Diabetic girls are skipping insulin to lose weight

A dirty little secret is shared by many young women with Type 1 diabetes – when they skip their insulin, they lose weight, wrote the Toronto Star Jan. 22. This is dangerous and potentially life-threatening behaviour, experts in the field warn, but one that is hard to quash in a world obsessed with body image.

"Young people in general are notorious for ignoring possible longer-term consequences in favour of short-term benefits," wrote Jennifer Mills, psychology professor in York’s Faculty of Health, in an e-mail to the Star. "Drinking and driving, unsafe sex, drug use are all examples of this type of bias."

When it comes to eating disorders, young women may tell themselves that they will stop if they see any negative effects but are blind to what they are, she wrote. "They’re in denial because they are young and naive."

Our prominent role in the history of the doughnut

In the spring of 1998, an apparent oddball was hanging around St. Catharines doughnut shops, wrote columnist Doug Herod in the St. Catharines Standard Jan. 22. Equipped with business cards identifying himself as Historian of the Doughnut,  York University student Steve Penfold (MA ’92, PhD ’02) was gathering input for a doctoral thesis by chatting up customers with stories to tell.

It was the 31-year-old’s contention that the development of the suburbs and increased reliance on the car as a mode of transportation paralleled the emergence of the doughnut shop. "If you follow the doughnut, it will tell you everything," he told The Standard at the time. Penfold said he hoped one day to write a book about Canada’s doughnut culture.

Sure, buddy. Whatever you say.

Fast-forward to this past Saturday when I was leafing through The Globe and Mail‘s book section. Holy apple fritter! Getting three-quarters’ page treatment and a glowing review was The Donut: A Canadian History, by Steve Penfold.

On air

  • Perry Sadorsky, economics professor in York’s Schulich School of Business, spoke about the sudden drop in the stock market on AM640 News, Jan. 21.
  • George Georgopoulos, economics professor in York’s Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies, spoke about investor worries after recent stock market losses, on CBC Radio’s “Here and Now”, Jan. 21.