Adolescent Girls

Are you between 12-21 years old?
If so, you may be eligible for our research study.

We are interested in learning why some people develop eating disorders. We are recruiting girls who have a problem with binge eating and purging and girls who do not. Participation in this study would involve interviews as well as taking pictures of your brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There are no known health hazards associated with MRI. If you would like to hear more about this study and see if you may be eligible, please call 212-543-5151. Compensation is provided for your participation. Protocol #4396, New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Medical Center Eating Disorders Clinic.

Hey,

I'm a scientist but isn't it glaringly obvious that the primary cause of eating disorders is the way the mass-media has associated thinness with beauty? Sure, some people might be more susceptible to developing an eating disorder due to their brain-functions but the main cause of the problem is so damn clear.


You can do all the studies you want - and create all the drugs you want to aid sufferers - But if you don't tackle the root of the problem, you aren't doing much to truly help sufferers now or in the future.


The study is a good idea because it furthers our knowledge of neurology but I hope you see where my frustration comes from.

Take care,
Kevin.

I agree that the mass media plays a large role in the development of eating disorders. But why is that although all girls (except for those growing up in under-develped countries) are exposed to mass media and most diet at some point in their lives, only some go on to develop these disorders? In addition, I am investigating the functioning of specific neural circuitry that is abnormal in other childhood psychopathologies - because of behavioral characteristics that these disorders have in common with AN and BN.

So, you're going to look for similar/common neurological patterns between sufferers - Patterns that exist in them but not in non-sufferers?

Kevin.

PS - ...What about guys!? I'm male, 23, and I've been bulimic for about two years.