Wow, that was an interesting aricle, thanks 7oclock.
I don't know if I agree exactly or not. I never really thought of food as an issue... though I do eat out of boredom (my hips will agree...) but I've only ever not eaten when I'm absorbed in a project.
My little sister, however, did have some sort of eating problem, maybe more like borderline anorexia if you want to call it that. And I have always thought our brains were wired similarly- meaning I think she has AS too.
A friend of mine just told me she struggled with anorexia as a teen, but she's very social. Has visits with friends in the morning and afternoon- different kids, different places... not for me!
yea... I will agree that I can't see how anorexia could really be genetic... at least not completely. I was sort of under the impression that it was the social pressure that "caused" anorexic people to take on the act of being anorexic? Not sure if that really makes sense, but I knew I wasn't likely to be anorexic because I couldn't adhere to those kind of rules, or didn't care enough to make those rules up in the first place...
I heard Christopher Gillberg suggest something similar but different a couple of years ago. As I recall he wasn't suggesting anorexia=aspergers, but rather that the 'control' that some people with anorexia seek is because of feeling out of control of their lives, and that feeling can be associated with being a teenager with AS. His suggestion was a screening one - check whether people who present with anorexia have AS.
Luai_lashire - totally good points. I can also see in the way that teenage eating disorders are treated that if you presented your eating disorder to the professionals they would diagnose you with anorexia.
Sorry to bring back an old thread ... was just searching and found what I was looking for and thought I would post onto this instead of starting another topic.
I had anorexia when I was younger (12-18), I was hospitilised at 15 but was lucky enough to have a 'text book' recovery so to speak. It took awhile to be 'in the clear' totally and even now food is one of my main obsessions and things I like to have routine and familiarity around. I get really anxious when I have to go out for dinner or when someone cooks for me. I think it is a control/safety thing which is a lot of what an ED is about.
Eating certain foods or out of set times would also make me extremely anxious!
It started at a point in my life when I felt I had no control over anything. Food and my body were a way to gain control over something. It was also a way to deny myself the basic pleasures of life I thought I did not deserve.
There is also a lot of social stuff around food which I would (and sometimes still do) avoid as it was uncomfortable for me (we all know how much us aspies love social occasions
)
Ok, just wanted to add my experience.
I don't think that autism has anything to do with anorexia. Thats just a bit vague, don't you thnk?
I understand where they might be coming from. When we are motivated to do something, normally, autistcs stick to it.
But that isn't very scientific, is it? I mean, that's just lazy. There ARE autistic anorexics, yes, that is very true, but that certainly doesn't mean that there is a link to autism and anorexia. I mean, there are autistic over-eaters as well and autistic vegans and autistic vegetarians and autistic meat-eaters.........
See what I mean? You just can't generalise people like that. It's just stupid.....
I am an officially diagnosed Aspie, and a a self-diagnosed ED-NOS sufferer.
I think we CAN suffer from eating disorders (over eating, undereating, bulimic tendencies etc.) but they aren't really related in anyway, or they are a result of some traits of Asperger's, but just because someone has Asperger's doesn't mean they'll have trouble with food, and just because someone has Anorexia doesn't mena they suffer with Asperger's or autism.
I am quite the gourmand, myself. If anything, I tend to overindulge, getting into the pure sensation of tasting, smelling, feeling. Eating, itself, can become a stim.
I'm just glad that I tend to perseverate on things like fencing, or I'd weigh 400 pounds.
I have an eating disorder, but it doesnt really affect me, what with being 215lb and 6'5" and an athlete
I dont eat any vegetable products, cereals, such as bread and such I have in small amounts. I am in essence the antithesis of a vegetarian.
Thats gotta be an eating disorder
Lestat, I think you mean cottage pie
I dont eat fruits either. No mash, or pie for that matter.
Looking at it, my diet is really boring.
Pint of vodka sounds good. Tequilas more my drink though.
More like, they were claiming that austism manifests itself as (at least partially) anorexia in certain people. It's not that unreasonable as a hypothesis and might merit investigation, but I don't think it's actually right.
I eat as a stim (slowly, though, so I don't end up eating very much.) Because of that, I like foods that take a lot of picking apart before you can eat them, like sunflower seeds and grapefruit. Although I don't know what you nutters are on about; fruits and veggies is delicious. Cooked vegetables on the other hand, ew. Why ruin a perfectly good carrot?
Well, they aren't saying they're the same thing; they're saying that the autism is the root cause of the anorexia.