Silent Starvation Research Paper

SCREEN INDUSTRIES AND TECHNOLOGIES

SEMESTER 2 2000/2001-07-29

Ba(hons) Film Studies Level 1

SILENT STARVATION

Mass starvation – the newest teenage trend? BY XDREAMYEYESX RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

TITLE

Silent Starvation - the newest teenage trend?

AREA

This documentary primarily focuses on the existence of Eating Disorders amongst teenagers worldwide. Although this is not a new development, in recent years the increase in popularity and availability of
Their self-esteem and self-confidence are obliterated. They are alienated from their school and peer group and the community. There is a tremendous burden on the parents. The parents are made to feel ineffective and impotent."

The biggest taboo it seems in the pro anorexia world is the use Ipecac syrup. This syrup is used primarily to induce vomiting in people who have ingested a toxic substance. However, obviously it has huge appeal for bulimics and potential bulimics. Ironically enough, this syrup first came to the attention of some bulimics through the media itself, the first place where these clubs were criticised. I spoke to at least 8 people who learned about the use of this syrup through the film ‘The Karen Carpenter Story', which is a biographical film about the singer who died from heart failure caused directly by her anorexia. The most horrifying fact of this is that although Karen Carpenter did abuse this syrup, the film admits that she only used it several times. However, this was still enough to contribute to the weakening of her heart, which subsequently caused her death.
You do not deserve to die"

Many counsellors and professionals have been quoted expressing concern about these websites and reporters have taken an extremely negative view of them in their articles. However, interestingly, of the 50 articles that I found whilst researching this documentary, one has taken completely the opposite view. Georgie Binks, from Salon.com, in her article ‘The Joys of Anorexia' describes what it is like to be plagued by anorexia from a young age. The most concerning of this article perhaps is the fact that she takes such a light and carefree tone in describing the disease. After all, this is a disease that kills an estimated 1000 American women annually[9].

"At the beginning I simply didn't feel like eating. So for the first couple of days I just downed a coke for breakfast and smoked a cigarette, the same for lunch and about half a portion for dinner. After about 3 days I dubbed it the ‘coke and cigarettes' diet. In addition to that I started what I thought was
Bulimia, but apparently it's known as ‘normal weight vomiting'. The only problem with this is that it eventually turned into something my body was