Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE Nutrition Expert

My next stop on my Dietitian journey through the Internet brings me to the
Hispanic Foodways and Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE 

"Food is not just nourishment, it's part of culture.
It helps people celebrate, mourn and mark life's important moments."

- Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE

Lorena Drago is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, author and consultant. She is senior associate director of Ambulatory Care Nutrition Programs at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx and maintains her own private practice.

Lorena is the owner of Hispanic Foodways, which specializes in the multicultural aspects of diabetes self-management education, creating culturally and ethnically-oriented nutrition and diabetes education materials. She is the author of Beyond Rice and Beans: Caribbean Latino Guide to Eating Healthy with Diabetes and a contributing author and co-editor of Cultural Food Practices and Diabetes.

Lorena has appeared on several TV shows speaking about diabetes management, including The Early Show, CNBC's dLife TV and New York’s “ Diálogo con Glenis” a live Spanish community cable show, where she discusses nutrition and diabetes, topics especially relevant to the Latin community of the Bronx.

Lorena served on the American Association of Diabetes Educators board of directors and volunteered as a nominating committee chair of the Member Interest Group Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition; chair of the American Diabetes Association Latino Committee and as past president of the Metropolitan New York Association of Diabetes Educators in 2004.

Drago graduated from Hunter College of the City University of New York with a Masters of Science degree in Food and Nutrition, and received her BA in Home Economics, Food and Nutrition from Queens College.

AADE 2009 - Lorena Drago
Interviewed by Hope Warshaw

Summary: Beyond Rice and Beans: Caribbean Latino Guide to Eating Healthy with Diabetes. Written in Spanish and English, the book features new food pyramids and menu plans specifically designed for the Latin American palate from all over the Caribbean. It is a great resource for dietitians and people who want to manage their diabetes but don't want to sacrifice cultural identity. The book shows Latin Americans with diabetes how they can easily design meals that fit into a healthy lifestyle without giving up taste or familiar staples. Included are a Latin American food dictionary, advice on handling holiday meals and how to decipher Spanish food labels.

To learn more about Lorena Drago and the Hispanic Foodways visit the following links:
Websites. Hispanic Foodways; Lorena Drago
Facebook. Hispanic Foodways
LinkedIn. Lorena Drago
Twitter. @lorenadrago

Thank you for joining me. Dietitians and Dietetic Associations Worldwide have provided me an opportunity to explore numerous specialties, cultural diversities, advances in research, legislative news, current events, ADA campaigns and creative new recipes.

Until next time, have a healthy journey.

Healthy Weight Week Resources

In celebrating Healthy Weight Week, we looked at Weight Bias, Body Image, Self-Esteem, Lifelong Healthy Habits, Identifying Fad Diets and Beauty Comes in All Sizes and Shapes.
It is crucial to continue research and education. Eating disorder or disordered eating affects up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide.  (Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources, October 2003)

Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents. (Public Health Service's Office in Women's Health, Eating Disorder Information Sheet, 2000).

A young woman with anorexia is 12 times more likely to die than other women her age without anorexia. (Mortality in Anorexia Nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152(7), 1073-1074).

Five to ten percent of people with anorexia die within ten years of onset, 18 to 20 percent die within twenty years of onset, and only 50 percent report ever being cured. Without treatment, up to 20% of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, the mortality rate falls to 2 to 3%. (American Psychiatric Association (1993), "Practice Guidelines for Eating Disorders." American Journal of Psychiatry, 150 (2), pp 212-228).

20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems. (Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, "Eating Disorders 101 Guide: A Summary of Issues, Statistics and Resources," published September 2002, revised October 2003).

It is estimated currently 11% of high school students have been diagnosed with an eating disorder. (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)

51% of 9 and 10 year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet. (Mellin LM, Irwin CE and Scully S: Disordered eating characteristics in girls: A survey of middle class children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 1992; 92:851-53)

42% of 1st to 3rd grade girls want to be thinner. (Collins M.E., 1991. Body figure and preferences among pre-adolescent children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 199-208.)

