Theories on anorexia cause mothers to bang heads on desks

For reasons that will become obvious as you read this: Anorexia risk 'could be predicted' I am both intrigued and dismayed.

And I'm going to have to wait to tell you what I think about the study and the reaction and the inevitable ignorant counter-reaction until I hear back from the authors on a question I have.

But since I know you will want to know, and talk about it, and I've just come in from out of town and about to leave again....

Talk amongst yourselves...

Comments

  1. Yikes - I'm presuming the question you have is "were you SERIOUSLY misquoted in the third paragraph?"

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  2. I do like the quote from Susan though - although of course cuteandfuzzy bunny (what a name!) would undoubtedly say "she would wouldn't she"

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  3. I have two questions: First, bad parents?? I don't need to say more. Second, if they studied people being treated for an eating disorder, how do they know that the brain changes didn't occur from malnutrition?

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  4. As my head is beginning to hurt from all that banging, I've gone back and had another look. I'm still very concerned, as well as very intrigued, and very curious as to whether you've had any answers but for the moment what's sticking in my mind is the use of one word. Dr Frampton apparently described AN as "beguiling". Now I know that scientific types who like to concentrate on the detail can fall in love with atoms or electrons, but AN, while being scientifically fascinating, has no redeeming features. I can think of a lot of words I could use to describe it, many of which wouldn't be printed here if you have profanity blocking on, but beguiling isn't one of them.

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  5. My head on desk has been replaced with an irritable drumming of fingers while I wait to hear back.....

    No redeeming features. That says it all!!!!!

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  6. In addition to the misinformed quote about [blank] parents, the article is disturbing because of the statement that anorexia is a disease "we don't know how to treat." While it's true we don't know how to treat 100% of cases, we do know enough to bring about recovery for the majority of sufferers. Telling the public we don't know how to treat anorexia will cause some sufferers and their families to give up and not even try to find help. The statement also plays into the hands of insurance companies who are unwilling to pay for treatment.
    How is anorexia best treated? See the study by Nogal, et al., "Analysis of Treatment Efficacy in Girls with Anorexia Nervosa," 2009 Feb 27: 30(1), which concluded, after studying 87 patients, that findings "suggest that body weight increase by proper diet application is the most important element of therapy in AN."

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  7. Insofar as building the body of information that supports the biological bases of EDs is necessary to changing how EDs are treated and percieved -Huzzah!
    Unfortunately, such research is not SUFFICIENT to change how long sufferers languish and worsen in ineffective treatment paradigms. Nor, sadly, is it sufficient to change the discrimination and marginalization that sufferers must endure. Sigh.

    As for the counter-reaction, I couldn't read any. I am jealously saving my Sanity-Watchers points for this week's tasks advocating for better care for my D.

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  8. Very wise, Irish. Very wise!

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  9. "I work at a residential eating disorder clinic...we specifically treat women and adolescents for anorexia, bulimia, and other ED's.

    I can pretty honestly say, and this is from simple observation of our clients and such...that the problems these girls/young women have almost always originates (like 90%) from within the core family. May not always be the mother, but more time than not it is. And it may not be one direct thing the family does, but merely the way it operates...the slight manipulations, the guilt, the pressure, the anger or anxiety that so often go unseen to the casual observer...and yet these emotions come out in full force on the weakest member of the family (usually the daughter)...increasing their helplessness and feeling of

    I'm a little skeptical of a study that says that anorexic women have molecular level damage to the brain...and that this damage is the precursor to their disordered eating...when it seems like it would be the other way around. They have the damage to their brains because of their issues with eating."

    Wouldn't you just *LOVE* to know which clinic this woman works at so that we could warn families seeking treatment to stay FAR, FAR, AWAY!!!!!!

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  10. Yes indeed Crimson. I actually read your post from my phone and as the font is a little small for my ageing eyesight initially thought that you were the author of these words. I was going to dive in and ask where this clinic was. Oh well.
    Laura, did you ever hear back from the author?

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  11. I would honestly like to just take a moment to warn everyone here. You probably already knwo but I just want to warn against the dangers of anorexia because I have it and now have kidney failure and may only live a few weeks. For this reason< i just want to encourage everyone to live life to the fullest, realize that your value is not in a number of pounds or kilos and to seek to live a life that is focused on the Truth and good and right. I hope this helps someone because what am going thru is not fun and anorexia is totally not worth it. Thank you so much for letting me post this.

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  12. Anonymous, I so wish that we - the anonymous people reading this - could help YOU. I am grateful to you for trying to help others and so sad that your life is at risk.

    I am sitting here hoping that you and those around you can find some way to heal you and comfort YOU. If there is any way I can be of assistance please email me Laura@Eatingwithyouranorexic.com.

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