Powerful? Courageous? Disgusting? Over the line? NSFW.

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead Yes, like I've stated I spent time in a clinic after having heart palpations from not eating & I have a lot of friends I met in there with very different experiences of the illness, not that that has anything to do with a medical understanding of the disease. And yes, they (and myself) are hideous inside compared to a healthy person, that's nothing to do with their character or intelligence :/ And people who have anorexia DO get bloated hearts, that's not 'insensitive', that's just a fact. What are you talking about? I know there is, I've realised that myself. You've mistaken my honesty on the matter as scourn, and I find it bizarre that you think my statement was 'ignorant'. Nothing I wrote was an opinion, it was all fact. When I had anorexia my skin had a lovely yellow/grey tinge to it, my heart to this very day is dodgy and irregular, I sometimes had little control over my bladder, there's no point in pussyfooting around these things to appear more 'sensitive' - hence the advert!

Then i misread the intentions of your post. My bad.

 

[wolfsong]

I think that their intention is good, and forcing the public to look at things like this and ultimately discuss these issues is a positive step. Also the banning of models with BMI's less than 18 on runways should be inforced at all fashion shows.
However there are reasons why not all models have ED's, and why all those who read fashion magazines dont starve or purge. ED's are a coping mechanism (or a crutch) just like self harm and substance abuse - its a weakness. What may have started out as a way for you to fit into skinny jeans can soon turn into a dependancy that stays with you until you die (regardless of wether you feel 'recovered' - i havent cut in a long time and wouldnt want to on a day to day basis, but whenever negative emotions get the better of me its what i obsess about). Its a matter of your head realising its found its/a crutch.

The sickening thing about these ads is that they can and probably will be used as 'thinspiration' (actual term!) for anas and mias - does anyone remember the fuss about an ana website that sold wristbands (like the charity rubber wristbands) a few years ago? Just because its not in the news anymore doesnt mean those websites dont exist now.

I remember that people members/regular visitors to these sites and forums thought Nicole Richie was fat when she was at her smallest.
My first thought to this picture when i saw it in a newspaper was 'ive seen worse'. Thats a terrible thing to think, but its the truth. Unfortunately ive seen worse (and before people start, i studied anorexia/bulimia nervosa in college and i have personal experience with this topic along with that of people i love, so im not making light of this issue), and i thought that they could have used a thinner woman to better show how this disease affects the body. The fact that i thought that sickens me, and probably shows how fucked up my thoughts can be sometimes on this topic.
That was when i thought the woman was about 40-50 years old (to have survived that long validated my idea that she wasnt at the time of the photo near deaths door) - i only realised the true age on this thread. 27!
Its only then that i considered what this womans future is, or isnt to be precise.
The truth is that this woman, unless she vastly improves soon, will probably not see 35. Its almost guaranteed that if she does get better she will not be able to conceive (and if by some miracle she can, carrying full term would be very dangerous for her).
You may have read about the teenager that has the bones of a 80 year old and needs crutches to walk (predicted wheelchair bound in a couple of years), or children as young as 5 starving themselves to get thin. There is a lot of talk about obesity (and rightly so), but these ED's are just as harmful to the body, and even more so to the mind, so i'd rather get upset by this topic and face it, then sweep it under the carpet. I do wonder though if this is just the present 'It' disease - that its 'fashionable' to be anti ED at the moment. Just like AIDS in the 80s - its still around, it helped the gay community but is now needed for the hetros, yet its not news worthy.

Sorry for the long post, i have a tendancy to rant without actually saying a great deal...

 

[flowerhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae Then i misread the intentions of your post. My bad.

I'll forgive you

 

[Beauty Mark]

Quote:

I do wonder though if this is just the present 'It' disease - that its 'fashionable' to be anti ED at the moment.

I just hope if it's trendy, that TPTB handle it with sensitivity. When people see a celebrity who is suffering from an ED, the response "eat a sandwich" comes up all too frequently, to the point I wish I could slap every person who utters or types that phrase. It's not that simple, and I hope that subsequent ad campaigns cover that aspect.

 

[wolfsong]

There was even an apparent craze by potential/known ED celebs (lohan, richie, oslen twins, mischa barton etc) to be photographed stuffing their faces. I have no idea what that was about, or if it was just a gossip mag going through a slow period, but they made it out to be the Ana/Mia fad - public starving and binging.

I think that the photo of the anorexic woman is shot at a bad angle if they were highlighting her size - the legs are photographed side on (the thickest angle on those that arent overweight), the body is in a weird pose - neither side on to highlight the smallness of the waist (to ribcage), nor straight on to show ribs etc. How the womans body is positioned also makes her stomach look flabby (not fat by all means, just compared to the rest of her). However it looks somewhat like a model pose, and with airbrushing (fattening of arms, photoshopping of breasts, face etc - things that are changed on ALOT of photos nowadays as shown in that photoshopped thread) you can see it could be a basic photo in a fashion magazine (albeit if she was wearing clothes and makeup). Thats whats shocking about it to me.

Its sad that the fashion world seemed to only start to 'highlight' these issues when models began dying publicly on runways.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfsong Its sad that the fashion world seemed to only start to 'highlight' these issues when models began dying publicly on runways.

Go look at their runway models on their website and see if u still believe they care.

 

[flowerhead]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beauty Mark I just hope if it's trendy, that TPTB handle it with sensitivity. When people see a celebrity who is suffering from an ED, the response "eat a sandwich" comes up all too frequently, to the point I wish I could slap every person who utters or types that phrase. It's not that simple, and I hope that subsequent ad campaigns cover that aspect.

