- 75 percent of women report disordered eating behaviors or symptoms consistent with eating disorders; so three out of four have an unhealthy relationship with food or their bodies
- 67 percent of women (excluding those with actual eating disorders) are trying to lose weight
- 53 percent of dieters are already at a healthy weight and are still trying to lose weight
- 39 percent of women say concerns about what they eat or weigh interfere with their happiness
- 37 percent regularly skip meals to try to lose weight
- 27 percent would be "extremely upset" if they gained just five pounds
- 26 percent cut out entire food groups
- 16 percent have dieted on 1,000 calories a day or fewer
- 13 percent smoke to lose weight
- 12 percent often eat when they're not hungry; 49 percent sometimes do
I know that I can think of friends (or myself) who apply to every one of those bullet points. You know the big scary Obesity Epidemic? Where are the headlines about the Dieting Epidemic? Because this? This crap is unhealthy, right there. I hate to shout sexism, but when Viagra is covered by medical insurance, you'd think something this pervasive would get a little more attention from society.
From Self's analysis:
...not all disordered eaters are obese or even overweight; 53 percent of dieters in our survey are already at a healthy weight and are putting themselves at risk by attempting to change it. "For many women, dieting is about trying to exert control," Kronberg says. Your job may be stressful and your boyfriend halfway out the door, but you can control what you eat and how often you work out.What's going on? What can be done? Are sites like this one just like trying to fill a black hole with a teaspoon? What is the answer? Where is the hope?
The comments weren't good today, so they don't deserve dessert.
Related Links from Elastic Waist and SELF:
