A Deadly Disorder

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A Deadly Disorder Kidney failure, heart problems, spleen dysfunction, bone and muscle loss, and finally death; these are only a couple of the deadly effects associated with anorexia and bulimia. As Mim Udovitch states, “About one in 200 American women suffers from anorexia; two or three in 100 suffer from bulimia.” (Udovitch 557) Through the combined works of Mim Udovitch and Lisa D. Galynker, the message was made clear and both sides of eating disorders were argued. In A Secret Society of the Starving Udovitch keeps a tone of anti pro-ana (against pro-anorexia) throughout the entire story. She repeatedly talks about pro-ana websites and how ridiculous and crazy they are. Udovitch is very persuasive with her choices of words and personal interviews. According to Galynker, Udovitch has a “dispassionate description of the girls and the “pro-ana” Web sites.” (Galynker 564) While Udovitch takes a reporter’s view upon the subject, Galynker takes the view of a trained medical Psychologist. Although Galynker and Udovitch discuss the same subject, their views and opinions are entirely opposed throughout the entire essay. Within the selection A Secret Society of the Starving, Udovitch describes the lives of girls with eating disorders and how websites and society affect them. She interviews girls that have dealt with a personal eating disorder and addresses them by their website nicknames. Claire, Chaos, and Futurebird were only a few girls that she interviewed. She describes Chaos as, “a very attractive 23-year-old who has been either bulimic or anorexic since she was 10.” (Udovitch 561) Chaos practices weird habits such as not eating in front of people and taking an excessive number of laxatives. Chaos also makes a number of trips t... ... middle of paper ... ...could say I have an “excessive exercising disorder” now. When I had my eating disorder I would have agreed more with Galynker. Her feelings of compassion and pity would have made me feel better about myself. Today I agree more with Udovitch. She is anti pro-ana and tells the story how it needs to be told. Eating disorders are dangerous and they need to be addressed by someone. Whether it is a family member or a close friend, someone needs to tell those girls how their living conditions can affect them, and how their lives could be so much better if they found another hobby. I don’t believe everyone can be cured the way I was, but I believe that everyone can be cured, they just need the desire. Works Cited Lunsford, Andrea A., and John J. Ruszkiewicz. The Presence of Others: Voices and Images That Call for Response. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. Print.

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