A Journey Back From Anorexia
July 30, 2005 | Emotions and Behavior
If your child seems withdrawn, skips meals, or exercises way too much, it might be a red flag for an eating disorder. Doctors say anorexia and bulimia affect young people across racial and gender lines.
Jackie Lannoye glides across the dance floor, the picture of grace, beauty and strength.
“I now have lots of energy and I can use it,” she said.
A year ago Jackie had no energy. Her body weight had dropped to a dangerously low 85 pounds. She was dancing and exercising constantly, but denying herself food.
“I thought if I was smaller, it would make me a better dancer,” she said.
I see all ages, genders, races, all socio- economics [for anorexia].
~ Cora Breuner, MD
Jackie was slowly becoming anorexic.
“I see all ages, genders, races, all socio-economics,” said Dr. Cora Collette Breuner, at Children’s Hospital, referring to anorexia.
Breuner specializes in eating disorders. She worries about Web sites that tell anorexics how to stop eating and about dangerously thin Hollywood role models that play to a myth that a malnourished look is fashionable.
“I think it is absolutely ridiculous,” she said. “It is feeding the disorder.”
She points to publicity-seeking Hollywood stars as part of the problem.
“To put that out there in the media whether to have a size 0 at stores or to put it on the front pages of a magazine - it feeds the image that you need to look like that to be successful,” Breuner said.
The journey back to health for Jackie, for both body and mind, was a long and complicated one involving nutritionists, therapists and pediatricians. It started at Children’s Hospital.
“When I first went, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me,” Jackie said. “I thought the doctors were nuts.”
With support from her parents and friends and eventually growing to understand her illness, Jackie started gaining weight and getting her health back.
“You have to learn to love yourself, your personality, instead of the way you look,” Jackie said. “That’s what I want people to know: just love yourself.”
She’s now back at dance class, eager to help other dancers learn from her ordeal.
Doctors say the most important thing a parent can do is to not focus too much on weight and weight gain when a child is very young and learning to eat. That’s when the seeds of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle are planted.