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AIBU?

To feel media reports regarding anorexia MUST be monitored.. Daily Fail

19 replies

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 19:20

I'm sure this has been done before, but having noticed this worrying article in the Mail today I feel it has gone toooooo far. Not the content of the article so much, but the dreadful pictures accompanying the piece (a severely anorexic girl dressed in a mini skirt and heels, face full of make up and hair beautifully styled).Apparently trying to look like Cheryl Cole had caused her anorexia. Whatever. No doubt this poor girl will land some contract or another with some "agency". I just feel it's such irresponsible reporting to portray a sufferer of a serious illness in this way, and feel it would be more appropriate to have her in a hospital bed if this is an article to warn people of the dangers of this illness?? In reality her hair is probably falling out, her skin is probably horrendous and she is still a way from recovery. I am saddened for this girl and for my daughters. I am frightened for the sufferers of eating disorders who will scan this article for her diet tips. I am disgusted that when I tried to comment to the daily mail site the comments were moderated (mine never appeared) whilst one that said "i think she looks fine, I hate fatties" or something managed to slip through the net. I will boycott "Love it" magazine (the original source of this dangerous material). What can be done to stop this?

OP posts:

Report

Birdsgottafly · 27/08/2011 19:40

I very much doubt that anything can ever be done as it would involve the media having a conscience and accepting a moral responsibility towards society.

I think the way lots of 'clebs' are treated and photographed whilst going through MH/Addiction problems are disgraceful. I also fail to see what business it is of 'the public' when 'scandals' are printed.

scottishmummy · 27/08/2011 20:05

anorexia is a devastating mental illness but it isnt caused by media reporting.and whilst i agree that pervasive images of skinny schlebs are challenging and add to pressure they dont cause anorexia.im not really for censorship per se

A1980 · 27/08/2011 21:19

Alot of the scares regarding eating disorders and obesity are just media reporting.

One minute we're all going to be obese and die of diabetes and heart disease and something must be done to curb our unhealthy eating habits.

The next minute, anorexia is on the rise and we're all starving ourselves to look like celebrities.

The next time you're out on the street or in a shopping centre, look around you. I do frequently and i see that the overwhelming majority of people are neither to fat or too thin and are a healthy weight.

All of it is media invention for the most part.

worraliberty · 27/08/2011 21:23

You may feel it's 'more appropriate to have her in a hospital bed'...but perhaps the medical professionals don't?

It's difficult to comment further without seeing the article.

Do you have a link?

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 21:37

I'm not for censorship either, but I believe this is intentionally distorting facts. Kind of skirting around the horrible effects of this illness in disguising its physical manifestations and just dealing with the issue of weight.
I don't believe these images CAUSE anorexia at all, that would be spouting the same shit as the article itself, but I do believe these images give the message that if you're anorexic you can still go a bit further down your path of destruction, because hey look at her, she's miles thinner and she still holds it altogether ok with her nice hair and clothes and make up. She's not dying or anything. When in reality, she probably is.

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trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 21:41

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2029965/Cheryl-Cole-obsession-Charlotte-ONeill-battles-eating-disorder-star.html

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spiderpig8 · 27/08/2011 21:48

Shee looks disgusting i am not sure how you think that is glamorising her condition.

A1980 · 27/08/2011 21:57

I don't think the photos are very appropriate though. Photographs on an ill skeletal minor, half dressed and posing on her bed..... What where her parents thinking in allowing that

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 22:03

I think the photographs are not right. She is still in recovery, so why the photoshoot? Why the hair and make up? Why the ridiculous irrelevant Cheryl Cole link?

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MightyQuim · 27/08/2011 22:58

I saw something similar in OK magazine a few months ago where Nichola McClean was talking about her eating disorder in an interview which was accompanied by her modelling clothes in an 8 page fashion shoot. I can't stand it when they go on about how 'great' celebrities who are severely underweight look or how podgy they are if they are slightly less underweight than usual either.

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 23:12

Worraliberty- Fair enough , I am not a medical professional, so maybe not a hospital bed. Maybe just sat on a chair. Or with family. Or casually dressed? Do we need pictures like these of a desperately ill 18 year old. Really sad

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PerryCombover · 27/08/2011 23:27

anorexia is an illness

yabu

ThePosieParker · 27/08/2011 23:28

Scottishmummy. You really don't think the media contributes to.girls having a poor body image? I mean really?

bubblesincoffee · 27/08/2011 23:38

If that's what she looks like, that's what she looks like.

She has as much right as anyone else to be dressed nicely and have her hair done. She is anorexic, and that's how she looks. Unless they have airbrushed her picture to make her look thinner, I don't see how you can find something to complain about.

She can stand, she doesn't need to spend her whole life sitting down with family looking depressed around her, she's not in hospital, so why do you think it would be ok to portray something that isn't true?

giraffesCantChaChaCha · 27/08/2011 23:41

There was something about a tabloid misreporting anorexia in the BMJ last week, someting about reporting young childrens as having anorexia nervosa when it was only supposed to be anorexia, so the stats were misinterpreted. Not sure of details an don;t have a copy here, maybe someone else does?

BimboNo5 · 27/08/2011 23:41

Im not sure why Cheryl Cole is even mentioned as she looks as much like her as I do...and thats not at all in case you hadn't guessed!

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 23:47

Yeah bubblesincoffee that is also a good perspective. Perhaps you are right. It just feels right now that anorexic girls are being used to sell celeb glossies. But yes what you say makes sense too.

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emsyj · 27/08/2011 23:49

I think they are portraying something that isn't true tho bubblesincoffee - IMO the article makes light of the illness and suggests that she just had a bit of a Cheryl Cole fad that went a bit wrong, but she's fine now and no harm done.

The article actually says that the girl thinks she's over it, but the photos show that she is clearly still very ill. I also have a bit of a problem with the fact that there is no mention of the permanent damage that starving yourself over a long period down to a weight as low as 5.5 stones can do to the body.

trulyenoughnow · 27/08/2011 23:50

But I wonder if she would still get the story and the shoot had she have experienced this, then recovered fully and looked healthy.

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