It’s Time to Talk: My Reaction to the Marie Claire Article
If you are a regular reader or blogger within the healthy living community, you’ve certainly read or heard about the controversial Marie Claire article. If for some reason you haven’t, I’ll sum it up for you: basically, journalist Katie Drummond accuses some of the most popular bloggers in this niche of having and promoting disordered eating tendencies, all under the guise of “healthy living.”
Today the community was a whirlwind of activity, debating the article’s arguments, its credibility, and its motivations. Much of what I would say has already been said, but there are two points that I would like to add/emphasize.
1. Too much shame, not enough compassion.
Perhaps what disturbed me the most about the situation is the way it played into our society’s stigma about disordered eating issues (or really any mental/emotional struggles). The article basically accuses the bloggers of having disordered eating, the same way you might accuse someone of, say, committing a crime. Similarly, many responded with the equivalent of “how dare you accuse them/us of having disordered eating!” again, as if it’s the most horrible thing in the world.
So I feel like this needs to be said loud and clear: There is no shame in struggling with food/weight issues.
Whether or not there’s anything disordered going on (I really don’t think it’s my place to conjecture either way), we need to question why, as both individuals and as a society, we seem to think having a struggle like this is so bad or embarrassing.
And then we must ask, where’s the compassion? If you honestly think someone is struggling with a serious issue, wouldn’t you approach that person with kindness and concern, rather than with cruelty and malice? This situation has made it painfully obvious that we need to create a more open environment, one where people feel comfortable coming forward with their struggles and seeking help and support.
2. It’s time to talk.
This point has already been mentioned by many of my peers, but I think it’s worth repeating.
Unfortunately, the way the article is written does not encourage healthy debate and dialogue; rather, it (understandably) elicits anger and outrage. But I think the best response is to rise above that anger and do exactly what the article accuses this community of failing to do: be reflective.
Let’s not point fingers and say this blog is triggering or that blogger has disordered eating. Let’s not grow so defensive that we refuse to turn inward. Instead, let’s start talking – openly and with compassion – about what kinds of blog content will benefit both readers and bloggers alike, about what kinds of changes will be beneficial for everyone. Let’s discuss what helps and what hurts, and how we can create more of the former and less of the latter.
Let’s use this situation as an opportunity for growth, both on a personal level and as a community. Because to me, that is what healthy living is all about: taking the tough situations and becoming better because of them.
Do you think there’s a societal stigma surrounding disordered eating or other mental/emotional struggles?
AND
What do you think bloggers and/or readers can learn from this situation?
Themocracy
Yes I agree there is some societal stigma attached to eating disorders. Any addiction or mental problem I believe society has a hard time grasping their heads around. I currently have been more opening about my eating problems with people. I share my issues with food now more than ever because I don’t want people to think my weight loss success was a complete success. I lost tons of weight but in the process developed an even worse relationship with food than I had before. I am now dealing with that problem and I feel I benefit with myself by when I share my knowledge of things I have learned. Many of my friends are dieting and I have been trying to at least give them tips. Like not making any food forbidden, eat not based upon the clock, eat is a gray area, etc. If I can make a difference in one dieter’s life than it would honestly make me feel so much better about myself.
hmm. to me, the accusatory tone seemed to be aimed more at the fact that these bloggers are portraying questionable eating/exercise habits as healthy to their audiences, rather than at the fact that the bloggers have questionable eating/exercise habits.
I’ve read several posts about this article today, and yours is the first the explicitly points out item 1, that there should be no inherent shame in having a problem. Whether the bloggers are intentionally or accidentally promoting something unhealthy has been the main focus, but no one has addressed the insinuation of shame that seems to snake through the accusations. Thank you.
There are definitely some bloggers out there with unhealthy attitudes, but I read some of the ones listed on the article and, having once had an eating disorder myself, they aren’t anywhere /close/. Obviously, this is yellow journalism at its finest. If the author really wanted to make bloggers look like demons, there are much better targets than women like Tina and Caitlin who fuel themselves properly and sit right in the middle of the normal BMI range.
And personally, I’ve never seen a blogger list “weight” as a “problem to solve” next to a photo of a 5’8″ woman who weighs some 120 pounds.
