Marty Lerner
Ph.D.
Marty Lerner, PhD. Expert
Marty Lerner Quick Facts
- Main Areas
- Eating Disorders, Addictions
- Career Focus
- CEO and Clinical Director -Treatment of Eating Disorders
- Affiliation
- Milestones In Recovery, Inc. - Eating Disorders Program
Dr. Lerner is the founder and executive director of the Milestones in Recovery Eating Disorders Program located in Cooper City, Florida. A graduate of Nova Southeaste University, Dr. Lerner is a licensed and board certified clinical psychologist who has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders since 1980. He has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs that include The NPR Report, 20/20, Discovery Health, and ABC’s Nightline as well authored several publications related to eating disorders in the professional literature, national magazines, and newspapers including USA Today, The Wall Street journal, New York Times, Miami Herald, Orlando and Hollywood Sun Sentinels. An active member of the professional community here in South Florida since finishing his training, Dr. Lerner makes his home in Davie with his wife Michele and daughters Janelle and Danielle and their dog, Reggie.
Marty Lerner Books
Articles by this expert
SelfGrowth articles and saved writing connected to this expert. Showing 12 of 30.
Article
FOOD ADDICTION VRS. EATING DISORDERS
WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS? Eating disorders are typically associated with various maladaptive patterns of behavior related to food, it’s consumption, and the ensuing effects on a person’s emotional and physical wellbeing. It may, or may not, include attempts to offset the “consequences” of these behaviors by the use or abuse of compensatory agents and behaviors such as purging, compulsive exercising, periods of self-imposed starvation, and so on.
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Basics of Eating Disorder Recovery
There are a few “implied” assumptions I have regarding the basic building blocks to recovering from any addiction – of which I consider most eating disorders to be. Let me be candid and put out there one of the most important assumptions I have – recovering from an eating disorder begins with a total commitment to remain consistent with a recovery program* no matter what we are feeling or what “tricks” our minds play with us.
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Similarities among the Eating Disorders
What follows is a list of common traits and characteristics among all forms of eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and related addictive relationships with food and weight. As alcoholism and drug dependency share more common ground than differences, so too do the different "flavors" of eating disorders. Consider the following...
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Dual Diagnoses and Eating Disorders: "Double Trouble"
From a professional perspective, it has been my experience that when people come into treatment for an eating disorder they often bring with them concomitant issues with either depression and/or substance abuse.
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Open Letter to Overeaters Anonymous
In August of 2010 Overeaters Anonymous celebrated its Golden Anniversary at its world convention in Los Angeles. As someone who has treated compulsive overeaters for more than three decades, I was privileged to be an invited guest to join in the celebration. As a point of reference my professional relationship with OA dates back to my earlier years in practice as I began to refer many of my patients to the local OA groups in my area. Doing so left me indebted to the courageous members of this fellowship who taught me so much more about this disease tha I could have ever imagined.
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Body Image, Body Dysmorphia and Eating Disorders
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Differences and Similarities Between Food Addiction and Eating Disorders
What is food addiction and how is it different than an eating disorder? Food addiction has been viewed as a concept yet to be fully recognized and accepted by most people. It’s been described as follows by a group of professionals identified with it’s being a bona fide addiction:
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Insurance Coverage for Eating Disorders
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Treating Eating Disorders: The First Assumption
Let’s be clear from the get go, when it comes to getting help for an eating disorder there are a couple of assumptions to consider. Let’s look at a one of these and consider if this might “ring true” for you.
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Is Binge Eating really a serious Eating Disorder?
There is a prevailing assumption within the public arena as well as within the population of those suffering with an eating disorder, that Binge Eating Disorder, aka Food Addiction, is less "serious" than the other eating disorders - namely anorexia and bulimia. In addition, as if to make matters worse, BED as well as the other related eating disorders are viewed [even by patients] as a breakdown in self discipline or a failure of willpower. The more recent research would suggest these perceptions are dangerously mistaken.
