Disordered eating attitudes among female adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: Role of mothers.

Previous research has demonstrated that disordered eating among adolescent females with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is related to the weight loss and eating attitudes of their mothers. The present research sought to examine the extent to which female adolescents’ perceptions of their mother’s weight loss and eating attitudes and behaviours explained the adolescents’ disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Female adolescents with T1D and their mothers completed self-report questionnaires during outpatient clinic visits. Adolescents’ perceptions of their mother’s frequency of dieting behaviour and the importance of thinness to their mother were significant covariates of the adolescents’ body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. Attitudes about disordered eating were also explained by different elements of family cohesion and mothers’ attitudes to weight loss. Routinely assessing perceptions of family and maternal attitudes and adopting a systemic approach to the care of adolescent females with T1D may help with the identification and management of these at-risk individuals.

Eating as a neurodevelopment process for high risk newborns

Many high-risk and preterm infants have difficulty with successful feeding and subsequent optimal growth during their stay in the neonatal intensive care unit as well as in the months after discharge. Environmental, procedural, and medical issues necessary for treatment of the hospitalized infant present challenges for the development of successful eating skills. Emerging data describe eating as a predictable neurodevelopmental process that depends on the infant’s organization of physiologic processes, motor tone and movement, level of arousal, and ability to simultaneously regulate these processes.

Ritual, Play and Animals in early human societies: Manipulating the Bones in temple period Malta: Eating and Augury in the Maltese Temples.

Examination of antiquarian records and feasting ritual in prehistoric Malta

Components of Shame and Eating Disturbance among Clinical and Non-Clinical Populations

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between components of shame (characterological, behavioural and bodily) and eating disturbance.

METHOD: This was a cross sectional study of 859 female and 256 male participants from the general population [non-clinical (NCP)] and 167 female participants from an eating disordered population [clinical (CP)] completing the Experience of Shame Scale. The NCP samples also completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26, and the CP samples completed the Eating Disorder Risk Composite of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3. Participants were recruited via schools/colleges, eating disorder charities and the Internet.

RESULTS: Bodily and characterological shame were independently predictive of eating disturbance in female NCP samples (both, p?<?.001); bodily shame was uniquely predictive of eating disturbance for the male NCP (p?<?.05) and female CP samples (p?<?.001).

CONCLUSION: The aetiology of eating disturbance may be different for male and female NCP samples. The male NCP and the female CP samples displayed a similar pathway to eating disturbance. It is important to acknowledge the different components of shame associated with eating disturbance in different populations.

Posting Incognito ... Males with Eating Problems: Online Emotional Expression and Support

Qualitative research in the area of eating disorders (eds) has predominantly focused on females,whilst the experiences of males’ remains poorly understood. due to the secretive nature of eating problems/eds it can be difficult to explore the experiences of males with these problems; however, online support groups/message boards, which are common and popular, provide a non-invasive
forum for researchers to conduct research. This study analyzed naturally occurring discussions on an internet message board dedicated to males and eating problems using content analysis. Two major overarching themes of emotional expression (sharing feelings of disturbed eating attitudes and emotions; being secretive) and support (informational and emotional) were identified. The message board provided a vital support system for this group, suggesting that online message boards may be an important avenue for health professionals to provide information, support, and advice.

Contribution of primary motor cortex to compensatory balance reactions

Background: Rapid compensatory arm reactions represent important response strategies following an unexpected loss of balance. While it has been assumed that early corrective actions arise largely from sub-cortical networks, recent findings have prompted speculation about the potential role of cortical involvement. To test the idea that cortical motor regions are involved in early compensatory arm reactions, we used continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to temporarily suppress the hand area of primary motor cortex (M1) in participants prior to evoking upper limb balance reactions in response to whole body perturbation. We hypothesized that following cTBS to the M1 hand area evoked EMG responses in the stimulated hand would be diminished. To isolate balance reactions to the upper limb participants were seated in an elevated tilt-chair while holding a stable handle with both hands. The chair was held vertical by a magnet and was triggered to fall backward unpredictably. To regain balance, participants used the handle to restore upright stability as quickly as possible with both hands. Muscle activity was recorded from proximal and distal muscles of both upper limbs.

Results: Our results revealed an impact of cTBS on the amplitude of the EMG responses in the stimulated hand muscles often manifest as inhibition in the stimulated hand. The change in EMG amplitude was specific to the target hand muscles and occasionally their homologous pairs on the non-stimulated hand with no consistent effects on the remaining more proximal arm muscles.

Conclusions: Present findings offer support for cortical contributions to the control of early compensatory arm reactions following whole-body perturbation.

On Cherry-Picking ... or Trying to Have One’s Cake and Eating It: past principles and practice in the pursuit of an alternative to [full] EU membership

With the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the EU being increasingly questioned and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, committed to 're-negotiate’ the terms of membership, consideration is being given to what forms alternatives to [full] membership may take. While much current discussion focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of particular existing arrangements (e.g. European Economic Area, Swiss bilateralism), this paper examines the broader principles and practices that have to date underpinned – and undermined – EU’s attempts to develop alternatives to [full] EU membership. Drawing on an analysis of the evolution of association as an alternative to membership, the paper assesses the principled, practical and political limitations the EU faces – and imposes on itself – in offering an acceptable balance of rights and obligations to states not wishing to assume the mantle of full membership. In its assessment the paper considers various proposed models of affiliate and associate membership. It also situates consideration of the UK case in the broader context of the EU’s relations with other European non-member states for which membership may not be achievable and for which alternatives to membership (e.g. a form of privileged partnership) have been proposed. In doing so, the paper reflects on the precedent-setting consequences of any arrangement that the EU might reach with any state re-negotiating membership or withdrawing.