You make a really interesting point regarding the SHAME that’s associated with an eating disorder. While shame and guilt are certainly feelings that can go along with it, it IS sad that bloggers are being made into villians that DESERVE to be shamed. Why would the author want to create a witch hunt of sorts with these 6 bloggers – if they were truly suffering from an eating disorder, why is it fair for them to be victimized? I just don’t understand what Katie Drummond was trying to achieve when she wrote this piece.
Hm, I haven’t read the article (but now I’m on a hunt to track it down) but I do think there is a huge societal stigma against eating disorders. I’ve been overweight, I’ve had an eating disorder and dispite what people think I still struggle. It’s an addiction, it’s ashame that people are made to feel shamed by this.
I have not read this article. With that being said:
I don’t think she should have pointed fingers. But, bloggers do need to remember that most of us are just normal people, not health experts. I think sometimes we try to lean on the expert side of things. Myself included. When I first bought my domain, my meal plans were all targeted at 1500 calories or less. To me this is disordered. I’ve changed my thinking, but what I write can and will most likely influence someone else.
Bloggers don’t have anyone to keep them accountable, we’re taking place of real journalism. Journalists have to follow laws and ethics (whether people want to believe it or not).
Side note: I went to “J” school and I know that journalists fear bloggers. This could be one reason for her article. Just saying.
Very interesting point! I hadn’t realized there is that kind of relationship between journalists and bloggers.
I couldn’t agree more that the approach to this article was, frankly, out for blood.
I thought she mentioned some interesting points, however I think her evidence was skewed and taken out of context. A manipulation of the stats, if you will.
I don’t understand why it’s perfectly acceptable to maliciously attack bloggers attempting to live healthfully, yet it’s still highly faux pas to say a peep about people who are seriously overweight. You wouldn’t in a million years see an article in ANY women’s magazine viciously attacking someone who was fat. Can you imagine the outrage?
This article really upset me because currently I’m struggling to gain weight after losing over 100lbs and this article almost describes my every day life. When I weighed over 200lbs no body ever said anything about my weight but now I daily hear comments like “eat a sandwhich” or “skinny bitch” (heard that one today). Honestly it’s these blogs that keep healthy and encourage me to eat properly for my workouts. Actually the blogs have helped me feel better for taking rest days and eating huge bowls of oatmeal for breakfast (even with all the comments from my coworkers). It’s the magazines like Marie Claire with their recommendations of 1200 calories a day plus 5 days of 1+ hour workouts…healthy…NOT.
Sorry for the mini rant but I’m exhausted of magazines and the media forcing people into extremes. One minute there’s panic of the rising obesity rates and the next minute anyone who eats healthily and works out suddenly has a disordered eating. Can’t we all just live our lives in peace without judgments how we fuel and work our bodies?
Wonderful post, Katie. Thanks for taking such a balanced and reflective stance. I agree that the tone of much of the hub-bub has been very critical and just like patients, IF bloggers are struggling with food, weight, self-esteem, etc. are attacked, they are only going to become more resistant to a different perspective.
I took a two-week blogging break, and am just stepping back in tonight, so I’ve missed the entire Marie Claire controversy. You’ve piqued my interest though, and I’m going to pick up a copy of the magazine tomorrow.
I definitely think that there’s a social stigma attached to eating disorders. Those who know little about ED’s or have never struggled with disordered eating or thoughts, are more apt to peg women who are under-eating/bingeing etc. as vain and self-absorbed. Therefore, it becomes a mission to “out” these flaws–flaws that, in the journalists’ minds–are chosen behaviors. I think that is why the compassion isn’t there. Many people view ED’s as simply a chosen lifestyle. They don’t recognize that, while the behaviors are a choice, there are emotional/pshychological issues that are influencing those choices.
I 100% agree that we, as bloggers, need to take a more proactive approach. We should be encouraging one another and not pointing fingers! If we notice that someone is struggling, we should reach out to that person (e-mails are great) instead of venting about what they wrote on our own blogs. And, like you said, we need to continue the dialogue about what is beneficial and what is hurtful in the blogging community. (You already do a FANTASTIC job with this…now more of us need to jump on board!).