81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. (Mellin LM, Irwin CE and Scully S: Disordered eating characteristics in girls: A survey of middle class children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 1992; 92:851-53).

91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted "often" or "always". (Kurth CL, Krahn DD, Nairn K and Drewnowski A: The severity of dieting and bingeing behaviors in college women: Interview validation of survey data. Journal of Psychiatric Research. 1995; 29(3):211-25).

Resources and Support
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) provides education, resources and support for those individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves to prevent, cure and access quality care. NEDA sponsors events, programs and research on eating disorders, and contains a section on its site featuring recent news articles and information.

Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). The Academy for Eating Disorders aims to provide comprehensive information on the facts of eating disorders, treatment plans and education to prevent others from developing eating disorders.

Alliance of Eating Disorders Awareness was created as a source of community outreach, education, awareness and prevention of the various eating disorders. Their goal is to spread the message, recovery from these disorders is possible, and individuals should not have to suffer or recover alone.

American Dietetic Association.  Provides nutrition resources about eating disorders, including an extensive nutrition reading list.

American Obesity Association (AOA). AOA is the leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity. They are committed to encouraging research on the causes and treatment of obesity, and to keeping the medical community and public informed of new advances. AOA provides obesity awareness and prevention information.

Andrea's Voice Foundation (AVF) is dedicated to promoting education and understanding toward the prevention, identification, diagnosis and treatment of disordered eating and related issues. The site has a section for poetry, a blog, media, presentations and ways you can help.

Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) is the national organization focusing on increased prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for Binge Eating Disorder.

BodyImageHealth.org introduces a model for a healthy body image and provides a variety of resources to help children and adults develop a positive body image, effective eating habits, nutritional health, fitness and weight.

A Chance to Heal offers body image and media literacy programs for youth, body image and eating disorder prevention workshops for those who work with youth, eating disorder prevention workshops for healthcare providers and body image workshops for adults.

Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, Inc. An activist group influencing public opinion and policy through education, information and networking.

Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA). A 12 step self-help fellowship for anorexics and bulimics. EDA offers membership to any person who needs help recovering from an eating disorder. The site has meetings around the United States, publications, recovery information, EDA news and helpful links to other sites.

Eating Disorders Coalition.  The goal of Eating Disorders Coalition is to "advance the federal recognition of eating disorders as a public health priority." The nonprofit organization lists the federal policy on its website, congressional briefings, events, information/resources on eating disorders and a blog.

Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN) is a nonprofit organization committed to the prevention of all types of disordered eating, from obesity to anorexia, and the promotion of positive body-esteem through education, outreach and action.

Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center (EDRIC) includes links to sites which provide additional information on eating disorders and related topics.

Eating Disorders Resource Center (EDRC) is a non-profit organization that links resources, information and support for eating disorders in Silicon Valley. The mission of EDRC is to increase awareness and understanding of eating disorders for the general public and health professionals; to promote early diagnosis, effective treatment, and recovery; and to advocate for mental health legislation and effective insurance coverage. EDRC offers a comprehensive, online resource directory.

F.E.A.S.T.  Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders is an international organization providing support to families and friends of those suffering from eating disorders. The site announces events and conferences, groups around the world, treatment providers, online caregivers and current news.

Fed Up Girl is a non-profit foundation educating young girls on body image, self-esteem and balanced living to prevent eating disorders. Founded in Los Angeles by two women who recovered from years of battling eating disorders, the program is available free of charge to groups of girls age 6 to 17. The program is tailored for each age group and provides access to some of the most current research in creating positive body image and self-esteem.

Healthy Weight Network provides information and resources pertaining to “health at any size”.

International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP) is well recognized for its excellence in providing education and training standards to an international multidisciplinary group of various healthcare treatment providers and helping professions, who treat the full spectrum of eating disorder problems.

