A woman in Wales named Stacey A'Hearne has appealed for assistance concerning her three-year-old daughter's rare condition, which involves&nbsp;a compulsion to eat&nbsp;household items.

A'Hearne recounted the challenge of preventing her daughter, Wynter, from consuming dangerous materials like wall plaster, sofa foam, and high chair components. Wynter, diagnosed with autism, had suffered from a unique feeding disorder called pica, characterised by cravings for non-edible objects, endangering her well-being.

"She is literally eating the whole house. I bought a brand-new sofa and she's taken chunks out of it," Ms A'Hearne was quoted as saying&nbsp;by&nbsp;Metro.

"She's really fussy with normal food but she'll sit and eat a sponge. She's smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass," she&nbsp;said.

"No matter what she finds a way to eat things that she shouldn't. Luckily, she's never really hurt herself as I very closely monitor her. But it's a full-time job watching her," she added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/frequently-nose-picking-leading-cause-of-progressive-dementia-study-687765">Also read |&nbsp;Frequent nose-picking leading cause of progressive dementia: Study</a>

<h2>Diagnosed with rare condition</h2>

A'Hearne observed Wynter waking up during the night to chew on her cot and blanket.

According to the New York Post, she noticed Wynter putting objects in her mouth as an infant but initially didn't consider it concerning. However, around 13 months ago, Wynter's development took an abrupt turn.

Wynter became non-verbal, and her atypical eating behaviours intensified, prompting Stacey to seek assistance from her healthcare provider, who then referred her to specialists.

In January 2024, after undergoing tests, Wynter received a diagnosis of both pica and autism.

Also watch |&nbsp;UK: Rishi Sunak urges Tories to 'stick with' his economy plan amid reports of plot to oust him

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-rishi-sunak-urges-tories-to-stick-with-his-economy-plan-amid-reports-of-plot-to-oust-him-701473/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Pica can be more common in children who have autism - which Wynter has too. I think it's a sensory thing, and she craves the different textures. She has very severe autism which means she doesn't speak much and has some behavioural issues," said A'Hearne.

She emphasised the necessity of closely monitoring Wynter and expressed her hope that Wynter would eventually outgrow her condition.

(With inputs from agencies)

A woman in Wales named Stacey A'Hearne has appealed for assistance concerning her three-year-old daughter's rare condition, which involves a compulsion to eat household items.

A woman in Wales named Stacey A'Hearne has appealed for assistance concerning her three-year-old daughter's rare condition, which involves a compulsion to eat household items. A'Hearne recounted the challenge of preventing her daughter, Wynter, from consuming dangerous materials like wall plaster, sofa foam, and high chair components. Wynter, diagnosed with autism, had suffered from a unique feeding disorder called pica, characterised by cravings for non-edible objects, endangering her well-being. "She is literally eating the whole house. I bought a brand-new sofa and she's taken chunks out of it," Ms A'Hearne was quoted as saying by Metro. "She's really fussy with normal food but she'll sit and eat a sponge. She's smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass," she said. "No matter what she finds a way to eat things that she shouldn't. Luckily, she's never really hurt herself as I very closely monitor her. But it's a full-time job watching her," she added. Also read | Frequent nose-picking leading cause of progressive dementia: Study Diagnosed with rare condition A'Hearne observed Wynter waking up during the night to chew on her cot and blanket. According to the New York Post, she noticed Wynter putting objects in her mouth as an infant but initially didn't consider it concerning. However, around 13 months ago, Wynter's development took an abrupt turn. Wynter became non-verbal, and her atypical eating behaviours intensified, prompting Stacey to seek assistance from her healthcare provider, who then referred her to specialists. In January 2024, after undergoing tests, Wynter received a diagnosis of both pica and autism. Also watch | UK: Rishi Sunak urges Tories to 'stick with' his economy plan amid reports of plot to oust him "Pica can be more common in children who have autism - which Wynter has too. I think it's a sensory thing, and she craves the different textures. She has very severe autism which means she doesn't speak much and has some behavioural issues," said A'Hearne. She emphasised the necessity of closely monitoring Wynter and expressed her hope that Wynter would eventually outgrow her condition. (With inputs from agencies)

This 3-year-old child in UK can’t stop eating foam, plaster, and wool. Here's why

In pics: Celebrities who have struggled with eating disorders - Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and more

An artificial intelligence chatbot named "Tessa" has been withdrawn by the National Eating Disorder Association (Neda) following accusations that it was giving harmful&nbsp;advice.

After firing four employees who worked for its hotline and had organised a union in March, Neda has come under scrutiny. Through the hotline, clients could call, send a text, or message volunteers who provided resources and assistance to those who were concerned about eating disorders.

Helpline Associates United members claim that days after their union election was validated, they were sacked. The National Labour Relations Board has received complaints from the union regarding unfair labour practises, as reported by the Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/data-lab-india-and-ai-are-we-ahead-of-the-curve-588533">Data Lab | India and AI: Are we ahead of the curve?</a>

<h2>Chatbot goes rogue</h2>

Tessa, who Neda asserts was never intended to take the job of the hotline operators, had issues almost right away.

Activist Sharon Maxwell wrote on Instagram on Monday that Tessa had provided her "healthy eating tips" and suggestions for how to slim down. The chatbot advised following a 500–1,000 calorie deficit each day and weighing and measuring yourself once every week to monitor your weight.

