We are BACK! After a hiatus where host Naomi Charalambakis Wilkerson learned some hard lessons during maternity leave AND starting a new job, Picture Blurrfect kicks off Season 4 with Dr. Pamela Keel of Florida State University! Author of "The Voide Inside: Bringing Purging Disorder to Light," Dr. Keel shares how she identified and named purging disorder, an entirely distinct eating disorder rather than a subset of another as long believed. Additionally, Dr. Keel shares the results of a recent paper her lab published that examines the relationship between plasma interleukin-6 levels (e.g., inflammation) and binge-eating spectrum disorders.

Papers Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Campanile et al., (2024): Elevated interleukin-6 in women with binge-eating spectrum disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders. Volume 57, Issue 7.

Dr. Keel's Book:

• The Voide Inside: Bringing Purging Disorder to Light (Oxford University Press, 2020).

Binge-Eating Study:
If you: 1) have binge eating disorder; or 2) are part of a support group (Whatsapp, Facebook, in person, etc) or currently work with an eating disorder coach or therapist, and are interested in participating in a study exploring sensory strategies for binge eating, please take the screening survey located at BeyondBingeEating.com/Survey. Any questions can be directed to kdobyns@mymail.ciis.edu

Eating Disorder Resources
Remember, you are not alone, and help is available

• National Eating Disorders Association - Screening Tool
• National Alliance for Eating Disorders - Support Groups
• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) - Support Groups

E-mail Naomi: naomi.charalambakis90@gmail.com
Happy to hear feedback, ideas, concerns, or anything on your heart and mind.

Naomi closes out Season 3 by reflecting on the interviews and experiences over the last year and for the first time, shares some questions she's gotten from you--the audience! How does one prepare for the holidays when in recovery? How do you approach someone you fear is struggling with an eating disorder?

*Note: Picture Blurrfect will be taking a hiatus until June-July 2024 as Naomi welcomes her new baby girl into the world and learns how to be a mama!

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you're struggling: naomi.charalambakis90@gmail.com

Dr. Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis joins the podcast to share her vision for how technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used to improve accessibility of eating disorder treatments. Naomi and Dr. Fitzsimmons-Craft discuss her work with Tessa, a rule-based chatbot that the National Eating Disorders Association recently used (and took down) to prevent eating disorders and help folks with body image concerns. While technology is not yet perfect, there is incredible potential for these tools to improve accessibility and enable more people to get the care they deserve.

Learn more about Dr. Fitzsimmons-Craft's research and background here.

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E-mail: naomi.charalambakis90@gmail.com