5. January 3rd, 2010
“I never thought I would be. I knew the signs, I understood the concept
of it. I thought “It’s not happening to me.”
But the thing is, it’s so gradual, so insidious in its approach, that only
after it has you firmly in its grip do you realize how dangerously far
you’ve fallen.
I went from weighing 110 pounds in May to weighing 89 in December.
85 in January.
It’s a subtle trap. I’ve always been insecure about my body, then I
began getting in shape, exercising daily and trying to eat healthier. It
became a mindset, a habit, and I was pleased when I started to look
sleeker, more fit. Who wouldn’t be? In our culture, thin is in.”
I was thin.
6. January 3rd, 2010
“I never thought I would be. I knew the signs, I understood the concept
of it. I thought “It’s not happening to me.”
But the thing is, it’s so gradual, so insidious in its approach, that only
after it has you firmly in its grip do you realize how dangerously far
you’ve fallen.
I went from weighing 110 pounds in May to weighing 89 in December.
85 in January.
It’s a subtle trap. I’ve always been insecure about my body, then I
began getting in shape, exercising daily and trying to eat healthier. It
became a mindset, a habit, and I was pleased when I started to look
sleeker, more fit. Who wouldn’t be? In our culture, thin is in.”
I was thin.
7. According to the American Psychological Association, Anorexia
Nervosa is a disorder in which “individuals believe they’re fat even
when they’re dangerously thin and restrict their eating to the
point of starvation.”
8. According to the American Psychological Association, Anorexia
Nervosa is a disorder in which “individuals believe they’re fat even
when they’re dangerously thin and restrict their eating to the
point of starvation.”
Why?
9. “Insecure about my body”
80% of American women are dissatisfied with
their appearance.
Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of
American women.
10. “A subtle trap”
For females 15-24 years old who suffer from
anorexia nervosa, the mortality rate associated
with the illness is twelve times higher than the
mortality rate of all other causes of death.
Anorexia has the highest premature fatality rate
of any mental illness.
11. “…a mindset, a habit…”
42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner.
81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.
46% of 9-11 year olds are “sometimes” or “very
often” on diets.
25% of American men and 45% of American
women are on a diet on any given day.
12. “In our culture, thin is in”
Left to right: Angelina Jolie, Lindsay Lohan, Audrey Hepburn
13. The “ideal beauty” of a given culture
is that which is rare or difficult to achieve.
The media sensationalizes extremes and black-boxes
less obvious manifestations of the disorder.
This means…
14. “It’s not happening to me”
I never faint.
I get my period.
I eat regular meals.
My hair isn’t falling out.
I don’t feel any different.
I don’t exercise excessively.
This isn’t happening to me.
They’re overreacting…
15. “another world”
“Anorexia is life with a measuring cup and a calculator by
your side and eventually in your head.”
“The problem was, what you were writing down wasn’t
what you were eating.
10 macaroni noodles isn’t two tablespoons.
15 peas isn’t one-fourth of a cup.”
Why won’t everyone leave me alone? I’m eating! See!
Watch me eat! I don’t look any different than I did before…
19. “I need to go to the gym, I‘m soooo fat.“
“Oh I don‘t eat that. It makes you fat.”
“I need to lose fifteen or twenty pounds before I can
wear that.”
