Replies to 'Anorexia'

 Some more recent research has indicated that there are better meds to treat the brain imbalance seen in women with anorexia nervoso that have been used in the past.  It seems anorexics, either from a genetic susceptibility triggered by "regular" dieting,  or as a result of the disease, have an imbalance of brain chemicals that make the desire to keep getting the rewards of losing weight a compulsive activity.  Medicine might help take away the compulsion to see those numbers keep dropping "perfectly",  and keep you from killing yourself as a side-effect of that perfection.

Funny you should bring up the race discrepancy.  It isn't true that only white girls get anorexia nervosa or other eating disorders, in fact, eating disorders are on the rise among blacks;  just check out xanga if you have any dougts asbout that. .  In very general terms,  having some "jelly" is more accepted or desireable in that culture,  and being too thin can make a person the object of fun or even insults. ("Some day some man might take you, skinny legs and all").

In fact,  I got giggled at by some ( and I'm not being sarcastic, here) charming young black women at  Express the other day.     When I came out to the three way in slim cut pants and checked out my rear,  the young women seated in the waiting area started to giggle, amazed at the skinny white girl (me) who thinks being a coat hanger is cute.  I looked pretty good, but to them my slim profile is a defect.  They weren't mean spirited about it,  but it was pretty clear that they were laughing because of the differences in culture of white and black.