[].attributes.body
Video games has a role in increased child weight issues, as more children are keen on staying inside to play their favorite game rather than play with friends outside. The marketing strategy's done by large game corporations played their cards right.

# data[].attributes.body
Over the past thirty years, child obesity rates have tripled in the United States. An outlandish report has found one out of six children are overweight/obese.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Too Many Kids Are Too Heavy, Too Young

Childhood obesity has been called "one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century," and with good reason. ( 1)

Obesity can harm nearly every system in a child's body-heart and lungs, muscles and bones, kidneys and digestive tract, as well as the hormones that control blood sugar and puberty-and can also take a heavy social and emotional toll. ( 2) What's worse, youth who are overweight or obese have substantially higher odds of remaining overweight or obese into adulthood, ( 3) increasing their risk of disease and disability later in life.

Globally, an estimated 43 million preschool children (under age 5) were overweight or obese in 2010, a 60 percent increase since 1990. ( 4) The problem affects countries rich and poor, and by sheer numbers, places the greatest burden on the poorest: Of the world's 43 million overweight and obese preschoolers, 35 million live in developing countries. By 2020, if the current epidemic continues unabated, 9 percent of all preschoolers will be overweight or obese-nearly 60 million children. ( 4)

Obesity rates are higher in adults than in children. But in relative terms, the U.S., Brazil, China, and other countries have seen the problem escalate more rapidly in children than in adults. ( 5)

Of course, some regions still struggle mightily with child hunger, such as Southeastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. ( 6) But globalization has made the world wealthier, and wealth and weight are linked.

As poor countries move up the income scale and switch from traditional diets to Western food ways, obesity rates rise. ( 7) One result of this so-called "nutrition transition" is that low- and middle-income countries often face a dual burden: the infectious diseases that accompany malnutrition, especially in childhood, and, increasingly, the debilitating chronic diseases linked to obesity and Western lifestyles.

It's surprisingly challenging to track childhood obesity rates across the globe. Many countries do not field nationally representative surveys that measure heights and weights of school-aged children, or don't have repeated consistent measurements over time. Dueling definitions of childhood obesity-from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF)-further complicate matters, making it hard to compare data between regions.

This article gives a brief overview of global obesity trends in children. A related article covers obesity trends in adults.

North America

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S., and today, the country has some of the highest obesity rates in the world: one out of six children is obese, and one out of three children is overweight or obese. ( 8) Though the overall U.S. child obesity rate has held steady since 2008, some groups have continued to see increases, and some groups have higher rates of obesity than others:

In the 1970s, 5 percent of U.S. children ages 2 to 19 were obese, according to the CDC's current definition; by 2008, nearly 17 percent of children were obese, a percentage that held steady through 2010. (8,9)

Obesity is more common in boys than girls (19 percent versus 15 percent). (8)

Obesity rates in boys increased significantly between 1999 and 2010, especially among non-Hispanic black boys; but obesity rates in girls of all ages and ethnic groups have stayed largely the same. (8)

Hispanic (21 percent) and non-Hispanic black (24 percent) youth have higher rates of obesity than non-Hispanic white youth (14 percent), a continuing trend. (8)

Nearly 10 percent of U.S. infants had a high "weight for recumbent length"-a measure that's similar to the body mass index but used in children from birth to age 2. (8)

From 1999 to 2010, Mexican American infants were 67 percent more likely to have a high weight for recumbent length than non-Hispanic white infants. (8)

Canada has also seen a rise in childhood obesity since the late 1970s-overall, obesity rates have more than doubled, and in some age groups, tripled. ( 10) But childhood obesity rates are still a good bit lower there than they are in the U.S. In 2007-2008, nearly 9 percent of Canadian youth ages 6 to 17 were obese, based on the IOTF age-specific cutoffs. ( 10) Child obesity is a bigger problem among Canada's Aboriginal groups: A survey of Aboriginal groups who live outside of reservations found that in 2006, nearly 33 percent of children ages 6 to 8 were obese, as were 13 percent of children ages 9 to 14. ( 10)

Latin America and the Caribbean

Though data are scarce from Latin America and the Caribbean, it's clear that childhood overweight and obesity have become sizable problems-and that overall, more children in the region are overweight than underweight.

