This is how myths about eating disorders are perpetuated

By work like this, from a psychologist at the University of Missouri.

If you've got a minute, hop over to the site, read the story, and leave a comment. I don't waste my time arguing with people online, but maybe Bardone-Cone can learn something from a different perspective.

Finally, some good news about fat

This blog post from Tara Parker-Pope discusses a study on the kinds of factors that affect how we visibly age. Make sure to look at the compelling slide show that goes along with it. It's a fascinating look at pairs of twins where one looks considerably older than the other. The study results suggest that smoking, sun exposure, depression, and weight loss all contribute to looking older.

Cool new study on anorexia

It seems clear that family-based treatment is an excellent way to go for adolescents who develop anorexia or bulimia. But what about adults? Now a new study out of University of North Carolina is looking for volunteers to test a related treatment that could help adults with eating disorders.

When a teen gets sick, parents are a crucial part of her/his recovery. This study looks at how spouses can be involved in recovery. It makes a lot of sense to me, because anorexia is anosognosic--people who have it either can't perceive that they're ill or, in the case of some adults, often can't "decide" to recover themselves. Having someone else take charge of recovery or at least be involved in it can make all the difference.

Kudos to Cindy Bulik and other UNC researchers for testing this one out. I look forward to hearing the results.

The world's funniest complaint letter

has got to be this one, written by a passenger on one of Virgin Air's India to England flights in December. Don't miss the photographs of food--that's the tangential link to the subject matter of this blog.

I haven't read anything food-related that's this funny since I read Wendy McClure's Candyboots site. If you haven't seen that, please go there right now. Don't read it while eating or at work.