“If I had accessed this chatbot when I was in the throes of my eating disorder, I would NOT have gotten help for my ED. If I had not gotten help, I would not still be alive today,” Maxwell wrote.&nbsp;

As stated by Neda, those who moderately restrict their food have a five-fold increased risk of developing an eating disorder, but people who severely restrict their diet have an 18-fold increased risk.

“It came to our attention last night that the current version of the Tessa Chatbot, running the Body Positivity program, may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program,” Neda said in a public statement on Tuesday.

“We are investigating this immediately and have taken down that program until further notice for a complete investigation,” it added.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Former helpline staffer Abbie Harper claimed in a blog post from May 4 that the number of calls and messages received by the hotline had increased by 107 per cent&nbsp;since the pandemic's inception. The number of reports of self-harm, child maltreatment, and suicide ideation nearly quadrupled. According to Harper, the union "asked for adequate staffing and ongoing training to keep up with the needs of the hotline".</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Also watch |&nbsp;'AI to impact all sectors in India,' says Prof B Ravindran in conversation&nbsp;with&nbsp;WION</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

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“We didn’t even ask for more money,” Harper wrote. “Some of us have personally recovered from eating disorders and bring that invaluable experience to our work. All of us came to this job because of our passion for eating disorders and mental health advocacy and our desire to make a difference.”

The chatbot was developed as a distinct programme rather than to replace the hotline, according to Liz Thompson, CEO of Neda, in a statement to the Guardian. The chatbot is not managed by ChatGPT and is "not a highly functional AI system," according to Thompson.

“We had business reasons for closing the helpline and had been in the process of that evaluation for three years,” Thompson told the Guardian.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

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An artificial intelligence chatbot named "Tessa" has been withdrawn by the National Eating Disorder Association (Neda) following accusations that it was giving harmful advice.

An artificial intelligence chatbot named "Tessa" has been withdrawn by the National Eating Disorder Association (Neda) following accusations that it was giving harmful advice. After firing four employees who worked for its hotline and had organised a union in March, Neda has come under scrutiny. Through the hotline, clients could call, send a text, or message volunteers who provided resources and assistance to those who were concerned about eating disorders. Helpline Associates United members claim that days after their union election was validated, they were sacked. The National Labour Relations Board has received complaints from the union regarding unfair labour practises, as reported by the Guardian. Also read | Data Lab | India and AI: Are we ahead of the curve? Chatbot goes rogue Tessa, who Neda asserts was never intended to take the job of the hotline operators, had issues almost right away. Activist Sharon Maxwell wrote on Instagram on Monday that Tessa had provided her "healthy eating tips" and suggestions for how to slim down. The chatbot advised following a 500–1,000 calorie deficit each day and weighing and measuring yourself once every week to monitor your weight. “If I had accessed this chatbot when I was in the throes of my eating disorder, I would NOT have gotten help for my ED. If I had not gotten help, I would not still be alive today,” Maxwell wrote. As stated by Neda, those who moderately restrict their food have a five-fold increased risk of developing an eating disorder, but people who severely restrict their diet have an 18-fold increased risk. “It came to our attention last night that the current version of the Tessa Chatbot, running the Body Positivity program, may have given information that was harmful and unrelated to the program,” Neda said in a public statement on Tuesday. “We are investigating this immediately and have taken down that program until further notice for a complete investigation,” it added. Former helpline staffer Abbie Harper claimed in a blog post from May 4 that the number of calls and messages received by the hotline had increased by 107 per cent since the pandemic's inception. The number of reports of self-harm, child maltreatment, and suicide ideation nearly quadrupled. According to Harper, the union "asked for adequate staffing and ongoing training to keep up with the needs of the hotline". Also watch | 'AI to impact all sectors in India,' says Prof B Ravindran in conversation with WION “We didn’t even ask for more money,” Harper wrote. “Some of us have personally recovered from eating disorders and bring that invaluable experience to our work. All of us came to this job because of our passion for eating disorders and mental health advocacy and our desire to make a difference.” The chatbot was developed as a distinct programme rather than to replace the hotline, according to Liz Thompson, CEO of Neda, in a statement to the Guardian. The chatbot is not managed by ChatGPT and is "not a highly functional AI system," according to Thompson. “We had business reasons for closing the helpline and had been in the process of that evaluation for three years,” Thompson told the Guardian. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chatbot gives 'harmful advice' on eating disorder, ordered to be taken down

Unfortunately, many family members, acquaintances, and celebrities have suffered from anorexia nervosa, or AN, a severe mental illness characterised by extreme concerns about weight, shape, and self-esteem. AN symptoms include an eating disorder, nutritional restriction, deliberate vomiting, and severe emaciation. Mindfulness meditation is already commonly used as a therapy for AN. Its clinical utility in treating neurogenic emaciation, on the other hand, has not before been explored.

Mindfulness meditation, according to a team of researchers at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Medicine, does alleviate such worries. The study’s findings demonstrate alterations in the activity of brain areas associated with anxiety.

The team’s mindfulness meditation program has seen a significant decrease in obsessive thoughts about the test subject’s self-image and brain activity associated with related emotions.

“Our results suggest that the participants in the study became better at accepting their anxiety as it is,” says lead author Tomomi Noda.

Mindfulness and meditation work hand-in-hand. The former teaches practitioners to hone their awareness of their present experience and their ability to not judge and rather accept their circumstances. The latter is the medium by which mindfulness can be approached.

