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Food Addiction: Is it a Thing? Implications for Treating Eating Disorders

A Part of SunCloud's Continuing Education Series of Events
Food Addiction: Is it a Thing? Implications for Treating Eating Disorders? Presented by: Dr. Nicole Avena, PhD April 21, 2023. Overeating and obesity pose significant public health problems and can have life-long co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. While there are multiple contributing factors in the obesity epidemic, recent scientific studies show overeating and obesity can be linked to alterations in the brain that resemble those seen with drug addiction. Dr. Avena will review the concept of “sugar addiction” and describe the research studies supporting behavioral indications of addiction that have been found in response to overeating highly-processed foods typically rich in added sugars. She will discuss the neuroscience studies showing alterations in the brain reward system in response to overeating. Lastly, there will be an interactive discussion of the benefits and challenges of bridging the concept of addiction to sugar and food into treatment for other eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Learning Objectives:
  1. Analyze the latest scientific research on food addiction as it relates to body weight and food cravings.
  2. Explain how the criteria for addiction have been identified with processed foods.
  3. Discuss the psychology of abstinence from or restriction of processed foods within the context of eating disorder treatments.
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Watch the Presentation

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Highlights from the Presentation

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About the Speaker

[one_third]Dr. Nicole Avena[/one_third] [two_third_last]Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She is a research neuroscientist and expert in nutrition, diet, and addiction, focusing on nutrition during early life, pregnancy, and women’s health. She has done groundbreaking work developing models to characterize food addiction and the dangers of excess sugar intake. Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups, including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.[/two_third_last] [/colorsection]   Joint Accreditation Statement

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.

 

Food Addiction: Is it a Thing? Implications for Treating Eating Disorders?

Presented By:
Dr. Nicole Avena, PhD April 21, 2023.

Overeating and obesity pose significant public health problems and can have life-long co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. While there are multiple contributing factors in the obesity epidemic, recent scientific studies show overeating and obesity can be linked to alterations in the brain that resemble those seen with drug addiction. Dr. Avena will review the concept of “sugar addiction” and describe the research studies supporting behavioral indications of addiction that have been found in response to overeating highly-processed foods typically rich in added sugars. She will discuss the neuroscience studies showing alterations in the brain reward system in response to overeating. Lastly, there will be an interactive discussion of the benefits and challenges of bridging the concept of addiction to sugar and food into treatment for other eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.

Learning Objectives:
  • Analyze the latest scientific research on food addiction as it relates to body weight and food cravings.
  • Explain how the criteria for addiction have been identified with processed foods.
  • Discuss the psychology of abstinence from or restriction of processed foods within the context of eating disorder treatments.

Video: Watch the Presentation

Video: Highlights from the Presentation

About the Speaker

Presented by:Dr. Nicole Avena, PhD

Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She is a research neuroscientist and expert in nutrition, diet, and addiction, focusing on nutrition during early life, pregnancy, and women’s health. She has done groundbreaking work developing models to characterize food addiction and the dangers of excess sugar intake. Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups, including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Joint Accreditation Statement:

Joint Accreditation Statement: In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Galen Mental Health.  Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.

Rachel Collins, LCSW
Site Director of Northbrook PHP and IOP

Rachel Collins, LCSW, is the Site Director of SunCloud Health’s Northbrook Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs for both adolescents and adults. Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and went on to complete her master’s degree in social work from Michigan State University. She has since worked in a wide range of settings, including inpatient treatment, PHP/IOP programs, therapeutic group homes, and private practice. Rachel specializes in treating trauma (using Cognitive Processing Therapy) and anxiety, practicing through a relational, compassionate, and client-centered lens. She is passionate about creating a therapeutic space in which clients feel safe and able to explore various parts of themselves with curiosity as opposed to judgement. In addition to her leadership and clinical work, she is passionate about creating art, and learning about the intersection between creativity and mental health.

Kayla Corirossi, MA, LCSW
Site Director, Naperville PHP/IOP (Adolescents & Adults)

Kayla Corirossi, MA, LCSW, is the Site Director of SunCloud Health’s Naperville Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs for adolescents and adults. She brings extensive experience working with individuals across the lifespan, including adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations, and specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, trauma, substance use, family systems, forensic populations, and individuals in crisis.

Kayla has worked in a wide range of clinical and community settings, including community-based interventions, police crisis response, correctional facilities, inpatient treatment, PHP/IOP programs, and with vulnerable and underserved populations. In addition to her clinical and leadership work, she is passionate about providing mental health education and advocacy within the community.

Kayla earned her Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychology and Sociology from Aurora University and went on to complete her Master’s degree in Forensic Social Work, also at Aurora University. Her clinical approach is evidence-based, compassionate, trauma-informed, and integrative, emphasizing collaboration and individualized care.

Driven by a personal mission to meet individuals where they are, Kayla is committed to helping clients feel safe, supported, and understood. She strives to create a natural and empathetic healing environment while ensuring individuals from all backgrounds and identities know they are not alone and have access to meaningful resources and support.

Elizabeth E. Sita, MD
Medical Director of Adult Services

Dr. Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, is a Board Certified psychiatrist specializing in the care of patients with eating disorders. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Chicago and graduated with Highest Honors. She then earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and was recognized with the Chairman’s Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She subsequently completed residency with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, where she was elected Chief Resident and received the Resident Psychiatrist Leadership & Service Award.
Upon completing her training, Dr. Sita came to Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, where she served as Assistant Medical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders and Director of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services before transitioning to lead the new inpatient eating disorder unit as Medical Director of Eating Disorder Services at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital – Chicago. In these roles, she has cared for a multitude of adolescents and adults struggling with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating disorders as well as severe, cooccurring mood, trauma, personality, and substance use disorders.
Dr. Sita has been recognized throughout her training and practice for a commitment to excellence in patient care and for her ability to engage patients in their most challenging moments. Her passions include the care of treatment-resistant eating and mood disorders as well as questions of medical capacity and end-of-life decision making.
She believes that, first and foremost, human connection is key to mental health and well-being and strives to share this philosophy in each and every patient encounter. She is excited to bring her expertise to SunCloud Health as the Medical Director of Adult Services!
 
VIDEO: Meet Elizabeth E. Sita, MD, Medical Director of Adult Services


 https://youtu.be/JbmELh2UGXE

Lacey Lemke, PsyD
Assistant Vice President of Clinical Services

Dr. Lacey Lemke (she/her) is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and the practice of medical and health psychology. She completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology with a Primary Care emphasis at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Lemke went on to complete both her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship through Ascension Health, where she gained advanced training working with individuals experiencing eating disorders and self-injurious behaviors, as well as within pediatric subspecialty settings including endocrinology, neurology, and adolescent medicine.

Dr. Lemke is deeply committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate care and collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive treatment. Her professional mission is to support patients in achieving their fullest potential by guiding them to the most appropriate level of care and empowering them to make meaningful, sustainable progress toward improved health and well-being.

VIDEO: 2. Meet Lacey Lemke, PsyD.

https://youtu.be/iKQeU9s5U2k?rel=o