Saturday, April 07, 2007

Adding Zeros to put Flesh on the Bone


Having previously written about anorexia nervosa, (the biggest psychiatric killer), today there is the welcome news about the government funding a £2,000,000 research project.

Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry aim to use the money to devise ways of spotting and treating victims before the disease takes hold. Health minister Rosie Winterton said the research would help combat the impact of young girls wanting to be 'size zero' models and continued saying that "[t]he development of 'size zero' as something young girls aspire to is deeply worrying."
Currently it is thought that less than 10% of eating disorder sufferers receive help and that victims are often not aware they are seriously ill. The BBC report report that pressure to conform to a 'size zero' model look is widely blamed by specialists as a key factor in the prevalence of the disorder. The extra funding can only be a good thing.

7 comments:

Maalie said...

It is gratifying to learn that a start is being made in tackling this dreadful condition.

David Anthony said...

It's good to see the problem being given extra exposure and research money. I'd also like to see the same happen with 'reverse anorexia' becasue I think this is also a problem and is really given no exposure.

Dr Michelle Tempest said...

Thanks Maalie - it's important for more research to be done about this.

Thanks David - and also for that link.

All very best
Michelle

jmb said...

Hi Michelle,
I wonder if this problem will ever be solved. I followed the link to reverse anorexia and found that extremely interesting. I always thought that it was only women who were never satisfied with themselves,but it seems the men are catching up in that area.
Maybe you can put that article up and comment on it. It's certainly a hidden problem.
Regards
jmb

Chrysalis said...

Hello Michelle, I have a friend that suffers with anorexia, I couldn't understand the dynamics of it, but I soon realized the stress in her life was a trigger for more than just her eating habits, indecision became a strong component to her problems as well. Something as simple (to me) as choosing a flavor of ice cream, became a major stumbling block for her. It's heartbreaking what people deal with in their perspective lives. I'll have to check out David's referral. Best to you.

Fenella said...

I am delighted Ulrike and Janet's team got the money. They are two of the most compassionate eating disorder specialists I have ever met. I have a personality disorder and wish some more money would be spent on treatment . Upto 38% of people with borderline personality disorder are affected by eating disorders and it is very distressing. I have conquered the eating disorder and some bits of BPD with good help from my psychiatrist anthony Bateman but its outrageous that personality dsorder is not given as high priority as EDs. If You have an Ed in the UK you can access an EDU as PCts have to commission an Ed service yet if you have BPD it is postcode lottery. Fenella/ www.organiclemon.org my website

simon said...

seems crazy that those with health/mental issues get little funding.

There seems so many "hidden" in our society....forgotten..