Good morning lovelies!
In my 4th post on my blog I talked about my sister and how she is a recovering Bulimic thanks to Tracey Gold. Well folks- the time has come for Tracey Gold’s documentary, Starving Secrets, to premiere. Starving Secrets follows a group of 10 women ages 19-43 during their intensive treatment for their eating disorder. Tracey Gold and her crew visit each girl every week or few weeks to chart their progress. The first show will air this upcoming Friday, December 2nd on Lifetime at 10:00pmEST/9:00pmCST, which is TOMORROW!! Starving Secrets is a 6 episode series. There will be 2 women’s stories shown per show and my sister’s story will air December 23rd. Here is the episode guide: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/starving-secrets-with-tracey-gold/episodes
Eating disorders are still rarely talked about in our society, and so many people have NO idea what these women and men go through on a daily basis. It’s not pretty, it’s not glamorous- it’s nothing that you think it is and as Tracey put it, “a really isolating and lonely place to be.” My hope is that people watch this show and support each of these women who put their very personal story out there. I’ve been keeping tabs on articles and blog postings about the show and some of them are SO frustrating to read. One blogger in particular, The Stir-Café Mom writes, “But it's difficult to imagine how the women who (for whatever mysterious reason) have agreed to have a camera track their efforts, setbacks, and stumbles will be helped by their participation. In fact, one wonders whether their willingness to participate is more a symptom than a cure: Could the craving for acceptance and self-esteem issues that may have driven them to starve themselves also have driven them to sign on to have their private issues so publicly displayed? Honestly, it doesn't seem like that big a leap.” (http://thestir.cafemom.com/healthy_living/128610/will_new_reality_tv_show?next=11) Unless you are someone who has struggled with an eating disorder or knows someone who has, you shouldn’t be so quick to judge. Eating disorders are EXTREMELY personal and my sister wrestled with the idea of sharing her story in order to receive treatment. I remember having a conversation with Lauren and saying, not only are you giving yourself a chance at recovery…lifetime recovery but who knows how many other people you could impact or help out there. Isn’t that what it’s all about? People have all sorts of misconceptions about eating disorders and peoples stories need to be shared so people have a better understanding, so they don’t mock the sickness.
I saw the preview on Entertainment Tonight, and I’m not going to lie- it is really rough to watch. My sister is in such a phenomenal place in her life right now and to see her how she was and what she did for ten years is emotionally draining. I am ever so grateful for Tracey Gold’s show and the team of experts at her treatment center- A New Journey, especially her therapist Doug. Without them, her recovery would not have been possible. A thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.
ET Preview:
Tracey Gold - Entertainment Tonight - 11-16-11 from Much and House Public Relations on Vimeo.
Lifetime Preview:
I hope you will watch the show- learn about eating disorders and support my sister and every other person out there fighting or recovering from this lonely battle.
xox always- Linds
For more info on the show:
Link to Tracey’s story from People Magazine in 1992: http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20112059,00.html
Starving Secrets review in US Weekly: http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/review--starving-secrets-with-tracey-gold-20112111
Starpuls interview with Tracey Gold: http://www.starpulse.com/news/Brittany_Frederick/2011/11/25/qa_tracey_gold_helps_women_in_need_wit
Kansas City interview with Tracey Gold: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/28/3290601/tracey-gold-overcame-an-eating.html
ABC Blog: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2011/11/tracey-gold-puts-anorexia-in-reality-tv-spotlight/
Poptimal.com: http://poptimal.com/2011/11/from-growing-pains-to-starving-secrets-actress-tracey-gold-talks-with-poptimal/
Tenmilemorning.com: http://www.tenmilemorning.com/2011/11/29/tracey-gold-an-inspiration-for-everyone-suffering-from-eating-disorders-by-adam-lamparello/
Eating Disorder Statistics can be found below. These were taken directly from ANAD’s website (National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders) (http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/eating-disorders-statistics/)
General:
• Almost 50% of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression
• Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders
• Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
• Only 1 in 10 men and women with eating disorders receive treatment. Only 35% of people that receive treatment for eating disorders get treatment at a specialized facility for eating disorders
• Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder) in the U.S
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
Students:
• 91% of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting. 22% dieted “often” or “always.”
• 86% report onset of eating disorder by age 20; 43% report onset between ages of 16 and 20
• Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents
• 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
• 25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for females 15-24 years old
• Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives
• In a survey of 185 female students on a college campus, 58% felt pressure to be a certain weight, and of the 83% that dieted for weight loss, 44% were of normal weight
• 86% report onset of eating disorder by age 20; 43% report onset between ages of 16 and 20
• Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents
• 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
• 25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death for females 15-24 years old
• Over one-half of teenage girls and nearly one-third of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking laxatives
• In a survey of 185 female students on a college campus, 58% felt pressure to be a certain weight, and of the 83% that dieted for weight loss, 44% were of normal weight
Men:
• An estimated 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male
• Men are less likely to seek treatment for eating disorders because of the perception that they are “woman’s diseases.”
• Among gay men, nearly 14% appeared to suffer from bulimia and over 20% appeared to be anorexic
• Men are less likely to seek treatment for eating disorders because of the perception that they are “woman’s diseases.”
• Among gay men, nearly 14% appeared to suffer from bulimia and over 20% appeared to be anorexic
Media, Perception, Dieting:
• 95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight within 5 years
• 35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders
• The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females
• 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures
• 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape
• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991)
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991)
• 35% of “normal dieters” progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders
• The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of American females
• 47% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures
• 69% of girls in 5th-12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape
• 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991)
• 81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991)
Collins, M.E. (1991). Body figure perceptions and preferences among pre-adolescent children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 199-208.
Mellin, L., McNutt, S., Hu, Y., Schreiber, G.B., Crawford, P., & Obarzanek, E. (1991). A longitudinal study of the dietary practices of black and white girls 9 and 10 years old at enrollment: The NHLBI growth and health study. Journal of Adolescent Health, 23-37.
For Women:
• Women are much more likely than men to develop an eating disorder. Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male
• An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. Research suggests that about 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia
• An estimated 1.1 to 4.2 percent of women have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime
• An estimated 2 to 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period
• About 50 percent of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns
• 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
• An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime. Research suggests that about 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia
• An estimated 1.1 to 4.2 percent of women have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime
• An estimated 2 to 5 percent of Americans experience binge-eating disorder in a 6-month period
• About 50 percent of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns
• 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
Mortality Rates:
According to a study done by colleagues at the American Journal of Psychiatry (2009), crude mortality rates were:
• 4% for anorexia nervosa
• 3.9% for bulimia nervosa
• 5.2% for eating disorder not otherwise specified
Crow, S.J., Peterson, C.B., Swanson, S.A., Raymond, N.C., Specker, S., Eckert, E.D., Mitchell, J.E. (2009) Increased mortality in bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry 166, 1342-1346.
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