new data on anorexia - a biochemical adaptation

[Connie Brown]

Ok I confess I lurk on dragondoor and today there was a nutrition thread on crash dieting leading to anorexia. This reminded me of a recent research article.

One researcher shows evidence this is a biochemical adaptation, not some mysterious thinking-only problem:
The ancestry of anorexia
Blame biology, not parenting, new theory suggests (http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/mental/articles/2003/12/30/the_ancestry_of_anorexia/)

My personal experience with this is when my 14-yo daughter crash dieted to get into a hot bikini and ended up in the hospital when she couldn't turn it off. (She's recovered fully and has given me permission to share the story).

The interesting part is she had none of the social symptoms that are found with this - the shrinks kept asking and asking about her secret history of abuse and control issues and she didn't have any. Drove both sides nuts.

I also think it is no accident that it starts in the teens so often. Healthy children and especially anorexics have unusually high serotonin (GREAT impulse control) and low beta-endorphin (so the starvation high feels like died and gone to heaven.) Whoa.

Thanks for reading. I realize this can be a scary topic but it isn't really after you learn about it.

[humilispuer]

Connie,

Fascinating stuff. I battled with anorexia, for a long period of time. To this day I still have symptoms here and there. Scary stuff to say the least. It's great to hear that your daughter fully recovered.

-Jonathon

[Connie Brown]

Congrats to you too Humi! you are helping a lot of people by being open about the experience. I'm glad it's mostly behind ya.

[humilispuer]

Yeah, still working on it ;) I'm trying to help out as many people as I can. That's one of the reasons that people attacking me on the DD forums for giving so much advice really irks me. A few of the guy over there say that I crash dieted, don't have enough experience, etc. In my humble opinion, the fact that I have been to hell and back gives me credibility. I figure by openly sharing my story, a lot more people will start to examine their own habits. Anorexia, among men, is up big time. Most will not admit that they have an issue. Maybe hearing that another guy went through the same thing and climbed out of the whole successfully will aid them in their own recovery. I'll stop babbling :)

-Jonathon

[Connie Brown]

In my humble opinion, the fact that I have been to hell and back gives me credibility.
Well me too.

Good thing that those of us who are discerning and educated :wink: realize it is quality that confers the credentials, not the other way around.

You go guy!

[humilispuer]

Hehe. Thanks a lot Connie.

-Jonathon