THIN

THIN Documentary

Introduction

This paper attempts to discuss the eating disorders and the body image of women. The paper takes its inspiration from the documentary film named 'thin'. This movie was directed by Lauren Greenfield and discusses the women eating disorders. The film shows lives of four women in the Renfrew Center located in Coconut Creek, a facility of the treatment of eating disorders. These women struggle to overcome their eating disorders recovery. These women have anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia and try to struggle to recover from it. The documentary revolves around exploring the issues of eating disorders and body image of women. The director Greenfield was in the facility with unrestricted access to film the therapy sessions, daily weight checkups, mealtimes. In addition to that the director also explores the interpersonal relationships of the women with the families and staff. The relationships with staff helped in the exploration the effort they put in the treatment of these disorders and the difficulties they face in treating theses disorders.

Discussion

In current times, the females consider their body as a primary feature to their identity. This issue covers females from teenagers to women. The documentary 'THIN' was made as a result of a long study based on the exploration of the female body image and perception of their need to keep it up. The most common eating disorders are Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervos. It's been estimated that around 5 to 7% females in America, at some point in their time, suffer these eating disorders. If someone feels pressure to eat a lot or not eat, this would be considered as suffering from disorders, since this compulsion has a negative effect on the person's physical or mental health.

In attempt to control their eating to look good, women can suffer from any of these disorders. It's crucial to understand these orders in order to treat and their effects on health of women. A patient suffering from Anorexia Nervosa may have a distorted image of body and fear becoming overweight. As a result the patients they try to lose their weight. Mostly the patients of Anorexia Nervosa are females. In the book “Women's Voices, Feminist Visions: Class and Contemporary Readings”, chapter five, “Inscribing Gender on the Body Bodies, Nature, and Women the "Beauty? Ideal Eating Disorders Resisting "Beauty?” also discusses the importance women place in controlling their appetite to fearing that they might look unattractive. In this book, Joan Jacobs Brumberg explains the change eating preference of women as a result of change in fashion. She states, “Fashion has changed so that a slim silhouette in a chemise is ideal, and matronly seems old fashioned. Women are dancing and doing sports, and they are no longer infatuated with the Victorian ideal of being frail and sickly” Joan Jacobs Brumberg.

The Anorexia nervosa should not be confused with Anorxia, in which a patient generally looses appetite and has no interest in food. With reference to a manual of diagnostic and statistic report regarding mental disorders, a person with ...