“We focused on the possibility that patients with AN try to avoid their crippling anxiety about weight gain and self-image by restricting food or vomiting,” adds co-author Masanori Isobe.

A 4-week mindfulness intervention program examined neural changes using tasks designed to induce weight-related anxiety. The researchers then regulated this anxiety by helping patients accept their current situations and experiences at face value, instead of avoiding them.

The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging — or fMRI — to analyze attention regulation in relation to eating disorders. The study’s results support the subjective experiences of the researchers. However, it was unexpected to them that several global events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war, were significant factors in patients’ anxieties.

“We anticipate practical implications of our results in clinical psychiatry and psychology and broader research into mitigating suffering through mindfulness, using the strategy of self-acceptance to regulate attention,” concludes group leader Toshiya Murai.

Unfortunately, many family members, acquaintances, and celebrities have suffered from anorexia nervosa, or AN, a severe mental illness characterised by extreme concerns about weight, shape, and self-esteem.

Unfortunately, many family members, acquaintances, and celebrities have suffered from anorexia nervosa, or AN, a severe mental illness characterised by extreme concerns about weight, shape, and self-esteem. AN symptoms include an eating disorder, nutritional restriction, deliberate vomiting, and severe emaciation. Mindfulness meditation is already commonly used as a therapy for AN. Its clinical utility in treating neurogenic emaciation, on the other hand, has not before been explored. Mindfulness meditation, according to a team of researchers at Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Medicine, does alleviate such worries. The study’s findings demonstrate alterations in the activity of brain areas associated with anxiety. The team’s mindfulness meditation program has seen a significant decrease in obsessive thoughts about the test subject’s self-image and brain activity associated with related emotions. “Our results suggest that the participants in the study became better at accepting their anxiety as it is,” says lead author Tomomi Noda. Mindfulness and meditation work hand-in-hand. The former teaches practitioners to hone their awareness of their present experience and their ability to not judge and rather accept their circumstances. The latter is the medium by which mindfulness can be approached. “We focused on the possibility that patients with AN try to avoid their crippling anxiety about weight gain and self-image by restricting food or vomiting,” adds co-author Masanori Isobe. A 4-week mindfulness intervention program examined neural changes using tasks designed to induce weight-related anxiety. The researchers then regulated this anxiety by helping patients accept their current situations and experiences at face value, instead of avoiding them. The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging — or fMRI — to analyze attention regulation in relation to eating disorders. The study’s results support the subjective experiences of the researchers. However, it was unexpected to them that several global events, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war, were significant factors in patients’ anxieties. “We anticipate practical implications of our results in clinical psychiatry and psychology and broader research into mitigating suffering through mindfulness, using the strategy of self-acceptance to regulate attention,” concludes group leader Toshiya Murai.

Meditation helpful for anorexia patients: Research

Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise.

The report, published by the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) on Wednesday, in its findings claimed that a new TikTok user was exposed to harmful content in less than three minutes after creating an account. While it takes about five more minutes to find content on eating disorders.

These tests were done across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia by creating eight accounts, where the minimum user age is 13.

These accounts liked content about body image and mental health, following which the app recommended videos about losing weight and self-harm, including ones featuring pictures of models and idealised body types, images of razor blades and discussions of suicide.

When the researchers created accounts with user names that suggested a particular vulnerability to eating disorders that included the words “lose weight” the accounts were fed even more harmful content.

“The results are every parent’s nightmare: young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them, and their physical and mental health,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, said in the report.

“It’s like being stuck in a hall of distorted mirrors where you’re constantly being told you’re ugly, you’re not good enough, maybe you should kill yourself,” Ahmed added.

The report was strongly criticised by TikTok, whose spokesperson termed it an inaccurate depiction of the viewing experience on the platform.

“This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behaviour or viewing experiences of real people,” the TikTok spokesperson told CNN.

“We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need. We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.”

&nbsp;(With inputs from agencies)

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Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise.

Researchers have found that TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about suicide and eating disorders to vulnerable teens within minutes after creating an account, as concerns over the impact of social media on mental health rise. The report, published by the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) on Wednesday, in its findings claimed that a new TikTok user was exposed to harmful content in less than three minutes after creating an account. While it takes about five more minutes to find content on eating disorders. These tests were done across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia by creating eight accounts, where the minimum user age is 13. These accounts liked content about body image and mental health, following which the app recommended videos about losing weight and self-harm, including ones featuring pictures of models and idealised body types, images of razor blades and discussions of suicide. When the researchers created accounts with user names that suggested a particular vulnerability to eating disorders that included the words “lose weight” the accounts were fed even more harmful content. “The results are every parent’s nightmare: young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them, and their physical and mental health,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, said in the report. “It’s like being stuck in a hall of distorted mirrors where you’re constantly being told you’re ugly, you’re not good enough, maybe you should kill yourself,” Ahmed added. The report was strongly criticised by TikTok, whose spokesperson termed it an inaccurate depiction of the viewing experience on the platform. “This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behaviour or viewing experiences of real people,” the TikTok spokesperson told CNN. “We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need. We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

TikTok boosts harmful content on suicide, eating disorder within minutes of someone joining it: Study

The UK leading eating disorder charity Beat has warned those struggling with eating disorders to not watch 'The Crown' Season 5. The Netflix show premiered on November 9 on the OTT platform.&nbsp;

The new season includes scenes that talk of the late Princess Diana's battle with bulimia nervosa and her mental health.&nbsp; 
 
The second episode of 'The Crown' shows Princess Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) speaking candidly about her bulimia while secretly recording tapes for author Andrew Morton for his book 'Diana: Her True Story'. 
 
