Re: Series of 3 papers(was: What is extreme CR?)

[Guest guest]

Hi Francesca:

Yes I read them, but not the references. My impression is as

follows. They come across to me in the tone more of a rant than a

scientific paper. The author seems to have an axe to grind. Perhaps

it is because his entire background is in anorexia (AN) and he has

seen the harm that can do to people. But is not his perpetual

comparison of CRON with AN irrelevant for the overwhelming majority

of CRON adherents?

I am not saying we can all happily ignore the possibility of

anorexia. We here very well know we cannot because of the invaluable

contributions of one specific poster here.

But my impression is that AN and CRON are two very different

phenomena. One entails an involuntary loss of weight that

the 'patient' knows to be seriously damaging to their health and

cannot prevent because of psychological factors. The other is an

entirely voluntary loss of weight BECAUSE the 'patient' knows it will

greatly benefit their health, and would be more than ready to reverse

if there was good evidence that doing so would offer similar

benefits, and where psychological factors are not apparently an issue.

For example the efforts to find mimetics that would allow those

currently on CRON to eat normal amounts are still get the benefits

are a clear indication that it is the health benefits that are the

objective, not some self-destructive fanatic urge to deprive oneself.

None of the three papers, imo, present a balanced account.

The above said, as I have mentioned before every couple of months I

go out for all-you-can-eat chinese food because I enjoy it. But also

I am using it as a check to detect at the earliest point possible any

tendency toward anorexia. No signs to date!

Just my take.

Rodney.

>

> >

> > --- In , " citpeks " <citpeks@y...>

wrote:

> >>

> >>>>>

> >> From: " uptownguy34 " <uptownguy34@y...>

> >> Date: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:53 pm

> >> Subject: What is extreme CR?

> >>>>>

> >>

> >> There is a series of three papers by Vitousek, et. al, from

> > the

> >> department of psychology, University of Hawaii, that portray

caloric

> >> restriction as an anorexic lifestyle called the " CR syndrome " .

The

> >> authors say that Walford put a positive spin on food deprivation

and

> >> understated the degree of hunger and deprivation in the

Biosphere.

> >> The authors even used some of the postings on the

> >> calorierestriction.org web site as references to document the

> > reduced

> >> libido and other physical problems of CR practitioners.

According

> > to

> >> the author, " To eating disorder (ED) specialists, severe caloric

> >> restriction (CR) is a symptomatic behaviour. When sustained for

> > years,

> >> it imposes grave consequences on the few troubled people who

> > persist. "

> >>

[Guest guest]

I would just say to read with an open mind. Some mental changes have been

openly acknowledged on the lists. Not just anorexia but other symptoms

(hostility, irritability) and if these people are to be believed, a lot

worse.

BTW our file on " Extremism vs Moderation " should be " must " reading for those

who are still interested in beating this discussion to death. It is a

compilation of some of our best postings/thoughts, by some of our brightest

members on the subject of how much/how far to go with your CRON program.

on 10/26/2004 5:49 PM, Rodney at perspect1111@... wrote:

>

> Hi Francesca:

>

> Yes I read them, but not the references. My impression is as

> follows. They come across to me in the tone more of a rant than a

> scientific paper. The author seems to have an axe to grind. Perhaps

> it is because his entire background is in anorexia (AN) and he has

> seen the harm that can do to people. But is not his perpetual

> comparison of CRON with AN irrelevant for the overwhelming majority

> of CRON adherents?

>