Could diet cause anorexia nervosa by altering brain function?
The diet of people who suffer from anorexia nervosa is very abnormal. Tests of brain function show that the brain works abnormally in anorexia nervosa. Based on a new idea we have, we are going to test the genetic code for a specific part of brain function as well as the effect of specific nutrients on this part of brain function. This could result in a better understanding of anorexia nervosa and a new treatment. Does use of sauna help patients with anorexia nervosa recover? A colleague in Spain, Emilio Gutierrez, observed that cold rats exercised more and ate less and that warming caused opposite behaviour. We have shown that warming with electric jackets is beneficial in anorexia nervosa in an experimental study. Dr. Gutierrez has observed that the sauna is better but has not tested this experimentally. We are going to test the usefulness of sauna and try to determine what it does in humans. How much do eating disorders cost in comparison to other diseases? I am undertaking a series
