This post on anorexia has moved to our top spot, causing me to read much more about the statistics used in the NYT article. I will review all the sources quoted by the NYT. As of this moment, I see no reason to challenge the very sobering statistics on anorexia cited by NYT writer Abby Ellin.

Original article written April 26, 2011:

A NYTimes article on fighting anorexia reminds us that in fighting anorexia, recovery is elusive.

Dr. Suzanne Dooley-Hash believes that she will never fully recover from the anorexia that has plagued her life since she was 15. Believing that she had conquered her anorexia, Dr Dooley-Hash relapsed in 2005, losing one third of her weight in six months.

Dr. Dooley-Hash is not alone in her confusion. Most medical experts agree that a third of people with the disorder will remain chronically ill, a third will die of their disorder, and a third will recover — with one significant caveat. There is surprisingly little agreement as to what “recovery” means for people with anorexia.

There is significant good advice and insights into the reality of defining ‘recovery’ for patients with anorexia.

“I say to patients, ‘This is your Achilles’ heel,’ ” said Dr. Daniel Le Grange, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago and director of the eating disorders program at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “If you have another crisis, you’re predisposed to resorting to starvation as your way of managing that issue. It would be foolish of us as clinicians not to prepare our patients that they should be on the lookout for a recurrence.”

Complete Recovery From Eating Disorders Is Psychological and Emotional, Not Only Physical

The medical history of anorexia sufferers in recovery suggests that they may recover nutritionally and suspend the behaviors of starving, binging and purging, but the ‘self-criticism, self-abuse, perfectionism, judgmentalism and restrictive mind-set persist.’

Crystal Renn at Met gala for Alexander McQueen, May 2, 2011Crystal Renn & Anorexia

The article comes as another former plus-size model, Crystal Renn gives advice about conquering anorexia in an interview on tour in cyberspace.

AOC finds Renn’s protestations about people’s focus on her weight disconcerting. While we support Crystal’s right to be any size she wishes, she is not a spokesperson for successful weight management and conquering anorexia. It is far better for the primarily women suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and related eating disorders who live on the East Coast — as Crystal Renn does — to contact a professional facility like the ones listed in New York inpatient eating disorder treatment centers.

Anorexia or bulimia have no place in my own medical history, although I’ve worked very hard to maintain a healthy weight with a nutritious diet and exercise, after losing 50 pounds seven years ago.

The daughter of a good friend of mine did suffer from bulimia and entered a treatment facility. My friend was most surprised that the entire family became part of her daughter’s treatment plan and the focus wasn’t only on good nutrition. The entire family dynamic became part of her daughter’s treatment for bulimia, and this case of anorexia resulted in a great outcome.

Death By Anorexia