DO I EAT OR DO I NOT EAT?????

Anorexia nervosa (AN), also known as simply Anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. It is often coupled with a distorted self image which may be maintained by various cognitive biases that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating.

The fashion industry has had many back lash from the media and from the public at large about the increasing use or look of models that weigh less than a new born baby. Since the wimpy look of Kate Moss it became the “It” look for models to be stick thin due to the belief from designers that the clothes reflect better on skinny models. No more seeing normal looking models with the average body mass but skeletons wearing heels.  No more girls looking like girls with their blossoming growth but girls looking like little boys who have not yet hit puberty (even for some who have reached past the age). Some models that do get affected by this so called “trend” are models from poor families whom might be the sole provider for their families (especially with those with no fathers present). These girls from an early age (some having been found and scouted at the tender age of 13) had no choice but to grow up fast. The fashion industry is a fast paste world. It will suck you up, dry you out, then spit you out once it is done with you. To live up to the expectations, some of these models had to conform to the demands needed in order to survive. That is the game, survival. Unfortunately, this “trend” has extended out to outside world.

 I am not saying that anorexia did not find its mark before the age of Coco Chanel, D & G, Gucci, and the list goes on. As a matter of fact, you are able to find the history of anorexia during the age of Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was notorious for their great and grand parties with their excess wines and gourmet foods. With the “curse” of the grand delicacies, guests were encouraged to throw up in order for them to enjoy more of the foods provided. They were some guests that would eat in access just to throw up.  All prominent houses in Ancient Rome had what they called the “vomit collector”. This was the unfortunate person who was designated to carry special bowls just so the guests were able vomit in order to continue eating. These prominent homes also had what they called a Vomitorium. A vomitorium was a room where one went to vomit between courses. This created another form of anorexia, which became known as bulimia. 

 Some fashion locations, like Milan, have began to set the stage on minimizing the use of extremely skinny models, and in turn have created a weight requirement. I can say that I applaud them for taking this step but in some way I feel that this has come a bit too late for those who have died due to anorexia.  We find examples of models whom have died due to this disease: Ana Carolina Reston, Luisel Ramos & Eliana “Elle” Ramos (both sisters), and Isabelle Caro.

I will be bringing more awareness to this disease.