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Why there should be more communication between professionals working with eating disorders in South Africa. April 14, 2012 by Montrose Manor

by Linda Swanepoel, occupational therapist at Montrose Manor.

I have been working with eating disorders for many years and have often wondered what is actually happening in this field in the rest of South Africa. It was for this reason that I decided to plan a trip to Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban to meet with professionals working with Eating Disorders.

I started out knowing only a handful of people, but by the time I left for the trip I had filled 2 weeks with appointments. My plan was to learn what services and facilities are available for treating Eating Disorders, what approaches people are now using and also to inform other professionals about Montrose Manor as Montrose has always been better known to overseas referrers than to South African referrers.

I was impressed from the start at the enthusiasm and interest that almost everybody I contacted expressed. They all seemed very eager to talk about their own work and to find out about Montrose Manor. It seemed that everyone was feeling the lack of communication in this area.

I was also relieved to realize that the approach to the treatment of Eating Disorders has changed significantly and more and more professionals are moving away from the focus on calorie counting and weight, but rather on forming a healthy relationship with food and balanced eating.

Clients with Eating Disorders are definitely on the increase! Unfortunately the financial demands of providing affordable treatment for this condition is extremely challenging, as the staff/client ratio is so high and the treatment is slow and intense. Never the less, most of the hospitals and clinics I visited were full with a waiting list. Although some offered a 3 month program, similar to Montrose, many provided shorter treatment periods of 3 to 6 weeks. Medical Aid pays for 21 days, which is not nearly enough. The psychosocial programs were all fairly similar, with strong cognitive behavioral theme. None of them offered dialectics which is a coping tool taught at Montrose Manor that has proved very useful in the management of Eating Disorders.

The lack of primary treatment was also of great concern and as a result a few professionals were making plans to start a primary care facility. As anorexia also has a strong OCD component, focus on calorie counting and weight at this stage has not been beneficial as clients then have to “unlearn” these habits when they start secondary.

Although there was one workshop being offered a few days after I left, most of the people I visited felt isolated and there was little knowledge of what each other are doing. Unlike Europe and America, South Africa does not seem to have organized many workshops or conferences for Eating Disorders. Many of the professionals I met with were planning the trip to Europe to attend the BEAT EDIC conference in London. It would be really exciting if more could be done in our own country!

Eating Disorders - What You Can Expect When Your Daughter Has Anorexia January 17, 2011 by Melanie Wunderlich

Most people at some point or another have heard that eating disorders are about control. Control for what you might ask? There are several possibilities; one of which is the person feels she has no control over her environment, but she does have control over what she does or does not put in her mouth. No one can force her to eat, thus she has a perceived sense of control.

My Daughter Has an Eating Disorder - How Did I Not See the Signs of Anorexia? January 17, 2011 by Joerg Wunderlich

One of the main reasons parents miss the signs of a developing eating disorder is because it usually happens gradually; and whether it takes several months or a year, it does not happen overnight. When girls as early as eight years old are wanting to diet and dieting is now the norm instead of the exception, a girl losing some weight does not necessarily mandate hitting the panic button.

Bronwen's Way - The Story of How I Overcame 25 years of Anorexia and Bulimia January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

For years I unknowingly lived in a world that seemed to me to hold nothing but fear. I was afraid of everything; especially myself, but at the time I knew no different. 25 years of Anorexia/Bulimia had become so much part of my life, that it was as unimaginable to live without, as the fear, intense self-hatred and feelings of worthlessness, I had also lived with, for as long as I could remember.

Eating Disorders - Five Things Parents Can Do to Help Their Child Beat Anorexia January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

When you are helping your child beat anorexia, there are definitely things you will want to do and some you will not. Let me tell you some things you can do to have a huge impact on your daughter’s recovery and will make life a lot easier for all of you.

Anorexia Nervosa - Five Things Not to Do If Your Child is Anorexic January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

If you wonder whether or not you are taking the right approach with your child’s anorexia, this is the article for you. Let me give you five quick tips for what not to do when helping your child beat anorexia.

My Daughter Has Anorexia - FAQs For Eating Disorder Parents January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Why can’t she just eat? She can’t eat because the eating disorder won’t allow her to. It sounds bizarre, but when your daughter crossed the invisible line between losing weight and anorexia, she may as well have entered the Twilight Zone. And like it or not, you are there with her and nothing is as it appears.

Bulimia And Anorexia: 5 Common Reasons January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

While some people like eating and eat very much, others consider eating as a hard work due to their loss of appetite. These are two sides of eating disorders: bulimia and anorexia. The disorders occur because of psychological and physical problems. To relieve them, it is the most important to determine exactly their reasons.

Diagnostic Criteria Of Anorexia Nervosa January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Eating disorders can be broadly classified in two categories (1) Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where the sufferer refuses to maintain a healthy body weight and has obsessive fear of gaining weight, combined with a distorted self image. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food.

Startling - Male Anorexia Does Exist! January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Male anorexia or also known as ‘Manorexia’ was typically thought to be a disorder affecting only teenage girls or women. It is however, just a term generally used to distinguish male patients suffering from anorexia. Whatever the name given, just like anorexia, Manorexia is subject to the same consequences as the one affecting their female counterpart.

Dealing With Eating Disorders January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

It is not weak to have an emotional issue. This is our brain protecting us so we can cope with hurt, loss, depression, despair, abuse etc. The first step is to acknowledge that there is an issue and then ask for help. If you are suffering from Bulimia you need specialist help with learning to eat again. Bulimia occurs when we try to lose weight or maintain a certain size by dieting or depriving ourselves.

Symptoms of Anorexia January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Anorexia Nervosa is a life threatening condition that can put a serious strain on many of the body’s organs and physiological resources. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person’s normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight.

Anorexia Negative Effects January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Somebody with anorexia nervosa would certainly have to seek therapy given that this disorder is an eating condition that is likewise related to psychological issues. Young folks with anorexia should be granted immediate treatment given that complications might arise from this simple but threatening problem.

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Anorexia Nervosa is a life threatening condition that can put a serious strain on many of the body’s organs and physiological resources. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person’s normal body weight. Anorexia is a very common neuropsychological disorder that has a very high incidence in the young population.

Anorexia Information January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Anorexia nervosa is categorized as an eating problem strongly linked with psychological condition. The fact is, anorexia strikes a minimum of seventy million folks across the world therefore causing protein-energy malnutrition frequency based on the World Health Organization. In the U. S. alone, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that this eating disorder carries a prevalence of 5.6 % per 10 years leading all other conditions amongst females.

Anorexia: Not A Beauty Statement, Just A Disease January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

In light of French Supermodel Isabella Caro’s death on November 17th 2010, there has been a sudden surge in the media attention concerning anorexia and other eating disorders prevalent in the modeling industry for decades. Caro, whose death was only reported a few days ago, was considered the face of anorexia. The model had been been suffering from it since the age of 13.

Something You Should Know About Treatment for Anorexia January 17, 2011 by Montrose Manor

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an irrational fear of gaining weight coupled with a relentless pursuit of becoming thin. Anorexia is usually seen in adolescents and young women although men and children are also likely to experience the condition. Due to the distorted view of one’s body weight that anorexics suffer from, they resort to self starvation through dieting, fasting, and purging in order to continuously shed off pounds.