Kristen Watt Foundation provides support for those suffering with eating disorders. The site has sections for parents, friends and coaches. They are dedicated to increasing awareness of eating disorders, education and treatment.

Multi-Service Eating Disorders Association (MEDA) is a nonprofit organization working to prevent and treat eating disorders. Their aim is to do this through early detection and increased public awareness. This site has events listed, resources and a place for individuals to join the organization.

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) seeks to alleviate the problems of eating disorders by educating the public and healthcare professionals, encouraging research, and sharing resources on all aspects of these disorders. Their website includes information on finding support groups, referrals, treatment centers, advocacy and background on eating disorders.

National Association for Males with Eating Disorders, Inc. (N.A.M.E.D.) is dedicated to offering support to and public awareness about males with eating disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders provides information on anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, the affect eating disorders can have on men, treatment options and helpful resources and links.

Perfect Illusions. Discover what an eating disorder is, find help and resources, and look into the lives of several individuals and their families who are struggling with the consequences of anorexia and bulimia.

The Renfrew Center. Residential treatment facility specializing in eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders) and related mental health issues. The Renfrew Center is a women's mental health center with locations in Philadelphia and Radnor, Pennsylvania; Coconut Creek, Florida; New York City; Old Greenwich, Connecticut; Ridgewood, New Jersey; Charlotte, North Carolina, Nashville, TN, Dallas, TX, and Bethesda, MD.

Something Fishy.  The website gives detailed information on most aspects of eating disorders, such as defining them, preventing them, finding treatments and paying for recovery.

Womenshealth.gov The National Women's Health Information Center is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The site has information on body image, cosmetic surgery, eating disorders, and a list of links to various informational websites.

Books

Study: Kids Skipping Meals, Snacking More from WABC-TV/DT

Recently, WABC-TV/DT reported on a new survey by the American Dietetic Association. The study looked into eating habits of children and found a high incidence of skipping breakfast and dinner but snacking a lot.

Keri Gans, a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and spokesperson for the ADA stated: "We should make sure our refrigerators are well stocked with healthy snack items."

To read the full article go to the following link:

 Study: Kids Skipping Meals, Snacking More

Healthy Weight Week Awards for Healthy Body Image and Slim Chance

Healthy Weight Week features the  Healthy Body Image Awards and the Slim Chance Awards.  This is a brief overview of the winners from Healthy Weight Network. 

Healthy Body Image Awards

Awards presented to programs whose mission is to promote the importance of a positive body image. Education focuses on prevention and reducing the risk factors associated with poor body image and the obsession with thinness.

A Chance to Heal (ACTH). Their mission is to prevent the incidence and reduce the impact of eating disorders and promote the importance of positive body image by educating parents, young people, educators and healthcare professionals. A Chance to Heal Foundation was started in 2004 by Ivy Silver and her daughter Rachel. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization representing all eating disorders from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and body dysmorphia. ACTH serves the Delaware Valley with a wide range of programs and services aimed at high school girls and educators, parents and healthcare professionals.

Healthy Body Image curriculum. Developed for 4th to 6th grades, this school program was designed by Kathy Kater, LIC SW, a psychotherapist, author and consultant, specializing in body image, eating, fitness and weight problems. Students learn to develop positive body images, appreciate inner strengths over appearance, resist unhealthy messages on weight, appearance, fitness and food, and adopt the building blocks for a healthy lifestyle. The 11 sessions are based on Kater’s book “Healthy Body Image: Teaching Kids to Eat and Love Their Bodies Too! Second Edition" and a companion volume for parents. 

Body Rocks. Blog: Body Rocks

A peer education group, Body Rocks is devoted to positive body image and eating disorder prevention in schools and communities. Created by Ann Marie Perone, a teacher at Valley High School in Las Vegas in 2006, the club hosts Eating Disorders Awareness Week and other special events. Most recently a balloon release symbolically helped students send off negative feelings and self talk, and emphasized the benefits of positive body image and self esteem.

