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  • The “thigh gap:” A skinny rule reigning social media sites frequented by teenage girls

    The thigh gap. Have you heard of it? No? Perhaps your teenage daughter has. This “rule” for skinny is permeating social media sites: tumblr, facebook, instagram, to name a few. Even though this seems like a relatively new trend, women have been using their thighs as a way to measure their body image for years. I know, because a particular Oprah show is forever engrained into my mind. A few years back, as I was watching this show, I recall a vivid image of Oprah, standing with her feet touching, looking at the space between her legs and proclaiming that “skinny” women strive to have at least two gaps showing (a gap between the ankles and a gap just below the knees), and if they are lucky, three – the gap between the thighs. I’m even embarrassed to say that I catch myself every now and then looking at my thighs to see if I have “the gap.”

    What exactly is the thigh gap?

    The thigh gap is a one to two inch gap between the thighs when the feet are touching together. However, this “gap” is almost impossible to attain, and the process of obtaining a thigh gap is risky, oftentimes sparking unhealthy fitness and eating behaviors. This trend has also raised concerns among eating disorder experts, as they recognize that in order to obtain a thigh gap, one would most likely take on some form of disordered eating.

  • Why Is My Child Having Accidents After Being Toilet-Trained?

    If your school-age child begins having wetting accidents after being toilet-trained for at least six months, you may be concerned — and rightfully so. The good news is that most bladder control problems in children are not serious and can be treated with behavior modification. Catching these issues early makes it easier to break the dysfunctional habits.

  • Movies are more violent than they used to be

    My daughter’s fourth birthday is coming up soon. A few days ago as we were driving home from school, I asked her what type of presents she might like for her birthday. I knew the grandparents and great-grandparents would soon be asking so I’d better get some ideas.

  • What is Vitamin K, and why is it important for my newborn baby?

    Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that our body needs to help make proteins that are needed for blood coagulation. In other words, it’s one of the ways our body works to stop bleeding. We can find vitamin K in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli, and collard greens. Bacteria in our intestine also produce vitamin K. If we do not have enough vitamin K, we may experience prolonged bleeding from small cuts or big bruises from relatively small injuries.

  • How To Help Your Child Get Enough Sleep

    The frustration of trying to get your child to go to sleep and stay asleep is something most parents share. But no matter your child’s age, it’s worth the effort.

  • Helping your child say farewell to preschool, hello to kindergarten

    In a few short months, I will be the parent of a kindergartener. That boggles my mind a little bit. Gone is the chunky toddler who yells, “Nack! Nack!” when she wants an afternoon snack. No more diapers to change or pacifiers or naptime stories. She has officially moved on from baby to toddler and now little girl. As we make this change from preschool to kindergarten, it feels important to me to transition well- for her sake and mine- and to embark on this next challenge with enthusiasm.

  • Welcome to Illuminate

    Living in Central Florida for the past 10 years, it has amazed me to see the different people and cultures from all over the world represented right here in my own backyard. Many of the people that call this area home have come from places I've only dreamed of. They speak different languages, have different cultural and religious values and have totally different perspectives on the world around them. I love to hear their stories, get a glimpse into their lives and see the world as they see it.

  • Is It Grief or Depression? How to Tell the Difference

    Grief is a common, expected experience as a child or teenager processes difficult life circumstances. Depression, however, is a mood disorder that can be prolonged and serious. Because depression left untreated can be harmful and lead to suicidal or other risky behaviors, recognizing the difference between the two is vital.

  • How my roles as a woman, wife and mother have made me the doctor I am today

    This post was written by Dr. Brozyna, pediatrician at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

  • How to Make Time-out an Effective Discipline Strategy

    As a pediatric resident, I spend a lot of time discussing discipline with the parents of toddlers.  I have found that many parents struggle to find an effective method of disciplining their children; they often try various forms of discipline, but are unable to find a method that really works. I begin discussing discipline at a child’s 12-month checkup so that parents have the tools necessary to establish a discipline technique early and use it effectively as their child grows.