Beat added that while the inclusion of this portion could raise awareness amongst many, those who already were suffering from the disorder would get triggered and so should avoid watching the series. 
 
Bulimia is a serious, complex mental illness which impacts an estimated 230,000 people in the UK, Beat’s director of external affairs, Tom Quinn told Metro.co.uk. 
 
Beat's director of external affairs Tom Quinn told UK daily Metri that nearly 230,000 people in the UK suffer from this complex mental disorder.&nbsp; 
 
"When TV programmes like 'The Crown' portray eating disorders it can help to raise awareness of the reality of living with these mental illnesses and encourage people to seek support, but it’s crucial that this is done in an accurate and responsible way.&nbsp;

"For instance, a common misconception is that bulimia only impacts those who are underweight, however, the reality is that eating disorders can impact people of any weight, shape, age, gender or background."&nbsp;

Mr Quinn added, "We wouldn’t advise that anybody currently unwell with an eating disorder watches programmes which focus on eating disorders as we know it can be upsetting."

The late Princess Diana had famously opened up about her struggles with bulimia during her infamous BBC interview with Martin Bashir in 1995. 
 
"You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable," the Princess had said back then. 
 
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

The UK leading eating disorder charity Beat has warned those struggling with eating disorders to not watch 'The Crown' Season 5. The Netflix show premiered on November 9 on the OTT platform.

The UK leading eating disorder charity Beat has warned those struggling with eating disorders to not watch 'The Crown' Season 5. The Netflix show premiered on November 9 on the OTT platform. The new season includes scenes that talk of the late Princess Diana's battle with bulimia nervosa and her mental health. The second episode of 'The Crown' shows Princess Diana (played by Elizabeth Debicki) speaking candidly about her bulimia while secretly recording tapes for author Andrew Morton for his book 'Diana: Her True Story'. Beat added that while the inclusion of this portion could raise awareness amongst many, those who already were suffering from the disorder would get triggered and so should avoid watching the series. Bulimia is a serious, complex mental illness which impacts an estimated 230,000 people in the UK, Beat’s director of external affairs, Tom Quinn told Metro.co.uk. Beat's director of external affairs Tom Quinn told UK daily Metri that nearly 230,000 people in the UK suffer from this complex mental disorder. "When TV programmes like 'The Crown' portray eating disorders it can help to raise awareness of the reality of living with these mental illnesses and encourage people to seek support, but it’s crucial that this is done in an accurate and responsible way. "For instance, a common misconception is that bulimia only impacts those who are underweight, however, the reality is that eating disorders can impact people of any weight, shape, age, gender or background." Mr Quinn added, "We wouldn’t advise that anybody currently unwell with an eating disorder watches programmes which focus on eating disorders as we know it can be upsetting." The late Princess Diana had famously opened up about her struggles with bulimia during her infamous BBC interview with Martin Bashir in 1995. "You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable," the Princess had said back then.

Suffering from an eating disorder? Don't watch 'The Crown' Season 5

Imagine surviving on Chips for twenty-plus years of your life. Seems impossible, doesn't it? But this is the reality of 25-year-old Zoe Sandler, a resident of Coventry, England.

Metro reports that Sandler has survived on her cheese and onion chips for 23 years of her life.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kinder-recalls-3000-tonnes-of-chocolate-over-salmonella-fears-482523" hreflang="en">Kinder recalls 3,000 tonnes of chocolate over Salmonella fears</a>

Zoe exclusively ate a staple diet of buttered white bread sandwiches made with her favourite chips from a brand called Walker.

Recently diagnosed with MS or Multiple sclerosis, Zoe decided she needs to get healthier. The fussy eater then sought help from David Kilmurry, a hypnotherapist.

Watch |&nbsp;Scientists in Japan develop robotic 'sixth finger' for human augmentation

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A warehouse operative by profession, she was found to have avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Following a two-hour hypnotherapy session, Sandler was finally able to enjoy her first taste of fruits and vegetables.

Zoe is soon to be married and after the breakthrough, she celebrated that now she won't only be eating crisp sandwiches on her wedding day.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/new-zealand-grandmother-converts-29-year-old-car-into-homemade-solar-powered-vehicle-for-24000-482549" hreflang="en">New Zealand: Grandmother converts 29-year-old car into homemade solar-powered vehicle for $24,000</a>

The Sun reported the bride to be as saying that her parents tried to make her eat other food as a child, but she would just refuse to eat anything.

She would at times experiment with other chips flavours and eat dry cereal because their texture wouldn't bother her, however, even as a child, she could only recollect eating the same crisp sandwiches at school.

(With inputs from agencies)

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Imagine surviving on Chips for twenty-plus years of your life. Seems impossible, doesn't it? But this is the reality of 25-year-old Zoe Sandler, a resident of Coventry, England.

