 Radford stated that he chose this topic because it "involved several of my longstanding interests such as myths and misinformation ... eating disorders (a subject I first became involved with when helping an ex-girlfriend struggle with bulimia); and the news media".Radford served as managing editor of the science magazine "Skeptical Inquirer" from 1997 until early 2011, when he was promoted to deputy editor.He is also a regular columnist at the magazine.