Autism and Anorexia: Bad mothering is not the cause
September 2, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
…… schizophrenia and autism once were considered the result of bad mothering and …… those who accept “outdated” theories of anorexia are misguided — “believing somehow that mere exposure to unrealistic society ideals of thinness causes anorexia nervosa. Were this true, all young girls would develop anorexia.”
So wrote Cynthia M. Bulik, director of the eating disorders program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil, in an August 7 letter in reference to studies of twins and families showing a genetic component to the development of anorexia nervosa. Dr. Bulik is quoted in a September 2nd article in the Newark Star Ledger about a family in Wayne, NJ, who is battling with its insurance company to have anorexia considered a biologically-based disorder. Dawn Beye’s 15-year-old daughter is currently in an out-of-state facility for treatment for anorexia; the family is paying for the daughter’s treatment themselves.
Any mention of “bad mothering” in connection with autism catches my eye—especially as, while the notion that “refrigerator mothers” caused autism has been widely and thoroughly discredited, vestiges of this belief still linger. Dr. Bulik’s words remind me that outmoded theories can stubbornly persist, with harmful results.
I think we are all different and are affected by so many outside influences that it is difficult to really understand what makes us what we are.
Indeed, one ad agency I know recently created an anoriexia awareness campaign because they believed the ad industry had been responsible for creating it.
Whereas, anorexia is just as prevalent in societies where thinness isn’t considered attractive.
I worry about my 19-year-old daughter. She is very stable and self-confident, but any girl in today’s society can be at risk.
What struck me about the article I cited above is the extent to which autism is still associated with “bad mothering,” however much people say that theory is outmoded.
Daisy, a mother we know—she was from South Africa—-once said to me (Charlie was just a baby) that she did not want to have to raise a daughter in this coutnry.
Some religious beliefs are to blame to a certain extent for why we as parents may feel responsible and “guilty”.
My youngest son, Paul, who is autistic was born with a black mark on his back and a monk at the temple told my mother-in-law that in his previous life he was so naughty that his mother smacked him to heaven!
I have 4 sons,2 of which are autistic and all brought up in the same way-LOVED unconditionally.
LOVED unconditionally is definitely what we feel, all the time and every day, for Charlie—–what a story about the monk.
My son Brian, who is now 13, always had a strange relationship with food. As a toddler he ate fish fingers every day in creche (attracting lots of well meaning advice). At age 5 her was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia but treatment did not resolve the food issues. At 6 he was so underweight, he was admitted to hospital with anorexia. Eventually he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He’s always hated bright lights and loud noices. I’ve had to coach him in how to make friends, little things like looking at people when you speak to them, smiling etc. Now I think he may be autistic.
Martina, thanks for sharing about Brian. Has he always had difficulties with social issues? I hope he is doing well—