It’s Not Just White Girls

I was anorexic at the age of 17, but I'm also a Seventh-day Adventist and trust me, there's no belief we hold that would induce anorexia. "Bodily excesses?" In other words, "Don't pig out and get obese?" Isn't that just common sense, or should be?

Statistics continue to support the fact that most anorexics are white female and middle to upper class. The fact that a minority of cases are not within these groups is not news.

Hey, SDAs...don't get tunnel vision, here. The article only talks about one incident of a person who interpreted the Gospel in a way that was not intended. There are countless cases of highly revered persons who, for whatever purpose, have taken the Gospel, the media, the family lessons, whathaveyou, and made them into messages that lead to the pathology of anorexia and bolemia. Relax. This article is not about SDA or even Christianity. It's about how people with eating disorders interpret their world so they end up harming themselves.

Not very many Black women suffer from eating disorders. Black women are beautiful and love their curves.... Maybe if people quit focusing on white women imperfections they would be more confident in their size. For those who don???t agree with me I???ll give you an example of size acceptance. Queen latifa and Roseanne, one is a cover girl the other is a fat ass, you tell me which fits where. Need more? Monique and Rosie O Donald, both are huge comedians but who is more excepted as a beautiful big girl???? exactly FAT GIRLS RULE LOL

As a Black male I can honestly say I wish more Black women did care about their bodies. As a man who tries to eat healthy and exercise 5 days a week, I am tired of seeing BBW's who don't give a damn about their wait and think that thick and being a BBW is beautiful. Someone cites Monique as a good example, but she is a terrible example because she defends her ability to eat whatever she wants and be fat without consequence. There are consequences Black women. I'll take Kerry Washington, Kelly Rowland or Halle Berry anyday to Monique. They are smart, intelligent, health-conscious role models. A muffin-top, big gut and mountains of fat and cellulite is not cute ladies.

Eating disorders are not always about the way someone looks. I suffered from bulemia for 15 years and it stemmed from needing control. It seems that was the only thing I could control (at age 12). Society hands us a mixed bag of feelings. If you are "fat" you are happy and if you are "skinny" you are supposed to be happy.

Dear happymedontcry,

You are so wrong I am black and almost all the women and even some of the men in my family suffer from body image issues, I'm from California, and it seemed like every summer sine I was like 11 or 12 my girl cousins and I would go on a summer diets. I will admit I needed to loose weight, i was "thick" what black people in the south would like to refer to it, but in California I was fat. I had a thin cousin who was 5 feet 11 inches about 145 pound at the time taking phen-phen, because she wanted to get back to her high school weight of 125 pounds. Almost all the women in my family have taken diet pills, 2 are currently receiving lipo dissolve treatments, I have one cousin who has had lipo suction 3 times! And my family is not rare you would be surprise to see how many black women in Calif. are running to Tijuana to buy illegal diet pills and have weight loss surgery performed.

Eating disorders are bad and should be discussed in the Black community, I use to abuse laxatives, starve myself and go on fad diets all through out my teen years, trying to loose my a "big" butt and "huge" breast that were never going to go away. I rarely go to a family function now without being told "I picked up weight" or hearing some reference about weight loss.. I now live back East and the women are more acceptant of their body, but once you have grown up with weight issues you will always have them.

Regarding the reference about the woman who's Christian Scientist mom imposed fasting, "cleanses, fermentation and raw food," etc. Such a practice has nothing to do with Christian Science.

As a third-generation Christian Scientist, I can tell you it has absolutely no teaching or practice based on dietary theories. We strive to heal any abnormality through prayer and yielding to God's direction, not diet or chemicals.

In fact Christian Science has helped me take less thought about my diet, and find a natural balance and health in my life. I try to live by that Biblical counsel: "Take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? ...but seek ye first the kingdom of God, ... and all these things shall be added unto you."

' Works for me!

- John Minard, Christian Science Committee on Publication for the Internet

I was raised in such a manner to see people as equal. I am so sick and tired of everyone saying, "black and white". It's caucasian and African American!!! Get it right!!! Geez!!!

I was raised and personally believe that all people are equal. I am so sick and tired of the terms "black, white, etc" and I wish everyone would get it right. It's caucasian, African American, Hispanic, etc. I mean, come on people, it's 2008, NOT 1950!!! GET IT RIGHT and use politically correct terms!!! Saying "black and white" ages you and makes you look ignorant.

I am an African-American woman born and raised in Brooklyn who struggled with Bulimia and Anorexia in my twenties. My memoir, "Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat" will be released in August 2009 documenting my experience and recovery. I am relieved that others are telling their stories and helping to educate and change the face of those struggling with eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia are not simply rich, white girl problems and many who don't look like the poster child for ED are at risk. Congratulations Rodolfo for sharing your story.

People seem to forget the ???American??? in African-American. We live in the same country, go to school together, work together, watch the same shows and are exposed to the same media. The days of segregation are over. So, it is retarded to think that people of color (or men) wouldn???t be affected by eating disorders.