 

Slim Chance Awards

Awards are presented in the following four categories: Worst Gimmick, Worst Claim, Worst Product and Most Outrageous. Announcement of the Slim Chance Awards occurred on December 27, 2010.

WORST GIMMICK
Lapex BCS Lipo Laser
LipoLaser promoters promise: “Lose 3 ½ to 7 inches of fat in 3 weeks; proven inches lost, without diet or exercise. The LipoLaser is the only non-diet, non-invasive, pain-free way to lose inches of fat." Studies are missing to show this works. The company claims shining the lighted device on a pocket of fat gives results “almost exactly the same as exercise” only instead of “hormones opening the fat cells with exercise, the Laser light opens the fat cells right through your skin”, thus resulting in fat and weight loss.

The FDA classifies the device as an infrared lamp rather than a laser. The price range is about $1490 to $5000 for a program of nine, one-hour sessions. The LipoLaser received negative ratings on a few online diet review sites. One user states, "False Advertising, No Results, Will Not Honor Results Guarantee: The LIPO LASER treatment does not work. The business advertised that it could spot treat fat and liquefy the fat and drain it out of your lymph system with instant results and full results with a series of treatments. After finding out it didn't work and and being charged $2500 for this service (both my husband and I tried it and it didn't work for either of us), I called for our money back guarantee. DO NOT SPEND MONEY ON THIS!!!"

WORST CLAIM
Ultimate Cleanse states "the body must be detoxified regularly to get rid of wastes and toxins." Cleansing programs are often high-risk and contain powerful laxatives. Ultimate Cleanse combines cascara sagrada and a potent laxative. In 2002, cascara sagrada was  banned as an ingredient in over-the-counter drugs. The product allegedly cleanses five areas (bowel, liver, kidneys, lungs and skin) as well as bloodstream, cells and body tissues. There is no proven safe or effective dose for cascara. Long-term use may lead to potassium depletion, blood in the urine, irregular heart function, muscle weakness, finger clubbing and cachexia (extreme weight loss). Regular use is linked to increased risk of hepatitis and colorectal cancer. Though banned as a drug, cascara sells in dietary supplements through a legal loophole.

WORST PRODUCT
HCG Supplements HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced during pregnancy. It claims to reset the hypothalamus, improve metabolism and mobilize fat stores. There is no scientific evidence supporting HCG treatment as a weight or fat loss method. Advertisers claim, “You easily can lose 1 to 2 pounds per day safely! Shed Excess Fat. HCG resets your hypothalamus so your weight loss is permanent!” “HCG will melt fat permanently while maintaining muscle tone.” HCG does all this without exercise. The program requires a semi-starvation diet of 500 calories a day. The program often begins with a liquid fast detox period. Common short-term side effects include fatigue, headache, mood swings, depression, confusion, dizziness and stomach pain.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS (2009).The horror of this find made it worth repeating this year. Pills spiked with powerful undisclosed drugs. In 2009, the FDA found so many diet pills secretly laced with powerful drugs that it was impossible for the Slim Chance selection panel to single out any, and could only group them together as “dangerous and outrageous.” FDA cited 69 weight loss “supplements” containing hidden, potentially harmful drugs or toxic substances, most imported from China, and says there may be hundreds more. In an analysis of 28 weight-loss products FDA found sibutramine (a controlled substance) in all of them; some also contained rimonabant, phenytoin or phenolphthalein. Sibutramine is associated with high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack and stroke, and the potency in the pills tested as high as three times prescription doses. Rimonabant (not approved in the U.S.), has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe during the past two years, and to increased risk of seizures, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggressiveness and suicidal thoughts. Phenolphthalein is a suspected cancer causing agent. FDA warned consumers not to buy or use any of the 28 products. (For more information go to www.fda.gov and search “tainted weight loss pills.”)

