Modeling and anorexia

[K8-EEE]

As the mom of two teenage girls who are a healthy weight....this scares the bejeezus out of me, seeing as I hear so much talk in the carpool about weight and dieting, both from the moms and the kids.

http://580wdbo.com/features/news_photos/anorexic.html

Alarming image of a way-to-prevalent problem, but a nice ice-breaker to discuss these issues with your daughters!

[LostinVA]

1. k&r

[katty]

2. moms, both parents should discuss - I used to model

as a young teen for awhile, the pressure (even then) was enormous-some of my GF's were bulimic and some had to go into rehab-luckily none of them died. I never did any purging, I can't stand to heave, etc....so that wouldn't have worked for me! It is SO important to talk to young girls about taking care of their bodies in a healthy, natural way-to work with what they've got as much as possible! I never got cosmetic surgery, yet I would not consider getting a nose job a big deal-if it helps you feel better and boosts your self esteem.
And, dads are very important in helping their daughters to feel good about themselves, give them compliments when they dress up or their hair looks good, hug them and tell them you love them-ALOT-daughters need that from their dads so they feel that they are 'worthy of love' by the opposite sex-and in general, it is a good thing for everyone! Luckily I had that from my parents - but many of my GF's did not and it hurt them. It's a good thing to discuss this and keep the lines of communication open.

[Mountainman]

3. My wife loves the show, "America's Next Top Model." I hate it. They tell the girls off for not

being something they really can't control. Not pretty enough or to heavy or not tall enough. All the girls get rejected but one. How many women watch that show and feel not pretty enough?

[katty]

5. this show is a self-esteem depresser for girls and women

worse than a fashion magazine.

[Hekate]

7. That show had a full-page ad in the LATimes yesterday. I swear it was porn...

Every one of the "models" was dressed and posed as if for a porn shoot before all pretense drops -- at least that was the cumulative effect it had on me. After the double take I started thinking what a crock that show must be, to convince so many young, attractive, skinny women that the road to the career of their dreams runs through this sleazy enterprise.

Hekate

[K8-EEE]

9. Tyra Banks went to my daughter's high school

and is considered a big time role model (pardon the pun.) But I hate that show too!! I hate the way the ask them questions and punish them for answering honestly....."you should have told me YOU were the sexiest one" etc....! They really try to mess with their heads and make them cry and all that, OMG my kids LOVE that stupid show!

[katty]

11. no matter how cool kids dress, act, they are still

vulnerable to this crap.

[AngryOldDem]

14. It's cruel.

These girls, already stick-thin, are told to lose weight constantly. "Plus-size" models never forget that they are "plus-size" and are kept around and patronized as being such, until the novelty wears off and they're sent home. Girls are made to walk in shoes several sizes too small, with stilleto heels that are like stilts. If they fall and break an ankle -- tough shit. "Real" models work through the pain. If they get sick, well, dammnit, get off that hospital gurney and POSE!

I am constantly amazed why anyone would put up with this. At times when I catch the show it reminds me in a macabre way of the human equivalent of animal testing. Cruel and inhumane. But I guess the **potential** of big bucks is worth it. Right?

[Skittles]

17. it is an absolutely disgusting show

:thumbsdown:

[pitohui]

4. be careful with images

anorexia affects the brain, and what you see as "scary" the eating disordered person sees as "thinspiration" -- meaning what scares you won't scare the anorexic -- in some cases it will actually encourage her to figure out what the woman is doing so that she can emulate her

there used to be pro-ana websites where photos like this were posted, mostly hosted by teens or young women in their 20s, and photos that you might look at and go "gross," they are actually posting as an ideal to be achieved -- i think the hosts have really cracked down on pro-ana sites tho, i haven't been running into them so frequently any more

at the end of the day, i think campaigns like this are most helpful for arousing awareness among family or friends, the actual anorexic may not be as horrified by the image as you would expect, just the opposite

[Squatch]

6. How about a NSFW tag?

[K8-EEE]

10. What is that?

I'm sorry I don't know what that is!

[Squatch]

12. Not Safe For Work

Clicking on a link that brings you to a picture of a naked person is not so good in my organization...

[applegrove]

8. Did ya here the one about Kate Moss being pregnant? It turns out she just

had an egg for lunch. LOL!

[OhioChick]

13. I Heard Within the Past Few Weeks

That Physicians Were Seeing More and More Middle Age Women With Anorexia.

[katty]

15. wow, that's weird for that age....and yet I do see it from

time to time in LA,CA

[K8-EEE]

16. I know one!! (In L.A.) She's in and out of treatment & says it's not unusual

She's 43.....I think one reason it's a "young woman's disease" is the same reason heroin is a young person's disease, it makes you live a rather short life!

This lady, she goes through periods of being off the ana...but is always weird/phobic about food, always eats EXACTLY the calories to maintain weight and absolutely sees food as the enemy. When I don't hear from her I fear that she is relapsing and that's almost always the case. She is WGA and the strike was not good for her at all. I'm not sure but she looks unwell and is doing the stuff she does when she is not eating (chugging coffee, dressing in layers.)

[Kitty Herder]

18. It probably starts in their teens and continues on and off. If they're consuming

enough to survive that long.

[Kitty Herder]

19. This culture is so incredibly toxic to girls and women.

If I had my way, I'd do away with all the fashion magazines, the runway modeling, and the super skinny fashion model look-a-likes on tv or in the movies. Not to mention all the porn with the skinny women with balloons for breasts.