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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Shelly Bar MD, 10309 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA (2026)

12/29/2025

Your Support Circle: Trusted Adults You Can Turn To 🤝

Write the name of a trusted adult—someone over 18—on each finger of your hand. These are people you can turn to when you’re struggling, especially with worries around food, body image, or emotions.

Here are some ideas of who you could include:

• 𝗔 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻
• 𝗔 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿
• 𝗔 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱/𝘀
• 𝗔𝗻 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻
• 𝗔 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

Remember, you don’t need to fill every finger. Even one trusted adult can make a difference. Every support counts, no matter how many or small. Keep this hand somewhere safe as a reminder that you are never alone.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: You can also do this activity with your child to help them identify and be more aware of the safe adults they can turn to. It can be a meaningful way to open a conversation, build trust, and reinforce that support is always available for them.

12/27/2025

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.💭

It’s common to convince ourselves that things aren’t as serious as they seem. However, denying or minimizing symptoms can delay seeking help, which may make the disorder more difficult to overcome.

Acknowledging a problem can be scary, but it’s also empowering. Here are some steps that might guide you through the process:

Self-Awareness and Acknowledgment

1. Reflect on behaviors and feelings – Notice patterns such as restrictive eating, bingeing, purging, obsessive calorie counting, or extreme worry about body image.

2. Recognize the impact – Assess how these behaviors affect daily life, mood, relationships, and physical health.

3. Accept that help is needed – Struggling with an eating disorder is not a weakness. Seeking support is a brave, necessary step toward healing.

Taking these steps helps turn awareness into action, making recovery possible. Remember, acknowledging the issue is a sign of courage, and reaching out is the first step toward healing. 🌿

Reference:

National Elf Service. (2023, March 13). Help‑seeking eating disorders: Which factors impact early intervention? The Mental Elf. https://www.nationalelfservice.net/mental-health/eating-disorders/barriers-to-help-seeking-for-eating-disorders-which-factors-impact-early-intervention/

12/25/2025

As we look back on 2025, it’s natural to notice the moments that didn’t go as planned or to feel behind on the goals you set. Take a gentle pause and remind yourself: you’ve done more than you often give yourself credit for. Each day you showed up, faced challenges, learned lessons, and kept going—that is progress, even when it feels small.

Not all accomplishments are tangible; many are the qualities you carry within—courage, growth, kindness, perseverance, self-love, strength, compassion, patience, hope—that make you stronger each day.

This holiday season, 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 🎁 Consider creating a ‘jar of reminders’ to celebrate these accomplishments, big and small, and let it inspire you as you join in the celebrations, reflect on the year, and embrace the joy, warmth, and hope of Christmas.

12/23/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸.🛑 💬

For someone living with an eating disorder, words matter more than we often realize—not only from peers or strangers, but even from those closest to us at 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲.

Casual comments, stereotypes, or body-shaming remarks—such as calling someone “fat,” commenting on weight changes, or making assumptions about eating habits—can deeply reinforce shame, fear, and disordered thoughts. What may seem harmless or offhand to one person can become a powerful trigger for another, intensifying preoccupation with food, body image distress, and harmful behaviors.

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

Choosing words that are neutral, respectful, and compassionate helps foster environments where people feel seen as more than their bodies. When in doubt, it is okay to say less—and to lead with empathy.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘁.🤝

12/22/2025

Anticipatory Worry & Relapse Prevention in Eating Disorders 🎄

The holiday season can be a challenging time for those in recovery. Research shows that people with eating disorders often experience heightened anxiety about future meals and social events, making gatherings stressful and triggering anticipatory worry.

In fact, an Australian ED helpline saw a 15–32% increase in contacts between December 2022 and January 2023, reflecting the extra stress this season can bring (Australian National Charity for Eating Disorders, 2023).

Simple ways families can help:
✨ Check in with compassion
✨ Validate feelings without judgment
✨ Offer choice & control during meals and gatherings
✨ Encourage coping strategies learned in therapy
✨ Get in touch with your ED specialist, doctor, RD, therapist, etc.