Imagine surviving on Chips for twenty-plus years of your life. Seems impossible, doesn't it? But this is the reality of 25-year-old Zoe Sandler, a resident of Coventry, England. Metro reports that Sandler has survived on her cheese and onion chips for 23 years of her life. Also read | Kinder recalls 3,000 tonnes of chocolate over Salmonella fears Zoe exclusively ate a staple diet of buttered white bread sandwiches made with her favourite chips from a brand called Walker. Recently diagnosed with MS or Multiple sclerosis, Zoe decided she needs to get healthier. The fussy eater then sought help from David Kilmurry, a hypnotherapist. Watch | Scientists in Japan develop robotic 'sixth finger' for human augmentation A warehouse operative by profession, she was found to have avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Following a two-hour hypnotherapy session, Sandler was finally able to enjoy her first taste of fruits and vegetables. Zoe is soon to be married and after the breakthrough, she celebrated that now she won't only be eating crisp sandwiches on her wedding day. Also read | New Zealand: Grandmother converts 29-year-old car into homemade solar-powered vehicle for $24,000 The Sun reported the bride to be as saying that her parents tried to make her eat other food as a child, but she would just refuse to eat anything. She would at times experiment with other chips flavours and eat dry cereal because their texture wouldn't bother her, however, even as a child, she could only recollect eating the same crisp sandwiches at school. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK woman survives two decades only on chips. This is her story

Image-sharing platform&nbsp;Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pinterest is committed to building a safe and inspiring space for all our users. That means looking at ways we can keep evolving our policies, starting today. Read more here: <a href="https://t.co/02tPUR2G21">https://t.co/02tPUR2G21</a> <a href="https://t.co/XDsFl02Ryo">pic.twitter.com/XDsFl02Ryo</a>
— Pinterest (@Pinterest) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pinterest/status/1410607218030825484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The site, which allows users to "pin" or save pictures, GIFs or videos to curated pinboards, said&nbsp;it would also not allow ads with testimonials about weight loss or weight loss products, or ads referencing Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes.

"This stance makes&nbsp;Pinterest&nbsp;the only major platform to prohibit all weight-loss ads. It's an expansion of our ad policies that have long prohibited body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims," the company said in a blog post on Thursday.

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Ads promoting healthy lifestyles, habits or fitness services and products are still allowed on the platform if they do not "focus on weight loss." The company said it had developed the policy with guidance from the National Eating Disorders Association.

Pinterest's head of policy, Sarah Bromma, said in an interview that the rule change prioritized&nbsp;Pinterest&nbsp;users' "emotional and mental health and wellbeing, especially those directly impacted by eating disorders or diet culture or body shaming."

Pinterest, which has long grappled with combating pro-eating disorder content on its site and has since 2015 blocked such searches and directed users to expert organisations, already has rules against ads promoting weight loss pills or containing before-and-after weight-loss imagery.

The company also said this week that its global head of inclusion and diversity, Tyi McCray, was leaving the company after less than a year. The move was first reported by Protocol.

Pinterest, which went public in 2019, has faced controversies around diversity and inequality in the last year, including when two former policy team employees alleged racial discrimination in the workplace.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image-sharing platform Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types.

Image-sharing platform Pinterest has announced a ban on all ads with weight loss language and imagery, including ads that idealise or denigrate certain body types. Pinterest is committed to building a safe and inspiring space for all our users. That means looking at ways we can keep evolving our policies, starting today. Read more here: https://t.co/02tPUR2G21 pic.twitter.com/XDsFl02Ryo — Pinterest (@Pinterest) July 1, 2021 × The site, which allows users to "pin" or save pictures, GIFs or videos to curated pinboards, said it would also not allow ads with testimonials about weight loss or weight loss products, or ads referencing Body Mass Index (BMI) or similar indexes. "This stance makes Pinterest the only major platform to prohibit all weight-loss ads. It's an expansion of our ad policies that have long prohibited body shaming and dangerous weight loss products or claims," the company said in a blog post on Thursday. Ads promoting healthy lifestyles, habits or fitness services and products are still allowed on the platform if they do not "focus on weight loss." The company said it had developed the policy with guidance from the National Eating Disorders Association. Pinterest's head of policy, Sarah Bromma, said in an interview that the rule change prioritized Pinterest users' "emotional and mental health and wellbeing, especially those directly impacted by eating disorders or diet culture or body shaming." Pinterest, which has long grappled with combating pro-eating disorder content on its site and has since 2015 blocked such searches and directed users to expert organisations, already has rules against ads promoting weight loss pills or containing before-and-after weight-loss imagery. The company also said this week that its global head of inclusion and diversity, Tyi McCray, was leaving the company after less than a year. The move was first reported by Protocol. Pinterest, which went public in 2019, has faced controversies around diversity and inequality in the last year, including when two former policy team employees alleged racial discrimination in the workplace. (With inputs from agencies)

'No size fits all': Pinterest bans all weight loss ads

There is a rise in eating disorder hospitalisations in China and Beijing is blaming the world for it. Experts in China say the eating disorder is a 'foreign phenomenon' that only arrived in China recently. Palki Sharma tells you why this is not true.

Gravitas: China blames the World for eating disorders

At a time when people are trying to be more considerate about each other’s traumas and feelings, Instagram has had a major error, leading to several users feeling "triggered."

The search function in the social media app had automatically started recommending terms such as "fasting", "appetite suppressants" and such terms to some people.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/instagram-launches-experiment-to-hide-likes-377629" hreflang="en">Instagram launches experiment to hide 'likes'</a>

People suffering from eating disorder felt triggered due to these suggestions and some even felt they might relapse.