Original article can be found at www.healthyweightnetwork.com. Francie M. Berg, MS, LN serves as chair of Healthy Weight Week. She is a licensed nutritionist, adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and author of 12 books. For bio information see:  http://www.healthyweight.net/media.htm


Her latest book "Underage and Overweight: Our Childhood Obesity Crisis – What Every Family Needs to Know” explores the facts behind the obesity crisis and provides a plan for raising confident healthy-weight children.

Francie M. Berg  fmberg@healthyweight.net
Healthy Weight Network
402 South 14th Street
Hettinger, ND 58639
701-567-2646

What is Beautiful?

Healthy Weight Week was created to increase awareness of positive body image, build self-esteem and recognize Beauty cannot be measured by a scale.

The video is a composition created from three sources,
each sharing a message about Beauty.

The first looks at the efforts women have gone through to be "beautiful"

The second is a fashion show raising awareness that beauty comes in all sizes. 

The final segment is from the Dove campaign on "Real Beauty".

Beautiful

Credits

What is Beautiful?
created by Cherish Manifold

Fashion for Everybody

benefitting Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee

Dove, http://www.dove.us/  

Acknowledging the Amazing efforts of Dove
to educate people about "Real Beauty".

"Campaign for Real Beauty"

"Dove Self Esteem Fund"

Apart of Healthy Weight Week

Sandra Frank, Ed.D., RD, LDN

http://www.dietitians-online.com/

http://www.weighing-success.com/

Self Esteem and Body Image

Apart of Healthy Weight Week

Fed Up Inc., helping build Self Esteem and a Positive Body Image

"Our mission is to prevent eating disorders by training students to become Junior Ambassadors who then educate peers and younger students about body image, self esteem and healthy living to create a world without diets and body bashing."  
   - Bridget Loves Livingston, founder of Fed Up Inc.

Fed up Inc is a Non-Profit group based in Los Angeles. They go inside “Hollywood” to get a close look at how media images are created.  They work with stylists, makeup artists, photographers, hairstylists, actors, singers, personalities, agents, producers, directors and people behind the scenes who create the art that is Show Business.  The goal is to help educate everyone on how media is created and encourage people to stop comparing themselves to these images.  Most importantly Fed Up is a grassroots campaign encouraging people to be their best individual selves.  

Perfect


Dangerous Messages

 

Body Image and Children

We can help children develop a positive body image and relate to foods in a healthy way. Here are some suggestions from Womenshealth.gov.

1. Make sure your children understand weight gain is a normal part of development, especially during puberty.

2. Avoid negative statements about food, weight and body size. Never tell your children they would be prettier and have more friends if they lost weight.

3. Allow your children to make decisions about food. Make sure plenty of healthy meals and snacks are available.

4. Compliment your children on their efforts, talents, accomplishments and personal values.

5. Encourage schools to enact policies against size and sexual discrimination, harassment, teasing; support the elimination of public weigh-ins and fat measurements.

6. Keep the lines of communication open between you and your children.

7. A parent is a role model, set an example by eating healthy and exercising.

Sarai Walker, the author of Building a Better Body Image states, "Include women of all ethnic and racial groups, age groups, sizes, abilities, and sexual orientations in your circle of friends. When we expose ourselves to the rich and varied experiences of all women, our narrow ideas about beauty and  bodies often change.

Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day January 18, 2011

Fad diets usually refer to unconventional eating patterns promoting short-term weight loss, usually with no concern for long-term weight control. These diets become quickly popular and just as quickly lose appeal. Fad diets generally disregard or refute what is known about the basic association between dietary patterns and human health. Extreme fad diets may lack energy, protein, vitamins and minerals essential for growing children.