By staying mindful and supportive, we can help reduce relapse risk, foster autonomy, and make the holidays a safer, more positive experience in the simplest way we can for loved ones in recovery. 💛

Reference:
Australian National Charity for Eating Disorders. (2023). Butterfly Helpline prepares for surge in calls as eating disorder distress expected to increase this holiday season. Newshub. Retrieved from https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2023/11/butterfly-helpline-prepares-for-surge-in-calls-as-eating-disorder-distress-expected-to-increase-this-holiday-season/

12/19/2025

For clinicians and loved ones, the goal is not to argue with food-related thoughts, but to reduce their emotional impact. A therapeutic approach centers on validation, calm presence, and curiosity—acknowledging how exhausting the noise feels, gently exploring underlying emotions, and offering support without judgment or pressure. Simple, supportive language can make a meaningful difference, such as:

• “Can you tell me more about your thoughts at the moment or recently?”

• “Would you like help bringing this up with your care team?”

• “Would it help to take a few slow breaths together?”

• “I understand that sounds really exhausting to carry all day. You don’t have to act on every thought.”

💊 Additionally, in some cases, low-dose atypical antipsychotics have been used to help reduce intrusive, ruminative thoughts in select individuals, but this should always be discussed and coordinated with an eating disorder specialist or prescribing doctor.

When food noise is met with empathy rather than correction, along with appropriate professional care, individuals are better able to regulate distress, step away from harmful behaviors, and move toward recovery.

Reference:

Dhurandhar, E. J., Maki, K. C., Dhurandhar, N. V., Kyle, T. K., Yurkow, S., Hawkins, M. A. W., Agley, J., Ho, E. H., Cheskin, L. J., & Wang, X. R. (2025). Food noise: Definition, measurement, and future research directions. Nutrition & Diabetes. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40628707/

12/15/2025

Rapid weight loss can create urgent medical complications ⚠️ even with a normal BMI.

For example, heart rate can fall under 50 bpm, putting patients at risk for arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and fainting. Whereas prolonged, chronic sodium imbalance may cause renal disruption and confusion over time. These laboratory and physiological changes highlight the need for careful, ongoing monitoring to prevent further complications that can have a detrimental lifelong impact.

If you notice rapid or unexplained weight loss, whether you or a significant other, it’s essential to seek prompt medical evaluation and referral to specialists.

Early assessment and intervention not only reduce immediate medical risks but also allow for safe nutritional rehabilitation, structured monitoring, and comprehensive support, providing the best chance for long-term recovery and sustained health.

Reference: Gibson, D., Buros Stein, A., Khatri, V., Wesselink, D., Mehler, P. S., & others. (2024). Associations between low body weight, weight loss, and medical instability in adults with eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 57(4), 869–878. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.24129

12/11/2025

💔 Loneliness & Social Withdrawal in Eating Disorders

Loneliness and social withdrawal are significant factors in the severity and maintenance of eating disorders. They affect both mental and physical factors that interact in a person’s overall condition.

Early recognition is key! Signs to watch for include:
🍽️ Avoidance of meals
🤝 Reduced social engagement
🍕 Concealment of certain behaviors

Addressing these factors may improve overall well-being and support recovery trajectories in affected individuals.

References:

Meneguzzo, P., Terlizzi, S., Maggi, L., & Todisco, P. (2024). The loneliness factor in eating disorders: implications for psychopathology and biological signatures. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 132, 152493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152493

Meneguzzo, P., Marzotto, A., Mezzani, B., Conti, F., Maggi, L., & Todisco, P. (2024). Bridging trauma and eating disorders: the role of loneliness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1500740. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1500740

Todisco, P., Maragno, L., Marzotto, A., Mezzani, B., Conti, F., Maggi, L., & Meneguzzo, P. (2024). Connections between eating psychopathology, loneliness, and quality of life: Insights from a multi‑center study. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1439179. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1439179

12/05/2025

Your clothing choices are yours to enjoy and express yourself—no outfit should make you feel like you need to hide or control your body!

Every person deserves to feel comfortable, confident, and free in what they wear, regardless of size, shape, or past struggles with body image. Choosing clothes for joy, self-expression, or comfort can be a gentle way to reconnect with your body and celebrate it as it is, rather than letting anxiety or eating disorder thoughts dictate your choices.

