Dying to be thin

In the DVD “Dying to be Thin” Nova takes an investigative look into the world of eating disorders. This investigation reveals the truth about the causes, complexities, and treatments people go through as they battle with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. This DVD allows for an inside view into the personals lives of real people and reveals the mental and physical struggles they face in their daily fight for recovery and survival. It is a sobering but ultimately hopeful documentary which examines a disturbing increase in the prevalence of eating disorders. It interviews students, dancers, fashion models and other young women who are seeking recovery or are doing their best to conquer their disease. The exploited and unrealistic image of being thin is a sad, but true portrayal of what people go through, women especially, in today’s society and the pressures they face not just for acceptance, but also for survival in the brutal world of fashion and sports. American has fallen captive to the unrealistic belief that in order to be beautiful, successful, athletic, or even socially accepted one needs to be thin. Statistics displayed in the video state that an estimated eight million people suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The target population for the DVD is all young women who are dissatisfied with themselves based off the belief from society that relates being thin person is happy and healthy, when that portrayal could not be further from the truth. Too many people women and young girls fall victim to the media images of popular actress, models, dancers, celebrities that dictate to the world what is socially acceptable. I liked how the DVD showed the effects of this disease if you don’t get help either death or health problems later in life. The DVD also provided insight into the treatment you have to go through if you had this disease. I think some girls look to media images and become obsessed with the unrealistic air brushed photos to that it becomes an obsession to mimic what they see and read. The open interviews provided insight as to why would one risk her health to achieve and impossible ideal in order to fit in with the body ideals promoted in the dance world. I was amazed to hear the shocking stories concerning eating disorders and just what women will out their bodies through just to try to get perfection. One of the dancer who was interviewed stated she was the happiest she has been in her life, she was getting all the good parts and attention and not being ignored she felt like a whole new person. I learned that there are a lot of underlying problems which spark off problems and issues with young girls’ weight. I also learned that has the highest death rate of any psychiatric illness, and one of the most difficult to treat nearly 50 percent of patients will relapse within the first year. The DVD exposes negligence in society in placing pressures on young girls to conform to an unachievable idea of perfect. The information presented was accurate it provided real interviews from women who are currently battling the disease and gave their point of view as to why and how it started. I think as an educational tool this DVD of actual ‘real people’ who have been in the industry and suffered has more impact than merely reading an article on the same subject. It provides valuable teaching tools and gives you a better perspective so you can connect with the people on the screen. I would recommend this DVD to others because there is no sugar coating of the issues. It speaks of the facts concerning eating disorders without too much superficial information and so is not boring. There is no happy Hollywood conclusion, just an insightful look into an all too prevalent problem with this disease. It is not too graphic as to scare people to death but it does give the relevant warnings and message. Thin offers hope, but no happily-ever-after ending for these women in this DVD as this disorder will affect them for the rest of their lives.