Generally speaking, an eating disorder is an illness in which a person has an abnormal relationship with food and their body. There are various components of eating disorders, including both a behavioral (physical) element and a cognitive (mental) element. The physical part of the illness can include behaviors such as when someone actively restricts the number of calories they eat, or they overeat and then purge to attempt to avoid gaining weight. There is also the cognitive part of the disorder,

One of the most common complaints to health care providers and health plans comes when a patient receives a bill for a service that the patient assumed would be covered completely. In many cases, this is because health plans typically cover preventive care in total, but may not completely cover diagnostic care. And if a clinician provides both preventive and diagnostic care during the same visit or procedure, you may have to pay some portion (such as a copayment,

The holiday season, those last few months of the year that are chock-full of events and parties and family gatherings, can be a pretty overwhelming time if you don’t feel in control of your body or your ability to make good food choices. This is an excellent time to use the principles of Intuitive Eating: eat when you’re hungry, eat until you are satisfied, and choose foods that make you feel good. Intuitive eating is learning to listen to your body’s cues to make the right food choices for you.

There are two different sources of nutrition labeling information provided on packaged foods that can help you make more informed and better choices for a healthy diet. They are:

• Nutrition Facts label
• Ingredient List

As I discussed in a recent blog, there have been changes to the information shown on the nutrition facts label. But now let’s review how the Nutrition Facts label can help you make smart,

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated a redesign of the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods and beverages. The new design is meant to be easier to read and to provide more useful nutritional information that will help you make informed decisions about the foods you purchase and consume.

The Nutrition Facts label was last updated in 1993. Since that time, nutrition research has provided new information to health experts and identified new ways to help people develop and sustain healthier eating habits.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic, widespread, achy musculoskeletal pain that occurs throughout the body. FM impacts the central nervous system, which affects the way the brain processes messages.

It is the second most common rheumatic disorder after osteoarthritis affecting 2–8% or millions of Americans. Women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia more frequently than men (about 80% vs. 20%), and it is more common in young to middle-aged women.

Sending your kids off to college for the first time can stir up a myriad of concerns. Are their classes all set, do they have everything they need for their dorm, will they get along with their roommate, will they eat right, do they know how to do laundry? This year, my twin daughters are joining the group of incoming freshman, and I’m joining the group of emotional parents that are left behind.

We have written a few blogs about the importance of eye examinations for both adults and children, but the type of eye exam you have is also important to understand as it may result in different out-of-pocket costs depending on your health plan. This blog explains what a routine eye examination is, what a medical eye examination is, and when and why a routine eye exam may become a medical eye exam.

We are making strides in our understanding that sexual identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation are not black and white but exist on a continuum. Supported by a growing body of medical research, science is proving that being LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning) is not “a choice” or “a mental disorder” and cannot be changed through any means – it is who each person is intrinsically wired to be.

But sadly,

As New Englanders, we have usually earned our summertime and make the most of the season by enjoying outdoor activities and outdoor meals bursting with summer’s freshest flavors. Over the next 2-3 months, many of us will try to cram in a busy social season with picnics, barbecues, and informal meals al fresco.

The summer does not need to be a time to abandon healthy principles, and in fact, many of us find that summer is an easier time to enjoy more vegetables and fruits.