Remember, being kind to yourself includes honoring your preferences, embracing your uniqueness, and wearing what makes you feel good—because your worth is never defined by what you put on, but by who you are. ♡👗🌸

"

Reference:
Kim, J. A., & Oh, E. J. (2024). Effect of body image perception and self‑esteem on clothing consumption behavior among college students. The Research Journal of the Costume Culture, 32(6), 800–812. DOI: 10.29049/rjcc.2024.32.6.800

11/29/2025

Eating disorder behaviors, such as vomiting or purging, can seriously damage teeth, leading to erosion, sensitivity, and enamel loss. Seeking professional support early can protect both oral and overall health.

If you notice any of the following behaviors:
• Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals
• Hiding or discarding food
• Excessive focus on weight or calories
• Signs of tooth sensitivity
…these may indicate purging or self-induced vomiting.

Approach your loved one with compassion and without judgment. Emphasize that you care about their overall health, not just their appearance, and gently encourage them to seek professional help early. You might say privately:
“I’m concerned about your health and want to support you. Speaking with a professional now can prevent complications and help you feel better—let’s explore options together. I’m here for you.”

Early support and intervention can make a real difference. 🤝

Reference:
Kirova, M., & Borisova-Papancheva, T. (2025). Assessment of dentin hypersensitivity in patients with bulimia nervosa. Cureus, 17(3), e80449. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80449

11/26/2025

‘The Spirit of Thanksgiving’ isn’t just about food—it’s about love, connection, and gratitude. 🍯🍂

This season, it’s okay to acknowledge that the holidays can feel overwhelming, and your feelings are valid. But may you give yourself permission to focus on the moments that matter—the laughter, the stories, and the people around the table. Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to be part of the feast without guilt or anxiety.

For families and loved ones supporting someone navigating eating disorder recovery, your understanding and care can make a meaningful difference. Here are some ways to provide thoughtful support:

1️⃣ Listen and understand – Encourage open, judgment-free conversations. Give them space to express their feelings and validate their experiences.
2️⃣ Be patient around food – Avoid pressure, comments, or comparisons about eating. Create an environment that feels safe and calm.
3️⃣ Include them in planning – Let them help choose dishes or activities they are comfortable with, giving them a sense of control and participation.
4️⃣ Focus on connection beyond meals – Plan games, decorating, storytelling, or movie time to shift the focus from food to shared experiences and joy.
5️⃣ Seek professional guidance when needed – Don’t hesitate to reach out to specialists for advice or support, ensuring your loved one has the resources they need.

By practicing patience, empathy, and understanding, families can help make the holidays a time of comfort and joy for everyone. 🤍

Wishing you and your loved ones strength, self-kindness, and gentle nourishment this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

11/21/2025

Social and life stressors significantly increase the likelihood of symptom recurrence in individuals in remission from eating disorders. As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s common among individuals with ED to feel stress & anxiety about gatherings, food, and family interactions.

To prevent these challenges, we’ve outlined practical interventions to help you cope this holiday season. These strategies are most effective when communicated ahead of time with family members and your healthcare team: 🍂

• Pre-Holiday Planning
Create a structured relapse-prevention plan identifying potential triggers (e.g., large meals, social pressure). Include specific coping strategies such as stepping outside, texting a supportive friend, or using grounding techniques and self-soothing techniques like deep breathing or short mindfulness breaks.

• Support Network
Identify a “safe person” — therapist, peer, or trusted family member — to check in with before or during events. Agree on how and when to reach out if anxiety or urges arise.

• Boundary Setting
Script phrases to manage triggering conversations (e.g., “I’d rather not discuss diets tonight” or “Let’s share what we’re thankful for instead"). Rehearse these responses to increase confidence and reduce anticipatory anxiety.

Remember: the holidays don’t have to be a source of stress. By planning, setting boundaries, and leaning on your support network, you can navigate gatherings with confidence and self-compassion and engage in one meaningful conversation with loved ones.

Take a deep breath, in and out. You’ve prepared, you’re supported, and your recovery matters. 🍂💛

Shelly Bar MD

12/29/2025

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm