Re: Biggest Loser at work contests- I'm not saying this is always the case (generalizing usually lacks accuracy) but am speaking ONLY from my own experience- The people I love who have lost the most weight in those contests and won the most money tend to be impulsive by nature. They can lose tons of weight quickly, collect the prize, then put the weight back on just as quickly- usually they see eating tons of junk afterward as a "reward" for all their hard work during the contest. From what I understand, this extreme yo-yo-ing is pretty hard on the heart. And I know and love people who have gone through this extreme loss/gain cycle year after year. The only thing these contests do for them is provide some fun, some money, a fleeting sense of accomplishment, and a HUGE amount of wear and tear on their hearts. These contests are dangerous for both the underweight and the overweight. Sad. The author pointing out that companies do these contests to reduce insurance premiums was very sobering.

I especially like the last article you have chosen Carrie - because it encapsulates so perfectly my thoughts about mental illness/wellness (and the sprectrum of states between illness and wellness) as 'brain phenomena' or 'brain disorders'. I hate the idea that we are effectively at the disposal of our brain's neurological activity with no capacity for conscious thought; that firing neurones and neurotransmitter levels over-ride any capacity for freewill.

Understanding neurophysiology, and how this relates to neuropsychology is important in understanding EDs, other mental illnesses and neurodevelopmental conditions, but IMO this merely forms a basis for understanding ourselves and others better. It doesn't provide the sole reason for people's personalities or their emotional struggles.

Neuroscience is exciting and enthralling, but like the author of this article, I doubt that there will be a time when we explain thoughts and feelings using biochemical and physiological descriptions in place of folk psychology. In fact, I sincerely hope this never happens, because it sounds like a sci-fi movie.

With regard to your response to the NY Times article relating to the definition and reality of recovery from AN: I agree with much of what you have written. I remain in remission from AN, but I also know that there are factors that can trigger negative thinking that can lead to food restriction. These negative thoughts never have anything to do with my body size or shape; rather they relate to a feeling that life is just far too difficult and that I might as well not exist, so why eat? When those feelings develop, the best thing I can do is to see food as medicine, continue to eat (as difficult as this can be), and seek extra support from my therapist.

I'm so interested in the link between birth seasons and anorexia. It seems like a lot of the authors of the ED blogs I read have been celebrating birthdays recently or will be soon. Mine is in a couple weeks.

Wow the link between birth in spring and anorexia is interesting and confusing for me, because in another study I've read before, the result was that the distribution of birth in patients with panic disorder and anxiety (incl.comorbidities) peaked in September to December. There are certainyl lot (maybe majority?) of people with AN without anxiety or compulsive behaviours, but for me the link between anxiety and eating disorder is really unseparable and I believe I have had some anxiety and OCD issues long before anorexia.

((Maybe I am just un-objective, because in my family, there are unfortunately four members with AN who were born in October (2x), November, December.))

Thanks for interesting stuff!

September baby here ;)

I'm not interested in which month AN sufferers are more likely to be born in, if there IS a replicable and statistically significance I would like to know WHY. It can't just be 'cos February is naughty like that.

I agree with 2/3 of the links on "What should I say". The what to do and the what to say parts are good, but the one on how to prevent eating disorders made me cringe. Honestly, if it were as simple as realising that models are airbushed and not confusing self worth with how much you weigh then I would never have developed anorexia.

Emily Troscianko writes consistently wonderful articles :) I loved her last one and I can think of a lot of people I could send this one to!

statistically significant difference, even. I will learn to proof read one day!

hey thought you might be interested in knowing that anorexic women are being targeted by porn industries. may be material for next week, disgusting as it is. awareness is good.be careful what you post if people try to take "progress" pictures of themselves