Model Magali Amadei and director of the American Anorexia Bulimia Association, Claire Mysko, spoke out on CBS News This Morning about the continuing problem of anorexia and bulimia in American women. Amadei said that bulimia is rampant in the modeling business, with agents even encouraging the young women to throw up.
The problem of bulimia among models translates quickly into a problem among the young women who are bombarded with their images. The National Institute of Mental Health claims that 5 million Americans suffer from eating disorders and 5 percent of teenagers suffer from bulimia. However, Mysko points out that these numbers represent only admitted cases, and estimates that the real numbers are much higher.
Mysko listed some warning signs of bulimia: frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, preoccupation with food and weight, and depression or avoidance of social situations. If you know someone who might have bulimia, she said, you should approach that person “in a caring and compassionate manner” without judgment. She recommended accompanying the friend to a doctor appointment, and educating yourself on the disorder.
