Romanticizing anorexia

I think it is somewhat easier for the general population to relate to and understand a beautiful celebrity who admits to an eating disorder. People can more easily grasp the pressure to be thin and all that jazz.

But if a wealthy, beautiful celebrity comes forward with severe depression, I don't think the public is as understanding and sympathetic. "That rich guy thinks HIS life is rough? Whatever!"

Also, our society is very looks-based and not so feelings-based. I'm not saying it's right. They are both terrible things to deal with.

I hear you. I often wonder if the people who are "battling anorexia" are actually battling it or just trying to be thin. A dear friend of mine has been battling anorexia for the last 10 years-- in and out of clinics and hospitals, trying to put the pieces of her life together. But she is ONE friend, and when you come to know her you realize that her struggle is legitimate. It's not a ploy for attention or an effort to get into a bathing suit. It's a struggle. Contrast that with the oodles of people I know who just want to be skinny and make foolish choices to get there, many of whom like to bandy the term anorexia about. SMH

what frustrates me the most is when they say - as you mentioned - that it was, "only for a few months," and that they no longer have a problem with it. if that was the case, then they did not so much "suffer from an eating disorder," as much as they "went on a crazy diet." but, as the title of this post says, anorexia (not so much other eating disorders, i've noticed) has been romanticized to the point where it's almost desirable as a fashion accessory.

the idea that someone can "use" an eating disorder to lose a few extra pounds in a short space of time is ridiculous. an eating disorder, in the truest sense, is a mental illness that does not just go away once a person's goal weight is reached. so a celebrity saying that she "battled anorexia" for a few months and then "got over it" gets under my skin the most. it sends a false message to impressionable women and men in our society that not only are eating disorders desirable, but they are the quickest and easiest ways to lose weight and get attention.

as if individuals who DO actually suffer from eating disorders need more people thinking they're only doing it to lose weight fast and get attention.

I love this post, as someone who had anorexia for around 7 years. I would say I am 'recovered' but are we really ever recovered?

Not only that, but the OP is bang on. Anorexia is not a fad, it's not pretty (hideous in fact) and most of the time it has NOTHING to do with getting thin. The reason I suffered was I felt it was a way to control my life. I had no control over anything else so food was my outlet. I say this because these famous people most of the time have NO IDEA. It doesn't last for months, it lasts for years and really your whole life. It is a daily mental battle. These people making it seem like a trivial fad are fools. The only people who are in the public eye and for me really do seem to battle anorexia are Nikki from Big Brother and Nicole Richie.

I guess what I'm saying is that I agree!

I'm even frustrated with this topic. Everything thinks its a big joke when its not, most of my friends are still anorexic. I was anorexic for 5 years then I finally started eating right and working out. I look like the same as I did with an ED but now I'm doing it in a healthier way. I don't think that people truly recover because we still have weight anxiety, I still go on the scale everyday in the morning. We also still relapse from time to time whether we realize it or not. When we do realize it, we catch what we are doing and stop the problem for the time being. Have you ever noticed that society always makes reality shows about people being over weight instead of being too skinny? Its because its accepted in society, but I think society today has accepted it a bit too much.