Over the past month I’ve lost 12 pounds by following a sensible diet plan, combined with exercise. At 44, I’m learning to be aware of what I eat and how I move—but this wasn’t always the case. As a teenager I starved myself down to a size 5 (which didn’t fit my body type very well; I was super thin), by eating pretty much only dry toast and black coffee. My desire to disappear was rooted in self-esteem issues, and could have escalated into a full blown eating disorder if I hadn’t come to my senses, and to the table.

This is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 24-March 1), so I thought I’d call your awareness to the documents benefits of massage for those suffering from such a disorder.

The Touch Research Institutes at the University of Miami School of Medicine produced the report, “Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms Reduced by Massage,” and you can read MASSAGE Magazine’s synopsis of the report here: www.massagemag.com/anorexia.

In short, the research noted that massage alleviates anxiety, depression, eating- disorder symptoms, poor body image and biochemical abnormalities for women diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

In addition to TRI’s work, another research study shows that complementary approach that includes massage therapy benefits eating-disordered patients’ insomnia and constipation (www.massagemag.com/eatingdisorders). That research was conducted by Sierra Tucson, an inpatient behavioral disorder and addiction treatment center in Tucson, Arizona.

Up to 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder—anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating— in the U.S., according to The Renfrew Center Foundation, which focuses on prevention and education about eating disorders. Most of those people are young women, between the ages of 12 and 20—not the typical massage client. I wonder, though, what difference could be made in many of their lives if more massage therapists did outreach with hospitals and clinics treating eating-disordered patients.

The March issue of MASSAGE Magazine will include an article on how to run your business (and home life) in a way that makes a positive impact on the environment. In putting the article together, I was surprised by how far some readers have already gone, in terms of conscious decisions to lessen their pollution or energy-wasting footprint on our planet. From basic things like recycling all the way to wind-powered facilities, your colleagues are stepping up to do their part.

The article, “How Green is Your Massage Practice?” also mentions the marketing you can tie into your green habits.

I’m writing now to let you know about a great opportunity for practice promotion. I received this invitation today, and am sharing it with you here:

“The Media/PR Group of Access Intelligence is seeking marketing, PR, business and community relations/CSR experts to contribute case studies and how-to articles on the topic of “green” business practices for a new guidebook, “Case Studies in Outstanding Green Business Practices” that will be published by Media Industry Newsletter, PR News and CableFAX in the early summer 2008.

“To be considered, you must be an excellent writer and communicator who can convey in 1,000 words or less what his/her company is doing to be more environmentally aware and proactive. The article will include a byline of the author and is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your company’s green efforts to an audience that includes top business executives. Send an e-mail by Feb. 13 with the subject line “Going Green article idea” and include your article idea in 100 words or less. The article must be original and not published elsewhere; byline will be included; authors are not compensated for contribution.

“If your article idea is selected, you will be notified by Feb. 20. First drafts will be due March 14. No calls, please.

Email your idea to Diane Schwartz at dschwartz@accessintel.com. Thank you in advance.”

Until next time!