Instagram has now removed all those harmful terms from the platform and has apologised for the damage caused. The company has termed it as a “mistake” which has been resolved, a spokesperson said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/instagram-launches-new-stickers-on-ramzan-heres-how-to-use-them-377488" hreflang="en">Instagram launches new stickers on Ramzan, here's how to use them</a>

"We recently rolled out a new search functionality on Instagram beyond hashtags and usernames, to help you more easily discover and explore content you’re most interested in," a spokesperson for Facebook, owner of Instagram, said.

"As part of this new feature, when you tap on the search bar, we’ll suggest topics you may want to search for," he added. "Those suggestions, as well as the search results themselves, are limited to general interests, and weight loss should not have been one of them."

At a time when people are trying to be more considerate about each other’s traumas and feelings, Instagram has had a major error, leading to several users feeling "triggered.

At a time when people are trying to be more considerate about each other’s traumas and feelings, Instagram has had a major error, leading to several users feeling "triggered." The search function in the social media app had automatically started recommending terms such as "fasting", "appetite suppressants" and such terms to some people. Also read | Instagram launches experiment to hide 'likes' People suffering from eating disorder felt triggered due to these suggestions and some even felt they might relapse. Instagram has now removed all those harmful terms from the platform and has apologised for the damage caused. The company has termed it as a “mistake” which has been resolved, a spokesperson said. Also read | Instagram launches new stickers on Ramzan, here's how to use them "We recently rolled out a new search functionality on Instagram beyond hashtags and usernames, to help you more easily discover and explore content you’re most interested in," a spokesperson for Facebook, owner of Instagram, said. "As part of this new feature, when you tap on the search bar, we’ll suggest topics you may want to search for," he added. "Those suggestions, as well as the search results themselves, are limited to general interests, and weight loss should not have been one of them."

Instagram apologises for promoting 'eating disorder' phrases

Halsey has apologised to her fans&nbsp;after she shared a picture on Instagram that showed the effects of her eating disorder.

The 'Bad at Love' singer used the newly popular 'post a photo of'' prompt and asked fans what they wanted to see. When one said, "you at your lowest point," Halsey shared a topless mirror selfie and wrote, "TW: ED, ask for help," according to Just Jared. The image was later taken down.

On Monday, Dec. 28, the 26-year-old apologized on Twitter for the insensitive post.

She tweeted, "TW: disordered eating," adding, "I am very sorry for posting a photo of myself depicting my struggle with ED without a sufficient trigger warning." 
 
&nbsp;

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TW: disordered eating 
 
I am very sorry for posting a photo of myself depicting my struggle with ED without a sufficient trigger warning. I was very nervous to post it and didn’t think properly. I had positive intentions. I would never want to harm someone who shares my struggle.
— h (@halsey) <a href="https://twitter.com/halsey/status/1343657152670384128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The musician continued, "I was very nervous to post it and didn't think properly. I had positive intentions. I would never want to harm someone who shares my struggle." 
 
&nbsp;

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with that being said im gonna log off now because this has turned into something I am not emotionally equipped to handle for the time being. I hope that’s okay 🤍
— h (@halsey) <a href="https://twitter.com/halsey/status/1343657339153391616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

In another post, she explained that she's going to take some time off of social media to process everything. "with that being said im gonna log off now because this has turned into something I am not emotionally equipped to handle for the time being. I hope that's okay,"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/halsey-on-becoming-a-new-york-times-best-selling-authori-am-in-shock-344299">Later this year, Halsey released her first book of poetry, titled I Would Leave Me If I Could</a>, in which she discussed her heartbreaks, family relationships and accusations of domestic and sexual abuse. In one poem called "Stockholm Syndrome PT. I," the artist likened one romantic relationship to "a hostage situation."

As she put it, the book centers on "things I ruminate on, fixate, miss, cry, regret, re-live and overcome. I love being a weird popstar. But I'll always be a writer first and foremost."

While promoting the poetry, Halsey also shared the devastating reason why she creates music under a stage name instead of her birth name Ashley Nicolette Frangipane.

In an interview, Halsey said, "Me wanting to do this was so far fetched, and the fact that I changed my name in the process—I think I had the foresight to know that being me wasn't enough. I had to become somebody completely different. At the time, I felt that Ashley didn't deserve to be famous and successful because she wasn't that special, but if I made Halsey, maybe she could be."

The activist is notably outspoken about mental health, Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ+ community. Over the summer, the "Without Me" singer showed her support for Kanye West as she opened up about her experience with bipolar disorder. 
 
Halsey is also one of the artists who was&nbsp;snubbed despite having commercially successful new studio albums.&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/hollywood/news-grammys-2021-check-out-the-complete-list-of-nominees-here-345161" hreflang="en">Grammys 2021: Check out the complete list of nominees here</a> 
 
Halsey took to her Instagram stories to address the situation, ''I've been thinking and wanted to choose my words carefully because a lot of people have extended sympathy and apology to me since the Grammy nominations,''.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-weeknd-to-selena-gomez-the-royal-snubs-at-2021-grammys-345286#the-weeknd-345274">Check out the more snubs at 2021 Grammys here</a>

&nbsp;

Halsey has apologised to her fans after she shared a picture on Instagram that showed the effects of her eating disorder. The 'Bad at Love' singer used the newly popular 'post a photo of'' prompt and asked fans what they wanted to see.

