Eating Disorder Talk

One of the blogs I regularly check my feed for, change therapy, has just completed a series detailing her results of a survey she posted. This survey asked readers what their opinions were regarding nude or scantily clad anorexics, keeping in mind that a large amount of the survey’s visitors had arrived via search engine results for topics such as “anorexic nudes” or “anorexic porn.”

This series was by no means a scientific study: it was very uncontrolled and only 106 of the 2,884 readers of the survey’s post actually submitted the survey. Of those 106, some 23% of respondents listed their weights as under average or very under average - leading me to the opinion that some of the images were liked for thinspiration purposes.

The reason I’m suggesting that you check out the series is this: it was surprising how many people responded in a for-anorexic-images manner, while still stating that it was not their ideal - in a sexual partner, especially. A number of respondents expressed concern or disgust at the images, yes, but seemingly healthy people were intrigued by the frailty, control and femininity of them.

Go see what I mean and let me know your own thoughts.

The survey
Survey results, Part 1
Survey results, Part 2
Survey results, Part 3
Survey summation

sex and anorexia, anorexic nudes, anorexic porn, feminine women, frail women, thin women, anorexics, psychological survey

Body language studies will tell you that one of the first ways that you know a person is lying is if they answer a question, looking away (normally upwards) from the questioner. Nicole Richie’s interview with Diane Sawyer had lies written all over it, using this information.

So the poll this week: Do you think Nicole Richie did in fact have an eating disorder and is she really eating “every hour, at least”?

Last week, I asked you why you read eating disorder websites. The results were split very healthily:

• 17% of you read them to learn how to get healthy.
• 40% are looking for resources to get and/or remain healthy.
• 17% like reading people’s stories.

A little less positive were the 17%, each, that find the pictures alluring and who answered ‘other.’

Either way, I still find the results fascinating, in light of how much this site is found via search strings such as “how to become anorexic.” Obviously, I know enough to know that not all readers voted, and voters still could not have been honestly voting.

Onto this week’s poll:

Last week, I asked you if you thought the media glamourized eating disorders, or not. The results? Two thirds of you thought that the media indeed is feeding the machine, so to speak and not treating them as a serious psychological condition. The remaining third voted that the media is really educating the public and that as much exposure as possible was necessary.

How would I vote? I think both are true. This may be one of the few things in life that I have had a moderate view of.

This week, please give your anonymous opinion about why you read websites about eating disorders.