Contact: Danielle Bickelmann, Timberline Knolls, 214-521-8596

CHICAGO, October 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- From size-zero models on the cover of Vogue to weight-loss success stories celebrated on Oprah, there are many images in today's society that are shaping an unrealistic and unhealthy body image for women of all ages.

The pressure to fit in and be "thin" is even greater for adolescent girls and young women and can often trigger eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia, which are growing concerns among young people around the country.

"Society places impractical importance on being thin, especially for women," said Kimberly Dennis, M.D., medical director at Timberline Knolls. "The pressure to be thin can take a toll on someone already susceptible to emotional and behavioral conditions, or trigger feelings in someone who never struggled before. We encourage women to place an importance on a healthy lifestyle, not just being thin."

As many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia and another 25 million are fighting a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.

At Timberline Knolls, one of the country's most innovate treatment centers for eating disorders and substance abuse, recovery means more than immediate physical and mental treatment. It means strengthening them spiritually as well.

"We help women and adolescent girls work to achieve lifelong healing using the principles of 12-step recovery, strengthening them spiritually, emotionally and socially," said Dr. Dennis. "By making spirituality an integral part of their treatment, residents gain a larger, more objective perspective on life, as well as a firm foundation for their recovery."

Timberline Knolls helps residents look within themselves to uncover the underlying psychological and emotional issues that led to their disorders. Incorporated in the clinical approach, Timberline Knolls espouses the importance of spirituality.

Todd Warren, Timberline Knolls Ministry Outreach Representative, works under the direction of Dr. Dennis to explore the cognitive, affective and unconscious issues with the residents at Timberline Knolls, such as their openness to how spiritual and religious threads may be woven into their concerns and used in their resolutions.

"The release of spiritual feelings can help ease tensions associated with treatment and help restore residents' well-being," said Warren. "Spirituality can help get to the root of underlying issues that lead to eating disorders. My personal and professional experience is that you cannot have successful treatment for many of the cases that we see without healing the spirit, along with the body and mind."

About Timberline Knolls
Located on 43 beautiful acres just outside of Chicago, Timberline Knolls offers a spiritually nurturing environment of recovery for women ages 12 and older who are struggling to overcome eating disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. For more information on Timberline Knolls and the services offered, visit www.timberlineknolls.com.