Caitlin Moran on why even drug addicts look down on people woth eating disorders:
"Overeating is the addiction of choice of carers, and that's why it's come to be regarded as the lowest-ranking of all the addictions. It's a way of fucking yourself up while still remaining fully functional, because you have to. Fat people aren't indulging in the 'luxury' of their addiction making them useless, chaotic, or a burden. Instead, they are slowly self-destructing in a way that doesn't inconvenience anyone."
Maybe this gets at the reason why everyone thinks over-eaters need to Just Stop Over-eating, while alcoholics etc. are "taken seriously" so to speak. Because in all other ways they appear (for want of a better word) "normal." Their lives aren't out of control, about to crash. You see this person who can run the whole family and hold down a job, so you don't feel the same sympathy as a drug addict who's life is breaking up.
Hmm. Interesting.
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6 comments:
Most people don't even believe that overeating can be a disease. And, as Betty Fokker can tell you, most people don't have a correct understanding about fat either.
"It's a way of fucking yourself up while still remaining fully functional, because you have to."
Yup, sounds about right. So I can't blame the extra weight on my ex. Darn.
I think many people who do not suffer from this think of overeating as "that extra slice of cake or two" or finishing the ice cream when they had planned to put it away. When they do it, they feel guilty and stupid. I don't think most people have a real understanding of what compulsion is like and how unhappy and sick the bingeing can make people feel. They equate it with something in their own life when the action (and reaction) really comes from a different place.
I really like what Moran has to say about most things. I found her to be very logical and rational. And, of course, funny.
oh, that is fascinating. thanks for passing it along.
@Skye - Yes, and I don't know if I agree with Moran's definition of fat. (Though she used to be quite overweight, I gather.) But I thought this particular idea was vair interesting.
@inkgrrl - Shoot.
@June - Very good point. Same with hoarding, or shopaholics -- people think it's just "oh throw that away" or "don't spend money you don't have." Compulsions are some serious sh*t. You are quite, quite right.
@JJJ - Her book has really sucked me in!
@barb - Your welcome. Lots of other passages I'd like to quote, but I'm so tired lately! Just from a small head cold!
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