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Rethinking Child Health: A Holistic, Inclusive Approach to the AAP’s Obesity Guidelines Overview In an era where the scales of children's health are tipping more than ever, the American Academy of Pediatrics ( AAP ) has introduced a seminal set of guidelines targeting childhood obesity, a condition that, according to 2017-2020 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , affects nearly one in five children and adolescents in the United States. The shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic has only darkened this picture, with experts attributing the rise in obesity rates to factors like diminished physical activity, increased screen time, and a turn towards more processed foods. Even though research has suggested just how horrible processed foods really are for the human body- let alone a growing adolescent body. This is not just a transient wave but a rising tide, with the rate of childhood obesity seeing an alarming 2% increase during the pandemic, marking a continued u

By Alexxandra Stark | Eating Disorder Therapist to be | Recovery Hype Girl Hey Recovery Hype Squad 🌟 TL;DR Today, we're diving head first into some deep water. We are attempting to explore an area that's been in the shadows of society for a long time, but is so crucial for us to understand and address: the unique challenges and experiences men, especially men of color, face with eating disorders. The conversation is changing, and it's time we open up the conversation about this important topic. *Potential Trigger Warning* & *Disclaimer* Navigating the Complex Terrain of Diagnosis: For far too long, men of color struggling with eating disorders have been navigating a landscape filled with misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Why? Well, societal stereotypes and a lack of awareness have painted a picture that doesn't include them. The result? These brave souls might not even see their struggles as symptoms of an eating disorder or might encounter healthcare providers who

Navigating Life's Risks: An Intro to Harm Reduction Picture this: speeding down the highway, jamming to your favorite playlist. Or maybe that first-time nervousness about "the talk" with your parents.  Life's full of all these risks, right? But what do we do? Do we hide away at home from the world and spend our time avoiding life? Nope- we adapt, innovate, and find our groove. Seat belts (click click) for the drive, safety chats for relationships, and creative alternatives to dangerous or unpredictable life events. Now, imagine substances – they’re kinda part of the modern world, just like those things above. Enter: Harm Reduction. Wait, before you X out of this tab, please note! This isn’t just your typical “be safe” spiel. It’s an epic mindset shift that’s all about reducing the pitfalls of drug use and championing personal choice. Imagine having the freedom to navigate your choices, but with a safety net. And get this – it's not just about common sense. Har

Hey friends!  🌟 If you've ever felt trapped by thoughts about food, weight, or your body, this is for you. Today we're diving into the sneaky ways eating disorders try to mess with your mind. Let's expose them together! 1. Ever-Changing Targets 🎯 You know how video game bosses get harder every time? Eating disorders are like that. They might promise you'll feel better if you hit a certain weight or skip that dessert, but once you get there, they change the rules. It's a never-ending game of chasing a "perfect" that doesn't exist. 2. The Numbers Obsession 🔢 Ever caught yourself stressing over calories, macros, or some other food number? Eating disorders LOVE this. They might even make you believe you've eaten way more than you actually have. It's like your brain playing tricks on you. 3. The "Ideal" Body Myth 💭 Eating disorders might whisper that you need to look a certain way to be liked or popular. Reality check: Bodies change. I

Navigating the Intricate Web of All the things Eating Disorders 🕸️ Eating disorders are not just mental illnesses; they're these intricate tapestries, interwoven with these intense threads of emotion, self-perception, relationships, aspirations, and even our hobbies.  They don't just touch one part of a person's life; they envelope it, consuming it whole, casting shadows over mental and physical well-being, friendships, personal values, and passions. 🌪️ Understanding the multi-layered nature of eating disorders means realizing that their treatment cannot be one-dimensional. Recovery is a journey, one that must be as comprehensive as the disorders themselves. 🧭 But healing isn't only about individual transformation. To truly combat the roots of these disorders, we need collective action. Broad societal strategies can amplify the ripple effect, turning individual recovery into waves of change in communities. 🌊 Remember, tackling eating disorders means understanding th

Let's all boycott the BMI!? Say what?! BMI is it really the golden standard for health assessment? Let's break it down. 🧐 At any point in your life have you had to come face to face with society's definition of health? I am talking about the superficial number that your gravitational pull to the earth gets measured by. AKA your body mass index (BMI).  Maybe you found it out through an uneducated doctor who happened to mention it to you, or maybe you even sought it out using an online calculator, or perhaps a treatment center used it to track your "progress".  Maybe, pre-DSM-5 it was used as a way to diagnose your eating disorder. Or not diagnose you. (OOF do we have a long way to go as a society) But aside from all the BS about the BMI,  is there even a scientific backing for this formula that is so commonly used in healthcare as a measure of health? I did some research on the subject and decided to share my results with all of you! Goals: hopefully by seeing i