For goodness sake many physically illnesses have some genetic predisposition. We don't talk in terms of the individuals being gentically flawed and give up on them. Hopefully they will receive evidence based treatment for whatever their illness and taught how to look after themselves to keep themselves healthy. They are made to feel "ashamed" by a society that isn't presented with current research. Many many parents ( yes I agree not all) who love their children have been made to feel guilty and "ashamed" of so called creating a child with an eating disorder. That is a disgrace.
Your friend is not "genetically flawed" because she has an eating disorder, neither is my son who has a kidney disorder, nor are the children I work with who have inherited dyslexia or language disorders. But yes they have inherited the genes that predispose them to these difficulties. It does not make them any less a loved, valued member of the community and their families. Please do not suggest that having a genetic predisposition makes you somehow a flawed individual. Knowing one has a gentic predisposition to any disorder or illness is valuable information whether it's breast cancer, heart failure or a learning disability. I wish your friend the very best. I hope like my two young adult children she will recover from her illness and learn how to maintain her mental and physical healthy from then on.
PS There is an increasing amount of research identifying those "at risk" PRIOR to the onset of an eating disorder and encouraging early intervention.
Comment Reply
For goodness sake many physically illnesses have some genetic predisposition. We don't talk in terms of the individuals being gentically flawed and give up on them. Hopefully they will receive evidence based treatment for whatever their illness and taught how to look after themselves to keep themselves healthy. They are made to feel "ashamed" by a society that isn't presented with current research. Many many parents ( yes I agree not all) who love their children have been made to feel guilty and "ashamed" of so called creating a child with an eating disorder. That is a disgrace.
Your friend is not "genetically flawed" because she has an eating disorder, neither is my son who has a kidney disorder, nor are the children I work with who have inherited dyslexia or language disorders. But yes they have inherited the genes that predispose them to these difficulties. It does not make them any less a loved, valued member of the community and their families. Please do not suggest that having a genetic predisposition makes you somehow a flawed individual. Knowing one has a gentic predisposition to any disorder or illness is valuable information whether it's breast cancer, heart failure or a learning disability. I wish your friend the very best. I hope like my two young adult children she will recover from her illness and learn how to maintain her mental and physical healthy from then on.
PS There is an increasing amount of research identifying those "at risk" PRIOR to the onset of an eating disorder and encouraging early intervention.
January 3, 2010 - 4:55amThis Comment
Reply