I just LOVE a good eating disorder sit-com! — Page 2

This really upsets me.
People with eating disorders don't learn recovery techniques from seeing others with them. They learn disordered techniques.
Wow.
It also upsets me that people will be making money off this. That to me just seems so.....wrong.

totally agree with Judy ... One girl I know, anytime she finds out a new technique to be thin ... she tries it. Especially when it comes to her eating and dieting. I dont even want to know how many other people suffer from this.

Unless this show has a true purpose in trying to help all the characters get help and overcome their disorders and set a positive example for the many that truly suffer from a disorder .. then it would be iffy.

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There are pro-ana and pro-mia websites. They sound sick, they ARE sick, but for so many people afflicted by the diseases, they are a source of information and strength. It is warped and twisted to the outsider, but when you're in the centre of an eating disorder, you can't possibly see it that way.
As some of you know, I'm speaking as a recovered anorexic/ bulimic-in-remission. I've been on both ends of this, and I know how damaging seeing eating disorders in the media, in ANY light, can be. Although the creators of this series could have good intents of helping people with eating disorders get over them, what they must not realize is that the victims will mimic the characters behaviour in, as Fae said, an attempt to "preserve" their disease. Keep in mind, in most cases, people with full-fledged anorexia and bulimia are well aware and sickeningly PROUD of their disease. This will only help them glorify it more.

I am still stunned and shocked that this made it as far as production. And I don't care how much she's being paid - Benanti should be beyond ashamed.

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Yes, I laugh at South Park. Timmy - a disabled child (didn't contribute himself in any way to his problem, by the way) who has confidence and great self-esteem, and never hurts anyone. Nothing wrong with that.

This show is dealing with an issue that is contributed to by the young sufferer's own mind...as evidenced by those websites Judy mentions, any kind of encouragement or what they view as encouragement/validation of their mindset is only going to serve to support their illness.

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i dont see a problem with a show about eating disorders, maybe a drama would be better ... i think the problem people are having is that its a sitcom. very hard to imagine it being a funny premise. south park makes fun of a lot of things and is a cartoon and is over the top, plus its premise is more so the friendship and adventures of its main characters than any particular label it pokes fun at, thats why it manages to work.

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Dawg, it's more about an IMAGE problem than anything else. The whole problem with these disorders are that young girls (generally) that suffer with these problems have a warped body image. Young girls generally tend to look up to and emulate young, beautiful females in the public eye. It's very common.

Now, take a TV show with four young beautiful woman who are playing CHARACTERS suffering with these diseases... what kind of message is that sending across to young girls who have a warped perception of reality to BEGIN with? It's just condoning these illusions in their realm of reality. They're showing JUST what these girls are trying to achieve.

Laura Benanti is a GORGEOUS girl... tall, thin, striking... if she's portraying someone with an illness that most suffering with don't realize is such, it's just giving them more justification to continue their bahavior.


Those pro-ana and pro-mia sites are HORRIBLE. I was quite familiar with a bunch in middle school and high school and I honestly think they should be BANNED from the web. I look at them now and can't realize how SICK and twisted they are. It just goes to show what a bad idea this show is. The premise is making light of a SERIOUS situation and I think it's a tactless idea.


Also -- the compulsive eating comment. Binging is a form of compulsive eating, though... seeking comfort in food. I mean, binging is in spurts, but isn't it the same thing? Wouldn't it be highly redundant of them to have two fat 'over eaters' on the show? That seems silly to me (as if the whole idea doesn't...).

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Thanks for shedding some light, Jamie. I'll definitely give it a shot, but just publicizing it as "a sitcom about eating disorders" is simply a turn off as far as I'm concerned. I hope it does well for Benanti's sake, though.

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I hear ya, Judy. I just can't fathom how a girl like Laura Benanti portraying someone with anorexia won't encourage their delusionals of unreachable ideals. I don't care how 'well' it's done. Once middle america is introduced to Laura Benanti, she will have flocks of little girls trying to emulate her and wanting to LOOK like her... of course they'll ultimately want to emulate the image put on screen whether or not they're displaying the disorder in a negative connotation.

How about a sitcom about a healthy girl who likes her Ben and Jerry's (and doesn't puke it up afterwards)??? Let's get her her own sitcom. :)

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