How to Spot a Fad Diet

Does the food plan make any of the following Claims or Statements?
1. Recommends a quick fix solution.
2. Sounds too good to be true.
3. Recommendations based on a single study.
4. Recommendations that ignore the differences between people.
5. Requires you buy a product or the program will not work.
6. Eliminates one or more of the food groups.
7. Draws simple conclusions from a complex study.
8. Dramatic results questioned by established scientific communities (ADA, AMA, NIH, etc..)

This is an Example of a Fad Diet and it can Kill You!
The Tapeworm Diet 

Hollywood's Craziest Diets

These recommendations are NOT FAD DIETS.
The books represent healthy food plans and lifelong strategies to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

The Small Change Diet: 10 Steps to a Thinner, Healthier You

A Look at Weight Bias

During Healthy Weight Week, the issue of Weight Bias is addressed. The three videos reviewed look at this subject from the academic perspective, a personal view and government intervention. Though the videos discuss weight bias in relationship to overweight and obesity, the very thin often are a target of weight bias.

Weight Bias
Overweight and obese youth frequently are teased, harassed and mistreated because of their weight. Weight-related teasing ("weight bias") can have a damaging impact on both emotional and physical health. The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University (http://www.yaleruddcenter.org) created this video to help parents and teachers understand the severity and impacts of weight bias in school and at home and to present strategies to help combat this problem for overweight teens and pre-adolescents.

The video host is celebrity, model and activist Emme and features Rudd Center experts: Dr. Rebecca Puhl and Dr. Kelly Brownell. The obstacles overweight and obese youth encounter with weight bias is presented using expert commentary and dramatic representation.

Discrimination Against Overweight People

"My old suitemate inspired me to make this as my final project freshman year. When she broke out of her shell and felt good about herself, her personality really began to shine. Everyone we lived with started to see past her "big girl" exterior and opened up to her more. We had creative freedom wth our final project so I decided to look at various aspects of the discrimination against larger individuals."

Should Weight Discrimination Be Illegal?

One of the Winners of the
2010 "Love Your Body" Campaign

Sarah Neuser, Eagan, MN

The National Organization for Women Foundation ("NOW Foundation") sponsors the "Love Your Body" campaign. The posters chosen demonstrate beauty is not limited by body size, body type, ethnicity, age or physical appearance. 

Resouces:

1. Understanding Size Bias, a Conversation with Rebecca Puhl

2. The Canadian Summit on Weight Bias and Discrimination

Healthy Weight Week January 16 to 22, 2011

Today is the start of Healthy Weight Week. During Healthy Weight Week attention is focused on Lifelong Healthy Habits Self-Esteem; Weight Bias; Fad Diets and Gimmicks; Women’s Healthy Weight; Health at any Size and Professional Resources. The goals are to prevent eating disorders and weight problems.

What is Healthy Weight Week?

Frances M. "Francie" Berg, MS, LN is the founder of Healthy Weight Week. She is a licensed nutritionist, family wellness specialist and adjunct professor at the University of North Dakota School Of Medicine. Francie is the author of 12 books and the founder, editor and publisher of the Healthy Weight Journal (established in 1986).

Mission
"Healthy Weight Network (HWN) provides a critical link between research and practical application on weight and eating issues. Recognizing weight is a complex condition of increasing concern throughout the world, the HWN is committed to bringing together scientific information from many sources, reporting controversial issues in a clear, objective manner and the ongoing search for truth and understanding.

Recognizing weight is an easily exploitable health and social concern, the HWN is committed to exposing deception, reshaping detrimental social attitudes, and promoting health at any size. Our mission is to be a voice of integrity and insight in a field that has been much abused and neglected."

Francie M. Berg, MS, LN
Healthy Weight Network, 402 South 14th Street, Hettinger, ND 58639
email: fmberg@healthyweight.net; website: http://www.healthyweight.net/

Every Girl Is Beautiful / Self-Esteem PSA

Do You Think I'm Fat?
A Public Service Announcement from the
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
For help visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/