So, I’m sitting on my couch last night, reading blogs — you know, keeping up, staying current…when I came across this post on Broadsheet. This artist tweaked pictures of fashion models to make them look anorexic, as a very novel statemtn about the connection between the two.

Ooo-Kay. As a former ano myself, I’m kinda sick of this “thin=anorexic, fashion causes anorexia” thing. It’s damaging, it’s untrue, and it doesn’t help anyone.

First of all, while societal pressure to be thin might be a trigger for anorexia, it’s really not the cause. Anorexia is kind of a mixed bag — it can be the result of any number of other problems. Control, needing attention, perfectionism, OCD, low self-esteem, depression…you name it. But “thin” is a symptom of anorexia, not the other way around.

Moving on. These commentaries and art installations seem to be under the impression that they’re drawing helpful attention to the disease. But au contraire! When anorexia makes the news, those who are suffering from the disorder don’t somehow see the light and reach for the nearest sang (read: sandwich). Rather, attention makes them want to keep doing what they’re doing. It proves that their disease somehow has meaning, that – in a twisted but true way – they’re doing something right.

A personal anecdote, if you’ll indulge me: When I was in high school, I was hospitalized with this disease. At the time, I had a friend who was also anorexic (she taught me everything I knew…memories!), and she told me that she wished she was going as well. But don’t be fooled - she didn’t want medical attention. When you’re an ano, the goal is not to get better. The goal is to be the best damn anorexic out there! The sicker you are, the more successful you are. My hospitalization meant that I was “better” at being anorexic than she was.

Such is the mind of the anorexic, ladies and gentlemen. It is not pretty.

Societal pressure to be thin does have some real, serious consequences. Distorted body image, body hatred, all kinds of dangerous fad diets. And because anorexia looks a lot like a diet, it winds up fitting very conveniently into feminist doctrine about unhealthy portrayals of women in the media. But it isn’t a diet, folks. And claiming that it is hurts those who really are suffering from societal pressure to be thin as much as it hurts women and girls who have anorexia.

Sorry I blew your cover, anos, but you all deserve better than this.