It's ridiculous, people in the entertainment industry with eating disorders (Princess Diana etc) used to inspire sympathy, not ridicule..it's crazy :/

 

[wolfsong]

raerae:
I dont think they care at all, its like with substance abuse in the fashion world - they dont do a damn thing until it becomes to public for them to cover it up. The majority of the time these models are pretty much told to starve themselves etc or take drugs by either people that should be looking after them or by other models.

Flowerhead:
Nowadays alot of people are saying Princess Di only had an ED for attention, just as her self harm is considered. Its disgusting that in this day and age people dont have more understanding of these serious issues.

 

[flowerhead]

I actually read an article about this lady in my 'Now' magazine yesterday. She's had anorexia since she was 13 and really wants to get better, she's put on 8 lb since the shoot. If anyone wants me to scan the article I shall.

 

[NutMeg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by flowerhead I actually read an article about this lady in my 'Now' magazine yesterday. She's had anorexia since she was 13 and really wants to get better, she's put on 8 lb since the shoot. If anyone wants me to scan the article I shall.

I'd been interested in giving it a read. TIA!

 

[Ms. Z]

27? She looks 107 and like she’s been dead for quite some time now but hasn’t noticed. I am totally disgusted looking at her.
It would be great if this ad and the negative reaction to this look encourages people to stop doing this themselves.
My entire life I have seen people who look like this (most due to drug addiction & alcoholism) and their appearance discouraged me from using drugs and abusing alcohol.

http://www.theinsideronline.com/tags/isabelle-caro.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=483762&in_page_id=181 1

 

[wolfsong]

"It would be great if this ad and the negative reaction to this look encourages people to stop doing this themselves.
My entire life I have seen people who look like this (most due to drug addiction & alcoholism) and their appearance discouraged me from using drugs and abusing alcohol."

The majority of people that suffer from these issues dont see or dont care about their appearance.
The majority of people with wasting ED think they are fat - they cant see the truth. Its a form of Body Dysphoria. Even those that want to get healthy cant usually see the damage - the main focus is not to put weight on, to get thinner, to have control. Its hard to change that mindset.
That photo will most likely not put off those aready in the grip of an ED, but it may prevent someone from starting/getting too bad. Though im not sure that this photo will be all that affective for that purpose.

 

[Kuuipo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae Obesity makes money.

OMG, you are so right.
Lots of the patients in the hospital have lifestyle diseases. Most knee replacements are done on middle aged obese women-not former athletes. Then there is diabetes-a whole industry unto itself. A quarter of my patients are insulin dependant. Most are noncompliant. When you really look at who is in the hospital and for what, very few are for "bad luck" like accidents and most are caused by the individual's lifetime of bad habits-gallstones-fatty diet,most cancers (certainly colon,but also breast and ovarian and prostate are linked to high animal fat). Hell,diabetes alone-drugs for lowering sugar,eye surgeries,revascularizing surgeries,heart surgeries,dialysis,loss of limbs,infection (infections love to live in a junky blood stream). Once a body gets past a certain BMI (different for everyone) the pancreas can't keep up. If the pancreas is not making enough insulin-which is really just a messenger to get food into the cells-the sugar stays outside the cells. Fasting sugar above 100,presto,diabetes. There really is no "prediabetes" that's called denial.Excess weight shortness life expectancy. It also sells diet drugs,scams,machinery,spa vacations,cosmetic surgery,bariatric surgery,etc....

 

[ilovexnerdsx]

as a recovering anorectic, i see this ad in two different ways:

1) calling attention to this disease, and motivating people to find comfort within themselves and their own body. it does show the horror of anorexia.

2) i see the possibility that some women/girls who ALREADY have anorexia glamorized in their own mind, will take this ad as 'thinspiration' and also connect anorexia with attention.

i'm not sure how i feel about this ad.

 

[flowerhead]

Well someone with anorexia always attracts attention. When someone is visibly emeciated, you certainly notice, just as you would someone who is morbidly obese.

 

[Ms.Amaranthine]

As a person that is attempting to recover from an eating disorder, I must say.. she's very brave. I think it's important for people to realize just how dangerous eating disorders are. I believe the fashion industry (There's been much argument over whether or not they're to blame -- if you don't believe me, watch ANTM. Criticism over weight is not uncommon on there) has glamorized this image and young women have followed suit. It needs to stop. There is nothing glamorous about it. It isn't beautiful. It isn't fun. It's easy to get caught up in the "Be thin or else!" world and once you're in, it's a slippery slope into a body and mind ravaging disease. I'm American and I will say that, when it comes to image, America is the worst. More than half the country is overweight but somehow, there's still this taboo when it comes to being overweight. I was tortured as a kid, even by adults. I'm told by friends in other countries that being bigger is more acceptable there. This is a sad wake-up call. It's troubling to me that, when faced with the truth, people are disgusted and want to turn away. I'm sorry that it's unpretty and makes others uncomfortable, but it is the reality of the situation and it needs to be addressed. No more turning a blind eye to the painfully obvious!

 

[ilovexnerdsx]

^ you said that well.

 

[glam8babe]

IMO i think its sick. but she must be brave for doing it.

but anorexics will probably look at this and think "god she looks amazing"

but whatever

 

[MissMarley]

....I wonder if some company would like to photograph my scarred up hands and nasty teeth for an anti-bulimia ad.

I don't know how I feel about this ad. In part of my brain, it triggers the "oh godohgodohgod i'm so fat now and look how good she is at this", and part of my brain is saying "look at how healthy you are now, good for you". and then part of me thinks this is just going to give the pro-ana contingent more fodder- a new role model.