Model dies from anorexia

[Mrs.Toad]

This is so sad.

In case anyone is interested, Parade magazine has a poll on their website right now about whether models are too thin. In last Sunday's issue, Parade said no. The poll and comments indicate that most readers disagree.

 

[chobie]

That is very sad.

I hope this doesn't become another thread making fun of people for their thinness. Loads of people have health problems and die from being overweight, too.

It is all unhealthy, I know. I just don't like those threads where people judge others based on their weight. Those folks know they are too thin or too fat and don't need everyone else making fun of them.

That's MHO, anyway.

People should not be judging people based on superficial, physical characteristics at all. I agree with that.

However, although people die from obesity related problems, I have never heard of a 21 year old dying from being fat. People may die early, in their 60"s perhaps, form obesity but you don't see some young person keeling over from eating one too many cheeseburgers, whereas you do see young women dying from ipeac poisoning and/or messing up their levels of postassium from purging.

This is tragic.

I had a friend in highschool who lost a good deal of her intestines from purging to stay thin.

 

[rie'smom]

I was hospitalized with anorexia when I was 30. To me,I looked good-not fat or thin. Then I was only eating about 1/4 of a hamburger patty-broiled not fried-each day. I was passing out all the time.
Finally,I told my husband to take me to the hospital. My body wouldn't stop shaking-like seizures. So,I went into the hospital scared to death that it would be like "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest",but I think that I knew deep down that I was dying. My weight was down to 80 lbs. and I'm 5'4". My husband said that he could actually see the muscle in my jaw when I talked.
I was so lucky that this particular hospital had just started a program for eating disorders. My therapists were tough but loving. If I didn't eat,they would have to use a feeding tube. Well,I was more afraid of the feeding tube than the food . So,slowly but surely I began to eat. After a month,I was released from the hospital but my therapy lasted another 2 years. Now,18 years later, I'm at a good weight -actually,I could probably lose a few and I mean a few lbs. but I'm scared that the downward spiral might begin again-so I'm working on accepting myself with extra 10 lbs.
I know this has been long but if you know anyone manifesting symptoms,please encourage them to see an eating disorder specialist.

 

[poohandwendy]

Heartbreaking that she lived that way and especially that she ended up dying for it, such a shame. My thoughts go out to her loved ones, it would be so hard to accept that her untimely death was a result of this sort of thing.

 

[poohandwendy]

People should not be judging people based on superficial, physical characteristics at all. I agree with that.

However, although people die from obesity related problems, I have never heard of a 21 year old dying from being fat. People may die early, in their 60"s perhaps, form obesity but you don't see some young person keeling over from eating one too many cheeseburgers, whereas you do see young women dying from ipeac poisoning and/or messing up their levels of postassium from purging.

Actually, it does happen. Much more often than people think. I know of quite a few young people who have literally died of massive heart attacks attributed soley to obesity. (one my DH watched die right in front of him at the age of 26)

Excess of either form can be deadly and even young people need to be aware that it could take their lives, sooner rather than later.

 

[tink2020]

You know...back when I was heavily anorexic, the only support system I really had was one of those "Pro-Anorexia" websites. I understand how twisted they seem to outsiders, but the people I communicated with on that site were the ones who kept me alive. Because of them, I had a place where I felt safe, where I could speak without being judged. I had a community who understood exactly what I was going through. I mean, anyone else just told me to "grow up" if I ended up crying because I accidentally got whole milk instead of skim from a restaurant. I don't think anyone who hasn't been there understands how insidious this diesease is

And believe me, any time one of us posted that s/he was going into recovery, we applauded and supported them.

My heart bleeds for anyone with an eating disorder. It's something I wouldn't wish on my very worst enemy. On top of the horrific nature of the illness is the terrible stigma and abuse you have to deal with from the rest of the world. Seriously, think about it...people would jump all over you for mocking someone who was seriously depressed. But making fun of skinny people--almost always accepted in casual conversation.

Now I'm just rambling...

Oh, I could have written this post. Thank you for putting that into such eloquent words, you are 100% correct -- I don't think most people realize the extent that eating disorders affect lives. I think the stigma is, in general, "just get over it".

 

[chobie]

Actually, it does happen. Much more often than people think. I know of quite a few young people who have literally died of massive heart attacks attributed soley to obesity. (one my DH watched die right in front of him at the age of 26)

Excess of either form can be deadly and even young people need to be aware that it could take their lives, sooner rather than later.

I don't know the statistics on how many die each year from from both extremes, but I do know we are constantly reminded by the media and the CDC about the problems of overeating, but only hear about undereating when someone famous dies from anorexia. IN fact the CDC has been under attack for greatly exaggering the statistics for obesity related deaths.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6566448/

Almost everyday there is something in the media about obesity, but we don't hear about the dangerous things that girls do to stay thin very often.

So, I'm not saying we should stop focusing on obesity, but we should focus just as much on the other eating disorders and the fact that our society promotes dangeriously underweight females as the "ideal."

 

[poohandwendy]

I don't know the statistics on how many die each year from from both extremes, but I do know we are constantly reminded by the media and the CDC about the problems of overeating, but only hear about undereating when someone famous dies from anorexia. IN fact the CDC has been under attack for greatly exaggering the statistics for obesity related deaths.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6566448/

Almost everyday there is something in the media about obesity, but we don't hear about the dangerous things that girls do to stay thin very often.

So, I'm not saying we should stop focusing on obesity, but we should focus just as much on the other eating disorders and the fact that our society promotes dangeriously underweight females as the "ideal."

Oh, I could not agree more that noth issues are a serious problem. I was just responding to the idea that it is unheard of for a young person to actually died of the results of overeating.

To be honest, I think we place more emphasis on the dangers of not eating, as far as young people, than the dangers of overeating. I think we just look at a young fat person with disgust and see them as lazy. I think we are more likely to be sympathetic and concerned about young people who are undereating/purging. I think we see undereatiung as an urgent problem, but overeating as something we can worry about later. That is really not true for everyone.

The biggest difference is that most undereaters are hiding their eating habits much more than those who are overeating. JMHO

(I mean society when I say you and we)

 

[chobie]

Oh, I could not agree more that noth issues are a serious problem. I was just responding to the idea that it is unheard of for a young person to actually died of the results of overeating.

To be honest, I think we place more emphasis on the dangers of not eating, as far as young people, than the dangers of overeating. I think we just look at a young fat person with disgust and see them as lazy. I think we are more likely to be sympathetic and concerned about young people who are undereating/purging. I think we see undereatiung as an urgent problem, but overeating as something we can worry about later. That is really not true for everyone.

The biggest difference is that most undereaters are hiding their eating habits much more than those who are overeating. JMHO

(I mean society when I say you and we)

You're right. I didn't think of it like that. No one ever wants to discuss the fact that a teenager may be obese because she/he is eating because of emotional problems, but when they are NOT eating we are more apt to want to get them into therapy.

Good point.