--Meeting time and location changes—

CONTACT:

Erin Lounsberry, 779-2981, lounsberrye@trinityqc.com

Pam Samuelson, 779-2809, samuelpa@trinityqc.com

The Quad-Cities Eating Disorders Support Group will change their meeting time as of April 1 to 6-7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of the month. The group also will now meet at the Trinity Enrichment Center, 4622 Progress Drive, Suite A, Davenport. There will no longer be a separate meeting for parents and friends, but they are welcome to attend any of the other two sessions. Groups are co-facilitated by an individual who has sustained recovery from an eating disorder and clinicians trained in the treatment of eating disorders.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as many as 10 million females and one million males in America are fighting an eating disorder.

The support group is a project of the Eating Disorders Consortium, a community partnership of area agencies devoted to sustaining recovery for those struggling with an eating disorder. The consortium includes the Amy Helpenstell Foundation, the Robert Young Center for Community Mental Health, Marriage and Family Counseling Service, the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend, the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education and Jacobs-Thoms.

There is no cost to attend the support group. For more information, call support group facilitators Betsy Zmuda Swanson at (309) 786-3006, or Scott Stange at (309) 779-2049.

WHAT IS AN EATING DISORDER?

From National Eating Disorders Association (www.edap.org)

Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.

They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life threatening consequences for females and males.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.

Symptoms include:

·         Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level

·         Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”

·         Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss

·         Loss of menstrual periods

·         Extreme concern with body weight and shape

BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food-more than most people would eat in one meal--in short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising.

Symptoms include:

·         Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging

·         Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness

·         Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)

·         Frequent dieting

·         Extreme concern with body weight and shape

BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.

OTHER EATING DISORDERS can include some combination of the signs and symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, and/or binge eating disorder. While these behaviors may not be clinically considered a full syndrome eating disorder, they can still be physically dangerous and emotionally draining. All eating disorders require professional help.