I wonder if there's anyone here from the local area for this publication who could have a gentle word in the ear of both the editor of the publication and the writer of the piece.
I've just taken my own advice and e-mailed the editor of the publication concerned as follows:
'Dear Ciara Moynihan,
I am writing to you to express serious concern about the advice given in the article by Andrew O'Brian 'Gentle steps towards beating chronic fatigue'.
I am a sufferer from Myalgic Encephalitis (ME), sometimes called chronic fatigue syndrome which is recognised by the WHO as a neurological disease. It is a severely debilitating illness leaving many sufferers housebound or bed bound for years. I have been ill for 26 years.
Recent research that Andrew O'Brian mentions does indeed indicate a down-regulation of the energy production system in cells in ME/CFS sufferers which has some parallels with, but is not the same as, hibernation. This is a small preliminary study with some promising findings that may lead to better understanding of the condition, along with many other studies showing changes in muscle, heart, brain and other systems of the body, and in the body's response to exercise. It is a complex, as yet only partially understood serious physical illness. The researchers in this study Andrew O'Brien cites specifically rule out using their research findings to draw any conclusions about diet or supplements.
It has also recently been revealed that a large study of 'graded exercise therapy' which had claimed modest improvements in patients, had been grossly exaggerated by the researchers, and data released under the freedom of information act reveal that there was in fact no benefit from this treatment. It is well known among patients that trying to exercise your way to health if you have ME/CFS is damaging. This is backed up by cardiopulmonary and other biomedical testing.
It is therefore highly irresponsible for someone with some claims to medical knowledge to advise a particular dietary or exercise regime as Mr O'Brien does in this article. There is no evidence that a high carbohydrate/sugar diet or any exercise regime is useful for ME/CFS and, as I have said, any exercise, however gentle can be highly detrimental.
Mr O'Brien may protest that he was only recommending a healthy eating and gentle exercise regime that is good for anybody, ill or not, but unfortunately what is good for healthy people may not be good for sufferers from a particular condition.
You may be interested in this article published yesterday:
https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/21/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-pace-trial/
I also object strongly to the gratuitous introduction of the highly insulting term 'yuppie flu' to introduce the article. Why remind your readers of a highly insulting term that has contributed to sigma and denigration of sufferers. Placing this alongside the incorrect advice that sufferers can be helped with diet and exercise not only misleads sufferers, but adds to the public's perception that the disease can be overcome if only people would try a bit harder. This sort of attitude has led to many sufferers being misunderstood and treated badly by family, friends and medical practitioners. This offence is compounded by the highly misleading headline you have used suggesting exercise can cure CFS. This is simply and completely wrong.
I look forward to hearing what action you propose to take to correct the misinformation in this article.'
I'll let you know if I get a response.