I am a psychologist who had a practice in Chicago several years ago. I had the opportunity to treat several young women and teenagers suffering from anorexia or bulimia. These eating disorders are devastating and deadly.
Cultural influences encourage young people, especially young girls, to diet excessively, holding to ideals of body shape that are unrealistic and dangerous. Years ago my profession, together with other mental health professionals, began a campaign to persuade fashion magazines and catalog sellers to hire modeling agencies that avoided using emaciated models, trying to make images of what is beauty more realistic. What happened to that campaign? Where are the consciences of people in the fashion industry? I have noticed the trend back to “Twiggy-types.”
Readers should keep in mind that approximately 3 percent to 8 percent of the victims of these eating disorders die; many of those who don’t die suffer all their lives.