Halsey has apologised to her fans after she shared a picture on Instagram that showed the effects of her eating disorder. The 'Bad at Love' singer used the newly popular 'post a photo of'' prompt and asked fans what they wanted to see. When one said, "you at your lowest point," Halsey shared a topless mirror selfie and wrote, "TW: ED, ask for help," according to Just Jared. The image was later taken down. On Monday, Dec. 28, the 26-year-old apologized on Twitter for the insensitive post. She tweeted, "TW: disordered eating," adding, "I am very sorry for posting a photo of myself depicting my struggle with ED without a sufficient trigger warning." TW: disordered eating I am very sorry for posting a photo of myself depicting my struggle with ED without a sufficient trigger warning. I was very nervous to post it and didn’t think properly. I had positive intentions. I would never want to harm someone who shares my struggle. — h (@halsey) December 28, 2020 × The musician continued, "I was very nervous to post it and didn't think properly. I had positive intentions. I would never want to harm someone who shares my struggle." with that being said im gonna log off now because this has turned into something I am not emotionally equipped to handle for the time being. I hope that’s okay 🤍 — h (@halsey) December 28, 2020 × In another post, she explained that she's going to take some time off of social media to process everything. "with that being said im gonna log off now because this has turned into something I am not emotionally equipped to handle for the time being. I hope that's okay," Later this year, Halsey released her first book of poetry, titled I Would Leave Me If I Could, in which she discussed her heartbreaks, family relationships and accusations of domestic and sexual abuse. In one poem called "Stockholm Syndrome PT. I," the artist likened one romantic relationship to "a hostage situation." As she put it, the book centers on "things I ruminate on, fixate, miss, cry, regret, re-live and overcome. I love being a weird popstar. But I'll always be a writer first and foremost." While promoting the poetry, Halsey also shared the devastating reason why she creates music under a stage name instead of her birth name Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. In an interview, Halsey said, "Me wanting to do this was so far fetched, and the fact that I changed my name in the process—I think I had the foresight to know that being me wasn't enough. I had to become somebody completely different. At the time, I felt that Ashley didn't deserve to be famous and successful because she wasn't that special, but if I made Halsey, maybe she could be." The activist is notably outspoken about mental health, Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ+ community. Over the summer, the "Without Me" singer showed her support for Kanye West as she opened up about her experience with bipolar disorder. Halsey is also one of the artists who was snubbed despite having commercially successful new studio albums. Grammys 2021: Check out the complete list of nominees here Halsey took to her Instagram stories to address the situation, ''I've been thinking and wanted to choose my words carefully because a lot of people have extended sympathy and apology to me since the Grammy nominations,''. Check out the more snubs at 2021 Grammys here

Halsey apologises for sharing a photo of her eating disorder: 'I had positive intentions'

In what can be termed as nothing short of bizarre, an English woman has been discovered to have been addicted to consuming talcum powder for nearly fifteen years.&nbsp;

Forty-four-year old Lisa Anderson lives in Paignton, England and is a mother of five. She admits having been addicted to eating talcum powder ever since she gave birth to her fifth child. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-link-between-talcum-powder-and-ovarian-cancer-finds-major-study-272830">Johnson's Baby Powder</a> has been increasingly appealing to her palate.

Lisa continued devouring a bottle of talcum powder every day before finally deciding to seek professional help around five years back.

According to UK media, Anderson is reported to have spent as much as £8,000 on her eating disorder.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jj-recalls-33000-bottles-of-baby-powder-as-fda-finds-asbestos-in-sample-256818">J&amp;J recalls 33,000 bottles of baby powder as FDA finds asbestos in sample</a>

In reality, Lisa's outlandish craving could be attributed to mineral or nutrient deficiency, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an eating disorder called PICA.

PICA is characterised by the urge in a person to consume substances with zero nutritional value such as paint, dirt, mud, chalk and powdery substances.&nbsp;

PICA is usually diagnosed if a person's eating disorder goes for or beyond a month. A host of tests can be conducted to assess mineral, nutritional deficiencies, intestinal blockages and toxic side-effects of substances that the person has had consumed so far.&nbsp;

Usually mineral or nutritional deficiencies may trigger such eating disorders. Once corrected, such eating habits may also go away otherwise behavioural interventions are used to treat the disorder.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

In what can be termed as nothing short of bizarre, an English woman has been discovered to have been addicted to consuming talcum powder for nearly fifteen years.

In what can be termed as nothing short of bizarre, an English woman has been discovered to have been addicted to consuming talcum powder for nearly fifteen years. Forty-four-year old Lisa Anderson lives in Paignton, England and is a mother of five. She admits having been addicted to eating talcum powder ever since she gave birth to her fifth child. Johnson's Baby Powder has been increasingly appealing to her palate. Lisa continued devouring a bottle of talcum powder every day before finally deciding to seek professional help around five years back. According to UK media, Anderson is reported to have spent as much as £8,000 on her eating disorder. Also read: J&J recalls 33,000 bottles of baby powder as FDA finds asbestos in sample In reality, Lisa's outlandish craving could be attributed to mineral or nutrient deficiency, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or an eating disorder called PICA. PICA is characterised by the urge in a person to consume substances with zero nutritional value such as paint, dirt, mud, chalk and powdery substances. PICA is usually diagnosed if a person's eating disorder goes for or beyond a month. A host of tests can be conducted to assess mineral, nutritional deficiencies, intestinal blockages and toxic side-effects of substances that the person has had consumed so far. Usually mineral or nutritional deficiencies may trigger such eating disorders. Once corrected, such eating habits may also go away otherwise behavioural interventions are used to treat the disorder.