I am a Caoch who works with clients with Eating Disorders. I am grateful for this article as it is time to finally have awareness of the prevenence of ED and how easily all lines are crossed. Matters not your color ,race, religion, or sex. My hope is for more public awareness and fro all affected to seek help. It is out there and you can clear an eating disorder and live you life without ED!
Contact: www.starlightlifecoaching.com Blog: starlightlife.wordpress.com
Seek the help you need and know you are not alone. Let the word out.

For me, a black woman, I was a sexy curvy size throughout my teens and by the time I was 19, I started drawing a lot of attention from men, especially Black men, who saw me for my curves. The thing was, I thought of myself as a nerd at the time and was definitely uncomfortable with the unprecedented way men were approaching me. I began to feel like I didn't want my curves, because they seemed to be a distraction for men and I often felt my shape was a 'green light' for men to disrespect me by saying rude things about wanting to get with me, etc. I was very emotionally hurt by that. So, gradually, I started loosing weight and within a few months I was barely eating. The unwanted attention went away but obviously my health was a major concern....That was several years ago. I have since become a healthy woman at a healthy weight and I still consider myself a nerd AND accepting of my body. I understand the way I may be perceived at first, so with this in mind, I may dress more conservatively than most twenty-somethings and have learned to deter convos that are becoming unwantedly sexual... instead of panicking like I did when was 19...lol. I think being a black woman has a lot to do with the situation, I wanted the appreciation and acceptance from other black males and females, especially, but found that being curvy and thick ---often portrayed by blacks as the quintessential shape to have --- was getting me a form of attention that was not the kind I wanted. Overall, though my main concern at the time was safety and protecting myself as a woman, and that is something I think many women feel, a desire to not be seen as vulnerable to strangers. (That's a mental factor.) Note: sometimes people think anorexia is illogical, but it has it's logic to the person who is anorexic................I remember when I was going through my issues, a friend told me to "accept myself a whole person" and that is a beautiful and heathly outlook :)

You are right, we need more education and training available on eating disorders. I myself am a white woman and I think I might possibly suffer from an eating disorder, when I went to my doctor trying to get help I was basically told to up my calorie intake to 2700 calories and that would fix everything, but it hasn't and it wont because the disease is pathological. I wil admit I have starting eating more and do feel better physically but inside feel like crap about myself on the outside. I am strongly considering going back to starving myself. We live in a world were being fat is worse than finding out you have cancer. More awarness needs to brought to the table!

I do believe anorexia and bulimea is all about control. For some reason, these sick individuals have been raised in out of control environments where the only thing they could control was their weight. Then it reaches a point where they cross the point of no return and it has become an addiction like drugs or alcohol. By then it has nothing to do about looking good/weight control. I have been an RN,BSN since 1979 and these clients have the highest rate of relapse of any group. It is just so hard for them to stop after many, many years of this activity. I even had a friend in high school who tried to show me how we could eat lots of food and 'throw-up'. I thank GOD that I could not do this or who knows---I would be with that group now. My mother was so overly concerned with appearance and weight that I am so suprised I did not become anoretic. Even her animals have weight issues!!! How about that.............

I believe this is all tied to control issues. For some reasons these affected people have been raised in out of control environments and must have control over SOMETHING. I have worked with this since 1979 and they tend to relapse more than client's with other addictions. It is a very hard addiction to overcome . The Remuda Ranch is an excellent place in Wickenburg, Arizona to be treated. It's a lot of hard work but what addiction isn't? Good discussion topic. I see it in men frequently, also.

Ok, let???s set some things straight. As a marriage and family therapist that specializes in eating disorders and from experiencing a near fatal eating disorder myself, I want to share some of my knowledge. Since I have fist hand knowledge, a Master???s degree, and specialized training I feel I have to explain the facts, plain and simple. I am not trying to come across as superior but this mental illness is something that I am passionate about and I often find it is often represented incorrectly.
Fist off, the issue of control concerning eating disorders is highly overrated. Some aspects of Anorexia are about control, but this is simply not the most important factor. In the case of Bulimia, it is the opposite of control. This can be simply seen through out-of-control binge eating and purging. Also, I want to point out that there is another, often overlooked eating disorder that is more prevalent than bulimia and anorexia combined in the United States. It is called Binge Eating Disorder and it is an actual mental illness diagnosis found in the DSM IV (This is the bible of mental health reference and it is accepted by all creditable mental health professionals). In Binge Eating Disorder, like Bulimia, uncontrollable binges are indicative of this illness but it differs from Bulimia, in the way that people with Binge Eating Disorder do not purge, over exercise, use laxatives, etc???.
In my opinion, as well as many others, over eating or lack there of is perpetuated partly by deep-seated underlying emotional issues/trauma. Therefore, eating disorders act like a drug; they numb the pain. In my research and experience this ???numbing effect??? is a universal occurrence.

I agree with most of this article, but i have something to say as well. Anorexia isn't always because anorexics think that people think that they are fat. A lot of times, it's because they think that they won't achieve anything if they aren't skinny. They feel limited to their freedom and options in life when they have tion today than it was some excess fat. I think the worl needs to understand that appearences don't matter. So what if someone is really skinny and pretty? They still have their problems. And it is the fact that they ARE skinny that sometimes brings problems into their life. Be happy with What you have. As for models and actors, it's not easy for them. They have hard lives too, so don't look up to them.