Walden Behavioral Care Offers Free Binge-Eating Disorder Event
Friday, April 27, 2012
The event, scheduled for Wednesday May 9th inside Assumption’s La Maison Auditorium, will explore the factors that lead to binge eating. Walden manager Jennifer Smith says the event is particularly important, because binge-eating is often overlooked and dismissed.
“This population (of people with Binge-Eating Disorder) is grossly underidentified and underserved,” Smith said. “About 20 percent of the people that are obese have Binge-Eating Disorder, and we view them as just lacking willpower. So there is a lot of shame that goes with it, and people do not recognize that this is a bona-fide mental condition.”
Walden offers care for numerous eating disorders, including binge-eating, anorexia and bulimia. Smith says that they focus on both nutritional treatments-educating people on what and how much they should be eating- as well as behavioral treatments that help people understand what leads to their binge eating.
“We want to help people understand why they are eating, and we want them to get to the point where they can eat a meal and be satisfied,” Smith said. “We want people to understand why they turn to food. What makes them feel vulnerable, and how they can manage their emotional needs without food.”
Binge-Eating Disorder affects about 2 million Americans, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The institute also says that one in five women have reported binge-eating problems. Despite the extensive prevalence of the disorder, the event’s featured speaker Kelly Stellato knows we still have much to learn about it.
“Binge-Eating Disorder can be medically, psychologically and socially devastating,” Stellato, a registered dietician and licensed nutritionist at Walden, said. “It is the most common and perhaps least understood eating disorder.”
The event is scheduled to run from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. The program is free, or $25 for those seeking continuing education credits. Those who would like to register online can do so here, or call Katie FitzGerald at 781-647-2929. The deadline for registration is April 30th.
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