Today's episode on The Dr. Oz Show was a complete shock to me.
He brought a few guests to the show. Two guests were extremely underweight women with obvious signs of an eating disorder. One recovered male anorexic (Brian) from a previous episode, two other anorexic girls that don't look anorexic, the owner of a very popular online eating disorder community, and the CEO of Shades of Hope.
Of course, he went into talking with each anorexic sufferer. And maybe I missed something, but he seemed to neglect one of them (Brittany) as I don't recall hearing her story aside from her opening introduction. He spoke with James, the owner of PrettyThin (the worlds largest online eating disorder community) who was obviously the target. Along with the two other guests.
** I'm not going to go into a complete description of the episode. However, if you would like to watch it, you can click here.
I realize that we may receive a lot of hate for what I am about to say but that's the beauty of freedom of speech and the ability to think for yourself. There are several things that irritated me about this episode. Well, more like aggravated. Maybe if Edie watches this episode she will want to add her own thoughts, but for now I'm going to speak for myself.
This episode was supposed to discuss the "pro-ana movement" and I was expecting something more along those lines, not the same old episode we've all seen a million times on other talk shows. You know, where anorexic sufferers come to the show and are sent for treatment.
The Episode
The first thing I have an issue with is that Dr. Oz clearly has no professional experience with eating disorders. He may be a doctor, a heart surgeon to be exact, but that gives him no education on the matter. I suppose we can let that slide seeing as he had two recovered anorexic/bulimic people there, one of wich is the CEO for a profit treatment center for addiction and eating disorders (Shades of Hope). However, the fact that he barely let James speak reminded me of why I had always hated talk shows and why I can no longer look at Dr Oz in the same light as I once did.
They always bring a "target" onto talk shows, yet never allow them to rightfully defend or explain themselves. Dr. Oz has done this in the past and it irritated me back then as much as it did today. But today is different. This episode leads on false information and, to those of us who know what the online communities are really about, it is obvious that Dr. Oz and / or his production team didn't do their research properly.
I am happy that more and more people are trying to educate the dangers of eating disorders but the show seemed to repeat the story that is a century old. Eating disorders can kill people and I'm certain that the vast majority of people are aware of this. On this episode, there was absolutely no attempt to catch up and learn about what is going on today in the web. The pro-ana movements, as they called it.
My experiences with Pretty Thin.
I found pretty thin back in 2009. I was lonely and just needed someone to talk to. It was the first time I had ever searched anything eating disorder related. I was not seeking tips, tricks or anything of the sort. I just wanted a friend.
Luckily I found Pretty Thin. And yes, I did say luckily because it was the best thing that has happened for my eating disorder. Not only is the community amazing and James a huge form of support but I met some of my closest friends on that site. Edie is one of them.
Pretty Thin has taught me a lot. Sure, I've picked up a few diets here and there but mostly it helped me learn how to communicate. It provided a safe environment for me to express what was going on without negative judgement. A place where people knew what I was going through. If it weren't for Pretty Thin I would have held everything within and I know it would have worsened my illness.
I can only speak for myself on this but I would much rather discuss something so misunderstood as and eating disorder with someone who also has an eating disorder rather than some "professional" who's only link to the illness is through education. I would much rather talk to someone on sites like Pretty Thin because it feels safe. Like I said before, there is no negative judgement and everyone supports each other. That includes treatment!
Really think about it. Why would someone going through something so detrimental want to open up and talk about it with friends and family who have no idea what it's about? People who's reaction will be negative. People who will judge.
The Main Issues
Let me say this, and let me say it as loud and clear as possible, YOU CAN NOT TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO BECOME ANOREXIC. YOU CAN NOT "CATCH" AN EATING DISORDER. It is not a diet! It is a mental illness! That is like saying if I access a site dedicated to schizophrenia sufferers I will get schizophrenia. Seriously. People get eating disorders for many reasons but they all stem from deep within. The fact that these "pro-ana" websites offer thinspiration, diets, exercises, etc. means nothing. If people want to search for diets and what have you they will. They'll find pictures of extremely underweight women and call these their thinspo. It's in the media all around us. Magazines, TV Shows, Ads, etc. James views the forums and photos all the time. Does he have an eating disorder? No! At least three of the people on the show didn't learn it from a site, a friend, or anyone else. And yet they were the most severe cases of someone suffering from the eating disorder. One of the two who knew of Pretty Thin and sites similar was in treatment already. THAT should tell you something.
The Dr Oz Show and it's viewers had an opportunity to see what Pretty Thin and other eating disorder web sites are all about. Instead, it came with the same misinformation as the average person on the street. They turned their back when they should have listened and offered support. For them to bring James and the two members of the "pro-ana movement" onto the show and not allow them to talk about it is absurd. Instead they talked about the same stuff that has been seen many times before. They bring an anorexic guest to the show, tell the same old stories, offer the same free treatment (forget the millions of others who don't get offered free treatment), and then assume it made a difference. If it did help they wouldn't have to repeat the same scene over and over again. Sure, the treatment is wonderful and much needed but when only one out of three guests accepts the offer, there is something wrong.
Is James really signing people's death certificate? No he is most certainly not. Do eating disorders kill people? Yes they most certainly do.
To conclude, I think more research and a greater discussion could have taken place.
xo, Angel
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