Preschoolers

Roughly 7 percent of children under the age of 5 in Latin America and the Caribbean were estimated to be overweight or obese in 2010, according to the WHO growth standards. ( 4) While under-nutrition remains a concern in this age group, the region has seen substantial reductions in child underweight over the past two decades, from 7 percent in 1990 to 3 percent in 2010. ( 6)

School-Age Children and Adolescents

Nationally representative data are limited in these age groups, but again, the best available data suggest that obesity has become a serious problem. In Mexico, for example, a 2006 government health survey measured heights and weights of children across the country. It found that nearly 10 percent of 15-year-olds were obese and 33 percent were overweight or obese, using the adult cut points for overweight (BMI of 25 or higher) and obese (BMI of 30 or higher), cut points that likely underestimate the true rates of overweight and obesity in adolescents. ( 11) In Argentina, meanwhile, investigators measured heights and weights from a representative sample of 1,688 children ages 10 to 11 in Buenos Aires' public schools. They found that 35 percent of the children were overweight or obese, using the CDC's definition, and about 4 percent were underweight. ( 12) Of note, stunting and overweight coexist in many developing countries, and stunting my increase the risk of obesity later on in life.

Europe

Surprisingly, Europe has less-than-complete data on childhood obesity trends, especially from eastern countries. And until recently, data were not gathered in a consistent way across the continent, making it very hard to compare numbers from country to country. But the best available estimates find that over the past few decades, obesity rates have been rising among children in many countries. ( 13, 14) More recently, rates seem to have hit a plateau in a few countries, among some age groups:

Preschoolers

Overweight and obesity rates at 4 years of age vary quite a bit from country to country, according to a recent systematic review of studies from the 27 countries in the European Union (EU). Spain had the highest rate-just over 32 percent-and Romania had the lowest rate, about 12 percent. ( 14) Keep in mind, though, that only 18 of 27 countries had data available, and often, the sample sizes were small or the data had other limitations. Five countries had repeated surveys of children ages 2 to 5, offering a glimpse of trends over the past few decades-the Czech Republic, England, France, the Netherlands, and Romania. Of those, only England showed a rise in obesity rates, from about 18 percent in 1995 to 23 percent in 2002.

School-Age Children

The World Health Organization European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative recently began tracking child obesity rates across 15 countries, using the WHO child growth standards. The first analysis, based on 2007-2008 data from 13 countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden), finds that 24 percent of European children ages 6 to 9 are overweight. ( 15) A second wave of data collection, in 2010, has yet to be reported. Over time, this survey should offer more insights into European trends within and across countries.

Adolescents

Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and England have some of the highest obesity rates among youth ages 10 to 18, according to a recent systematic review of studies from 30 countries (the 27 EU members plus Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland). ( 13) But again, the data are limited and of varying quality; only 18 of 30 countries had nationally representative data from measured heights and weights. Fourteen countries had trend data available, though some were based on self-reported measures with small samples. ( 13) Most of these countries showed increases in obesity rates over the past few decades. France, however, showed no changes in obesity rates from 1998 to 2007 in children ages 3 to 14, a finding echoed by subsequent reports. ( 16- 18) Sweden saw no change from 2001 to 2007 among 16-year-old youth, and a more recent review finds obesity rates have held steady in other age groups as well.( 18)

Africa

Hunger, underweight, and stunting have long been the more pressing child nutrition concerns across Africa, and even today, 20 to 25 percent of preschoolers in sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. ( 6) Yet here, too, child obesity rates are on the rise: The percentage of preschoolers in Africa who are overweight or obese more than doubled over the past two decades, from 4 percent in 1990 to 8.5 percent in 2010. ( 4) A closer look at the numbers, though, shows much higher rates in Northern Africa than the rest of the continent:

Preschoolers

In Northern Africa, an estimated one in six preschool-aged children is overweight or obese-the highest rate in the world, and triple that in 1990. ( 4) There's quite a bit of variability from country to country, however: About 20 percent of Egypt's preschoolers were overweight or obese in 2008, compared with 5 percent in Sudan. ( 4)

In sub-Saharan Africa, meanwhile, overweight and obesity rates among preschoolers are still in the single digits-roughly 9 percent in Middle Africa, 6 percent in Western Africa, 7 percent in Eastern Africa, and 8 percent in Southern Africa. ( 4) But for most of the region, these rates are double or triple what they were two decades ago; only Southern Africa has seen the rate drop slightly since 1990.

Children and Adolescents

There are scant few nationally representative surveys available from older youth in the region, but available data suggest obesity is increasing in this age group, as well. In South Africa, for example, only about 1 percent of youth ages 8 to 11 were overweight or obese in 1994, based on the IOTF cut points. ( 19) By 2006, about 17 percent of South African girls and 11 percent of boys ages 6 to 13 were overweight or obese. ( 20)

Asia

There's quite a bit of diversity from region to region, however. While South Asian countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan have low obesity rates, their large populations add up to large numbers of children who are overweight or obese.Even though child hunger remains the most pressing nutritional concern for much of Asia-n South Asia, for example, one in three preschool children is underweight-the region has also seen dramatic increases in child obesity. Overall in Asia (excluding Japan), nearly 5 percent of preschoolers were estimated to be overweight or obese in 2010, a 53 percent increase in prevalence since 1990. ( 4) That translates into 17.7 million Asian preschoolers being overweight or obese.

It's important to note that in Asian adults, the health complications associated with overweight and obesity start at a lower BMI than seen in the U.S. and Europe. So many of these estimates of child obesity prevalence in Asia likely underestimate the true public health burden of obesity in Asia.

Preschoolers

In 2010, preschooler obesity rates were far higher in Western Asia (which includes the Middle East) than in Eastern, Southeastern, or South Central Asia (roughly 15, 5, 5, and 4 percent, respectively). ( 4) But South Central Asia had the largest number of overweight preschoolers of any region on the world-an estimated 6.6 million children. ( 4)

School-Age Children and Adolescents

Nationally representative data are scarce for older children in Asia, but taken together, paint a worrisome picture of obesity trends. In China, over the past 20 years, nationally representative studies of youth ages 8 to 18 have shown a dramatic rise in obesity: In 1985, only 2 percent of boys and 1 percent of girls were overweight or obese, based on Chinese-specific cut points (at age 18, a BMI of 24 for overweight and 28 for obesity). By 2005, roughly 14 percent of boys and 9 percent of girls were overweight or obese-a total of 21 million children. ( 21) In India, meanwhile, the largest study to date covered five urban areas and included nearly 40,000 children ages 8 to 18. It found that 14 percent were overweight or obese-a number that, if extrapolated to urban youth across India, amounts to an estimated 15 million children. ( 20) In Western Asia, the Arabian Gulf States have especially high rates of overweight and obesity among schoolchildren. A nationally representative Kuwaiti survey in 2006 found that about 44 percent of boys and 46 percent of girls ages 10 to 14 were overweight or obese, according to the CDC's pre-2000 definition. ( 22)

Oceania

The major developed countries in Oceania-Australia and New Zealand-have childhood obesity rates in the double digits, but there's some evidence that rates have hit a plateau over the past decade. ( 18, 23)

In Australia, a systematic review of 41 studies from 1985 through 2008 found that obesity rates in children ages 2 to 18 rose through the mid-1990s, but have held relatively stable since then. ( 23) In 2008, 21 to 25 percent of Australian boys and girls were overweight or obese, and 5 to 6 percent were obese.

In New Zealand, nationally representative data show that about 28 percent of children ages 5 to 14 were overweight or obese in 2006-2007, a rate that was unchanged from 2002. ( 18) Overweight and obesity rates are much higher in some of New Zealand's ethnic groups (Maori, 37 percent, and Pacific Islanders, 57 percent), but are also largely unchanged since 2002.

The Bottom Line: It's Never Too Early to Start Preventing Obesity

Even among the youngest of children, it's clear that obesity rates are rising across the globe. Equally clear is that it's very, very hard for anyone who becomes overweight to lose weight, at any age. Preventing obesity in a child's earliest years (and even before birth, by healthy habits during pregnancy) confers a lifetime of health benefits. And it's the most promising path for turning around the global epidemic. ( 24)