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Self Diagnosis: Do I have an Eating Disorder?
The American Psychiatric Association's selected criteria for substance dependency [aka addiction] appears below. The author speculates the same criteria may be used to determine whether an individual suffering from Anorexia, Bulimia, or Binge Eating Disorder displays the same characteristics. Listed below are the [7] criteria per the APA committee and task force for Substance Dependency. Can you identify some [or all] of these characteristics as it relates to your relationship with food or behaviors related to eating and/or dieting such as exercise, etc.? - TOLERANCE - WITHDRAWALr
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Eating Disorders: Is it all about weight?
Treating Eating Disorders: The Second Assumption In a previous article I suggested we consider a few basic assumptions that seem to apply when speaking about eating disorders. Before moving on, I’d recommend looking at what all the various forms of eating disorders have in common rather than addressing them in terms of their differences. By this time most of us are familiar with the “clinical criteria” of anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder. Unfortunately, the medical criteria delineating between each of these has led many to “not see the forest from the trees.”
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Favorite Quotes & Thoughts from Marty Lerner
I consider compulsive overeating, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and some forms of anorexia (e.g. bulimarexia) to be part of an addictive process. Hence, we refer to these in terms of "food addiction." The drive or compulsion to overeat despite obvious consequences is somewhat like the plight of alcoholics and those suffering from other addictions. In fact, many food addicts are either currently struggling with, or have encountered problems with other dependencies. Compulsive eaters who resort to purging via laxatives, diuretics, diet pills, vomiting, food restriction, and/or excessive exercise are addicted to a vicious cycle of binge eating and a relentless effort to avoid weight gain (bulimia). Still others are equally driven to lose weight by purging in one form or another whether binge eating or not (bulimarexia).
I believe all food addicts have in common a debilitating obsession with food and body image coupled with an inability to manage or control their eating behavior. In fact, the real measure of an eating disorder is not just what someone weighs or how often they binge eat, restrict, exercise, or purge. Rather, it is the degree to which the quality of their life has deteriorated and their relationship with food has taken center stage in their life. Although food addiction presents itself in many different forms, the common denominator is a loss of control... first over food, then over the ability to effectively manage one's life.
Contacting Marty Lerner
How to get started
There are a few “implied” assumptions I have regarding the basic building blocks to recovering from any addiction – of which I consider most eating disorders to be. Let me be candid and put out there one of the most important assumptions I have – recovering from an eating disorder begins with a total commitment to remain consistent with a recovery program* no matter what we are feeling or what “tricks” our minds play with us.
*From a “recovery perspective” a program of recovery refers to maintaining a prescribed food plan (typically in conjunction with a dietitian or health professional with experience in the field of eating disorders), adherence to a moderate (also prescribed) schedule of regular exercise, finding and maintaining a healthy balance between work, rest, and play, and cultivating a personal connection with a support group and “higher power” of your own understanding. In our experience at Milestones, we refer to the basics of recovery as S.E.R.F. – spirituality, exercise, rest, and food plan.
Now for the tough part that separates a recovery program from a “diet program” disguised as “recovery”. Like most addictions and illnesses that center on our need for CONTROL, all eating disorders have in common the obsessive focus on the goal of total control of, in this case, weight or size. Letting go of control from a recovery perspective is not about “giving up” but rather following a prescribed program (as noted above) and letting go of the outcome – namely not making changes in response to feelings or perceived or real changes in our bodies. Allowing someone we trust, at least in the beginning, direct our food and exercise plans is a far more objective and ultimately successful means to find a solution to the mental tyranny that accompanies an eating disorder. To be sure, it takes a quantum leap of faith and courage to “turn over” control to someone other than yourself. In the end, sponsorship in an appropriate support group such as OA or EDA, making good use of a trusted and experienced professional, and cultivating a belief in your own understanding of a higher power will put you on the path to reclaiming your life.