The New Biology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa: Does Dieting Help People with Eating Disorders Fit into Their Genes?

This presentation by Walter Kaye was filmed in March of 2001, before I was even diagnosed with my eating disorder, yet no one ever told me about it or mentioned it. It explains EDs so clearly and succinctly, without blame or psychobabble, that I am astounded no one bothered to let me know this great information.

The New Biology of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa: Does Dieting Help People with Eating Disorders Fit Into Their Genes?


You'll need QuickTime to view- I didn't have much luck, so let me know if you can see it.

Otherwise, just click here to view the slides. There's one gratuitous skinny person picture, but it's not too bad.

Then again, I don't know why I'm surprised no one told me about so much of the great information out there. I did find it, yes, which makes me lucky enough to be tech savvy to know how to search and inquisitive enough to go looking. But I shouldn't be the person doing the research to learn all about my own illness. I wish someone out there had told me such great information, right from the get go.

Am I bitter? Maybe.
Has it fueled my passion? You better believe it.

5 comments:

Motorina said...

Hello,

I'm unlurking to say thank you so much for your blog the links you've posted. I'm a 33 year old educated, professional woman, working in healthcare. I was anorexic for most of my teens and early twenties. I thought I'd beaten it but - for the past four months - it's been hitting back hard.

I'd been trying to figure out why. What was the trigger? What was I trying to control? Because that was the approach last time I was in treatment. But nothing explained it. I'd been trotting along happily enough, and it simply felt like the anorexic switch in my brain had flicked from "off" to "on".

Now, through what I've learnt from the articles linked on your blog, I know that my instinctive reaction to the ED was right. This isn't a personality flaw. This isn't adolescent indulgence. This isn't about control or not growing up or denying my inner muppet or any of the psychobabble I was unhelpfully given last time around. It's a disease, and I can no more talk my neurotransmitters into working than a diabetic can yell at their Islets of Langerhans until they give in and start producing insulin.

You have no idea how liberating that is. I now know what I'm fighting.

Thank you.

sad mom said...

Couldn't you just scream at what they didn't/haven't told you? I have felt all along that I was leading the therapist, paying her to sit there and say "your mom is right, that's a good idea." PITA Thank goodness our nutritionist is on the ball. Now he's with folk who at least seem know what they're doing and have actually read/published about EDs.

I'll watch it again when I have the time to study the slides longer. Thank you, Carrie.

Motorina - I wish you the best. You've beaten the bugger back into its cave before and you can do it again. You are better armed this time.

Marie said...

I'm glad you're filling the gap and doing research that will benefit so many others! Thanks!

- Marie (Coming Out of the Trees)
http://mmaaggnnaa.wordpress.com/

Carrie Arnold said...

Motorina,

As they say, "Welcome to the club you never wanted to join." Your comment seriously made my YEAR. If this blog disappeared tomorrow (it won't!), this one comment will have made all my writing worth it. Thanks for reminding me why I do what I do.

Brwneyedgrl08 said...

There are many places to find good information relating to eating disorders. A really great informational site is www.eatingdisorder.com. On there you will find tons of helpful and useful information about the different types of eating disorders, their symptoms and causes, treatment options that are available and more. I think it's worth taking a look at.. hope it's helpful.

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I'm a science writer, a jewelry design artist, a bookworm, a complete geek, and mom to a wonderful kitty. I am also recovering from a decade-plus battle with anorexia nervosa. I believe that complete recovery is possible, and that the first step along that path is full nutrition.

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Have any questions or comments about this blog? Feel free to email me at carrie@edbites.com



nour·ish: (v); to sustain with food or nutriment; supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth; to cherish, foster, keep alive; to strengthen, build up, or promote



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