References
1. World Health Organization. Global strategy on diet, physical activity, and health: childhood overweight and obesity. Accessed March 9, 2012. 6. United Nations. Childinfo.org: Statistics by area / child nutrition / undernutrition / progress. 2012. Accessed March 6, 2012. 9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NCHS Health EStat: Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963-1965 Through 2007-2008. 2010. Accessed March 2, 2012. 10. Public Health Agency of Canada. Obesity in Canada: A Joint Report from the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2011. In; 2011:12-6. 11. OECD. OECD Family Database. OECD, 2011. Accessed March 5, 2012. 15. World Health Organization / Europe. European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). 2010. Accessed March 6, 2012. 24. World Health Organization. Population-based prevention strategies for childhood obesity: report of a WHO forum and technical meeting, Geneva, 15-17 December 2009. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010. 26. World Health Organization. World Health Organization Child Growth Standards. 2006. Accessed March 5, 2012. 31. United Nations Statistics Division. Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings 2011. Accessed March 8, 2012.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Childhood obesity has been called "one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century," and with good reason. ( 1) Obesity can harm nearly every system in a child's body-heart and lungs, muscles and bones, kidneys and digestive tract, as well as the hormones that control blood sugar and puberty-and can also take a heavy social and emotional toll.

# data[].attributes.body
High-stimulated pre workouts are common for teenage and even adult use in the gym. These mixtures you put in various liquids have long term impacts, such as increased blood pressure or even increased risk of heart attack. However, that is in high dosages. Moreover, many "pre's" have over 300mg of caffeine. To compare, in an average cup of coffee, there is about 90 mg of caffeine.

# data[].attributes.body
There have not been enough studies to determine what is safe to use and what isn't. For example, creatine, a supplement taken to increase muscle mass has a slight connection to hairless. While this may appear to be something that doesn't affect someone physically, it will impact their self esteem and emotional state.

# data[].attributes.body
At some point in your exercise journey, there comes a point where supplements are introduced to you. Some of these supplements aren't necessarily healthy for daily intake.

# data[].attributes.body
While scrolling through social media, you'll notice the models and famous celebrities with profound body types. People admire and appreciate how they look and think they cannot reach the level they are at.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The rise of social media usage in today's society can have many different effects on body image and the later development of eating disorders in many individuals. Research clearly shows that media exposure contributes to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Social media is unfortunately shaping our concept of beauty. With constant exposure to images posted online, it is evident that there is a link to how individuals compare themselves and perceive their own body. There are an estimated 3.6 billion users worldwide on social media, therefore there must be negative and positive effects linked with social media users.

A negative body image can cause unrealistic expectations of how your body should look and can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and disordered eating. Studies have found a correlation between the time spent on social media and a negative body image. The correlation is especially true when participants were scrolling through appearance-related content, like accounts of a fitness instructor or model on Instagram. Social media images are filled with people presenting the best version of themselves. Social media can then hurt your body image by constantly exposing yourself to the ideal body type, leading to constant comparison of yourself to unrealistic standards. Additionally, photoshop and filters are readily available to users playing into the unrealistic body image.

However, social media can also have positive effects on body image and can promote body positivity. Viewing body-positive content on social media platforms can help individuals become more accepting and appreciative of their bodies. Additionally, social media can connect you with others to build a body-accepting community.

It is important to examine ways to use social media in a positive way to avoid a negative body image. It is important to take a break from social media if you feel worse after using it. Additionally, examine who you are following on social media and unfollow accounts if they do not make you feel good. Instead, pay attention to accounts, people, and images that lift you up. Follow accounts that promote body positivity that does not agree with the beauty standards set by society. (A great account to follow to begin your search for body positivity accounts is @realistic.body.therapist on Instagram.) Finding body-positive accounts and joining support groups can help shift your mindset about the ideal body image set by society. Furthermore, you can use your own social media to be an advocate for positive body talk. Shout out to media outlets, retailers, advertisers, and celebrity product endorsers who celebrate and promote natural looks, healthy body size, and diverse body shapes. You can take a stand and refuse to read, view, or listen to media or buy advertised products that do not promote a healthy and diverse body image.

Students should also consider participating in The Body Project or More Than Muscles programs offered through Student Counseling Services. These workshops help students develop and maintain a positive body image and are scientifically supported eating disorder prevention programs. Students will get a chance to dive deeper in conversations about the body image ideal set by society and promoted to us by the media.

