Articles — food

Binge eating disorder or BED is a syndrome characterized by repeated occurrences of binge eating. It involves consumption of a large quantity of food and the feeling of loss of control over the behavior. Obese adults with binge eating disorder complain of lower quality of life in regards to work, sexual life, and self-esteem. Many adults with this disorder also have anxiety disorders, depression, and some with substance abuse. BED represents the most common eating disorder in our population, yet some insurance companies will not pay for treatments of this disorder. BED typically begins in the teenage years or adulthood...

The term “organic” is often loosely defined, and may differ region to region, although  the universal goal of organic farming (utilizing natural techniques, maintaining ecological balance, and conserving biodiversity) tends to remain the same all over the world. Furthermore, organic foods are never treated or processed using synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical additives. Organic foods have gained a particular popularity among consumers in current years, for a variety of reasons. An increase in ecological awareness accounts for a portion of this rise in popularity, as organic farming typically minimizes negative environmental consequences by forgoing potentially toxic pesticides...

The characteristics of a child’s home life that affect the child’s dietary behavior is referred to as: the family food environment. The family food environment can include everything from the nutritional knowledge of a parent, to family income, and even to food availability in the home. Lower income families with less access to healthy foods end up promoting an environment for obese children who consume mainly high-calorie and high-fat foods. In a recent study, parents were provided with nutritional information and encouraged to purchase low fat food products. The participants were given private meetings with a dietician to make the...