Sir, - Dr Andrew Leary's response (September 26th) to an article by Kathryn Holmquist on eating disorders and their increasing prevalence in today's society, beggars belief! "Am I being cynical?" he wonders.
My reply would be that cynicism is perhaps acceptable, as everyone is entitled to their opinion, but ignorance is inexcusable, particularly as the gentleman is a member of a profession entrusted with the health of our citizens.
May I suggest that the good doctor takes a trip to Dublin on October 26th to the second Annual Eating Distress Awareness Day? Perhaps his eyes might be opened to the reality of thousands of Irish men and women, young and old, who find themselves in the grip of what can be a life-threatening obsession - an obsession not caused, but certainly fuelled, by crass comments, ignorance, media promotion of the dictum "thin is in", and members of the medical profession who refuse to recognise a public health emergency until it is too late. - Yours, etc.,
Orla Farrell, Loreto Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.