For more information on how media effects body image visit https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/media-eating-disorders.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social media effects on body image and eating disorders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The rise of social media usage in today's society can have many different effects on body image and the later development of eating disorders in many individuals. Research clearly shows that media exposure contributes to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Social media is unfortunately shaping our concept of beauty.

# data[].attributes.body
A study on schizophrenia patients found that those who work out are less vulnerable to obesity. The medication they take increase risk of weight gain. There was a small study for some patients. Tehy participated in a 3-month conditioning program and the results were improvements in the weight control of the patient and reduced their blood pressure.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sir: In this era of exponential growth of the "metabolic syndrome" and obesity, lifestyle modifications could be a cost-effective way to improve health and quality of life. Lifestyle modifications can assume especially great importance in individuals with serious mental illness. Many of these individuals are at a high risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary behavior and medication side effects, including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. An essential component of lifestyle modification is exercise. The importance of exercise is not adequately understood or appreciated by patients and mental health professionals alike. Evidence has suggested that exercise may be an often-neglected intervention in mental health care.

Aerobic exercises, including jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, gardening, and dancing, have been proved to reduce anxiety and depression. These improvements in mood are proposed to be caused by exercise-induced increase in blood circulation to the brain and by an influence on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and, thus, on the physiologic reactivity to stress. This physiologic influence is probably mediated by the communication of the HPA axis with several regions of the brain, including the limbic system, which controls motivation and mood; the amygdala, which generates fear in response to stress; and the hippocampus, which plays an important part in memory formation as well as in mood and motivation.

Other hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the beneficial effects of physical activity on mental health include distraction, self-efficacy, and social interaction. While structured group programs can be effective for individuals with serious mental illness, lifestyle changes that focus on the accumulation and increase of moderate-intensity activity throughout the day may be the most appropriate for most patients. Interestingly, adherence to physical activity interventions in psychiatric patients appears to be comparable to that in the general population.

Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function. Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal. Exercise is especially important in patients with schizophrenia since these patients are already vulnerable to obesity and also because of the additional risk of weight gain associated with antipsychotic treatment, especially with the atypical antipsychotics. Patients suffering from schizophrenia who participated in a 3-month physical conditioning program showed improvements in weight control and reported increased fitness levels, exercise tolerance, reduced blood pressure levels, increased perceived energy levels, and increased upper body and hand grip strength levels. Thirty minutes of exercise of moderate intensity, such as brisk walking for 3 days a week, is sufficient for these health benefits. Moreover, these 30 minutes need not to be continuous; three 10-minute walks are believed to be as equally useful as one 30-minute walk.

Health benefits from regular exercise that should be emphasized and reinforced by every mental health professional to their patients include the following:

1. Increased interest in sex

2. Increased energy and stamina

3. Reduced tiredness that can increase mental alertness

4. Reduced cholesterol and improved cardiovascular fitness

Mental health service providers can thus provide effective, evidence-based physical activity interventions for individuals suffering from serious mental illness. Further studies should be done to understand the impact of combining such interventions with traditional mental health treatment including psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sir: In this era of exponential growth of the "metabolic syndrome" and obesity, lifestyle modifications could be a cost-effective way to improve health and quality of life. Lifestyle modifications can assume especially great importance in individuals with serious mental illness.

# data[].attributes.body
Improves upon one's self esteem because the work they are putting in will overall benefit their appearance physically and mentally.

# data[].attributes.body
Exercising reduces anxiety and depression

# data[].attributes.body
Many people believe that over time. The more you become engrossed in gym daily activites, you begin to realize you need to eat properly as well. It is very common for professional athletes to count calories, as well as meal prep. However, for the average man/women, this can become an unhealthy habit. I have seen instances where they cannot eat a certain fruit or item without adding it to their food calorie counter.

# data[].attributes.body
The gym allows for people to focus on themselves, and forget any worries they may have outside working out.

# data[].attributes.body
Nearly half the population in the US are obese. Clearly this is an issue, and lifting/working out pushes against the horrible disease. This comes directly from the site, Trust for Americas Health.

# data[].attributes.body
While in the gym, whether that is working towards muscle building. Or whether it is for weight loss. It's all the same. There will always be someone that you aspire to look like. This creates struggle in one's head. They begin over-thinking and believing they are not good enough

# data[].attributes.headline
Is there a connection to eating disorders?

# data[].attributes.subject
Is there a connection to eating disorders?