One bottle a day! Mother of five has been addicted to eating talcum powder for nearly 15 years

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the upcoming film `Joker`, lost a whopping 52 pounds and the transformation took a toll on him. 
 
The actor revealed that he developed a `disorder` and became `obsessed` with his new weight, reported E! News. 
 
Phoenix opened up about how shedding the weight took a toll on him, revealing that it became a "disorder" for him. 
 
"Once you reach the target weight, everything changes. Like so much of what`s difficult is waking up every day and being obsessed over like 0.3 pounds. Right? And you really develop like a disorder," the Oscar nominee said. 
 
But in light of the physical and mental challenges of losing so much weight, Phoenix said that it was necessary for him to have a delicate frame as it helped carry out the iconic comic book villain`s movements and mannerisms."But I think the interesting thing for me is what I had expected and anticipated with the weight loss was these feelings of dissatisfaction, hunger, a certain kind of vulnerability and a weakness," Phoenix said. 
 
"But what I didn`t anticipate was this feeling of kind of fluidity that I felt physically. I felt like I could move my body in ways that I hadn`t been able to before. And I think that really lent itself to some of the physical movement that started to emerge as an important part of the character," he added. 
 
Phoenix also revealed that the late actor and performer Ray Bolger influenced Joker`s dance moves in the movie."There was a particular song called `The Old Soft Shoe` that he performed and I saw a video of it and there`s this odd arrogance almost to his movements and, really, I completely just stole it from him," the star said."He does this thing of turning his chin up. This choreographer, Michael Arnold, showed me that and tons of videos and I zeroed in on that one. `That was Joker, right?` There`s an arrogance to him, really. That was probably the greatest influence. But also disco," Phoenix added. 
 
While the actor`s performance is being largely praised, the film, on the other hand, is being criticised for its dark content and sympathetic tone towards the villain. Directed by Todd Phillips `Joker` features a new take on the comic book character`s origin story, and follows an aspiring stand-up comedian called Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) whose mental health issues escalate, ultimately leading him to a life of criminality. 
 
Apart from Phoenix, the movie also features Robert De Niro, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham. 
 
The upcoming flick is a part of the DC Comics universe but will serve as an independent origin story and will not feature any appearances by Batman and other caped crusaders. 
 
The film is getting early Oscar buzz after winning the Golden Lion, the Venice International Film Festival`s top award. Earlier this month, `Joker` received an eight-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere for the origin story that the makers mapped out for Batman`s arch-villain - Joker. 
 
The movie is slated to release on October 2 in India.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the upcoming film `Joker`, lost a whopping 52 pounds and the transformation took a toll on him.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, who is receiving rave reviews for his performance in the upcoming film `Joker`, lost a whopping 52 pounds and the transformation took a toll on him. The actor revealed that he developed a `disorder` and became `obsessed` with his new weight, reported E! News. Phoenix opened up about how shedding the weight took a toll on him, revealing that it became a "disorder" for him. "Once you reach the target weight, everything changes. Like so much of what`s difficult is waking up every day and being obsessed over like 0.3 pounds. Right? And you really develop like a disorder," the Oscar nominee said. But in light of the physical and mental challenges of losing so much weight, Phoenix said that it was necessary for him to have a delicate frame as it helped carry out the iconic comic book villain`s movements and mannerisms."But I think the interesting thing for me is what I had expected and anticipated with the weight loss was these feelings of dissatisfaction, hunger, a certain kind of vulnerability and a weakness," Phoenix said. "But what I didn`t anticipate was this feeling of kind of fluidity that I felt physically. I felt like I could move my body in ways that I hadn`t been able to before. And I think that really lent itself to some of the physical movement that started to emerge as an important part of the character," he added. Phoenix also revealed that the late actor and performer Ray Bolger influenced Joker`s dance moves in the movie."There was a particular song called `The Old Soft Shoe` that he performed and I saw a video of it and there`s this odd arrogance almost to his movements and, really, I completely just stole it from him," the star said."He does this thing of turning his chin up. This choreographer, Michael Arnold, showed me that and tons of videos and I zeroed in on that one. `That was Joker, right?` There`s an arrogance to him, really. That was probably the greatest influence. But also disco," Phoenix added. While the actor`s performance is being largely praised, the film, on the other hand, is being criticised for its dark content and sympathetic tone towards the villain. Directed by Todd Phillips `Joker` features a new take on the comic book character`s origin story, and follows an aspiring stand-up comedian called Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) whose mental health issues escalate, ultimately leading him to a life of criminality. Apart from Phoenix, the movie also features Robert De Niro, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Douglas Hodge, Marc Maron, Josh Pais, and Shea Whigham. The upcoming flick is a part of the DC Comics universe but will serve as an independent origin story and will not feature any appearances by Batman and other caped crusaders. The film is getting early Oscar buzz after winning the Golden Lion, the Venice International Film Festival`s top award. Earlier this month, `Joker` received an eight-minute standing ovation at its Venice Film Festival premiere for the origin story that the makers mapped out for Batman`s arch-villain - Joker. The movie is slated to release on October 2 in India.

Joaquin Phoenix reveals he developed a disorder after losing weight for 'Joker'

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