Beautiful points, Katie. And I agree 100%, there is no shame.
So well put Katie! I love when you mention that there is no shame in having unhealthy thoughts about food. HOW TRUE!!!!!!!!
I agree that there has been too much shame and not enough compassion in a lot of the reactions to the Marie Claire article (which is wrong and awful)…but I think that the article itself was more accusatory about these bloggers PROMOTING lifestyles that seem to show disordered eating/exercise as the way to be healthy (and that is where the shame was directed — vs. the fact that they had a disorder). At least that’s how I read it. But either way, your point remains the same — we need to have compassion around this issue. Shaming someone who is struggling is not going to encourage them to seek help, and will only perpetuate the problem.
And I whole-heartedly agree with your second point! We need to have an open conversation. The article was awful and mean-spirited, but hopefully some positive will come out of it. If we can all use it to start open conversations and reflections on both the positives and the negatives of this community,we can work to make it better. Because what good is a community if it’s not willing to grow?
Katie, an awesome and thoughtful post! I definitely think there’s stigma surrounding disordered eating (particularly binge eating) and it’s incredibly unfortunate. I hope that people know that they’re not alone! Eating and body image struggles are very common, and there’s great help out there!
Thank you for also creating a mature and friendly conversation about this. You’re right that regardless of the article, a dialogue is important. I hope that the other bloggers (and every blogger) understand the impact of their influence, especially if they have such a large readership. Of course, readers are responsible, too, but I truly hope that bloggers take the time to reflect on the messages that they’re sending. I hope bloggers realize that they have a responsibility, too, even if they blog about themselves and aren’t “experts.”
I’ve read the article and I actually agreed with it and agree with holly’s comment: “hmm. to me, the accusatory tone seemed to be aimed more at the fact that these bloggers are portraying questionable eating/exercise habits as healthy to their audiences, rather than at the fact that the bloggers have questionable eating/exercise habits.”
Good points. I think if anything I take away that people can use your words against you, so be careful what you say. As a blogger, I’ve had my words used against me, and obviously those bloggers did, too. You never think that long-ago posts are going to come back to haunt you, but alas, they have for some.
Blogging is a creative outlet where people can say what they want, and it’s up to the reader to make that judgment call. I will say, there are blogs I don’t read because they make me feel inadequate. How can I run 10 miles, take yoga, and cook 3 gorgeous meals a day, photographs and all, when I work a full-time job? I can’t and I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t wish to have that kind of time.
Do I think there are some red flags among the writers of those blogs? Yes. I don’t read them all, but I read some of them and there are “signs” of disordered eating, in my opinion, based on what they put out there. But no one has all the facts, so it’s probably not my place to say. I just know that as a nutrition professional there’s some grey areas for sure. But absolutely, compassion is what those girls need…not some crazy journalist damning them for their actions. She’s probably just jealous because those girls make a living off something they love and for having so many people follow their every move; fame if you will.
Initially, I was angered on the behalf of all healthy bloggers. Then I had to step and realize that reading health blogs will make people compare themselves. We’re all human and we do compare ourselves. I’ve done it and of course that’s on me not other bloggers. Like Nicole above me said, they were making me feel inadequate. Did I consider that many of the bloggers are in their early to mid-20s, no kids and maybe not working FT? Nope. I ignored the fact that I’m in my 30s (which does make a difference I swear
), 2 kids, a husband and a FT job. It’s not possible for me to be Super Woman but I was trying! In the end, I realized it wasn’t helping me to readd those and so I had to stop.
Love that everyone is standing up for the girls attacked in this article. It’s a shame the writer took such a slant and all the quotes out of context.
Great point about shame. I feel that our society stigmatizes disordered eating and mental/emotional struggles. I have worked in the mental health field, I feel that society pushes people down and strips them of their power. Also, I feel that society denies them of their voice to speak up and be able share their stories. In a weird way, I feel that’s what this article did. The journalist in my opinion painted a miscontrued picture of the blog world. I feel that she is shaming bloggers for speaking up and sharing an honest and real voice about their relationship with their bodies, fitness, and food.
Do I still have my moments where I feel guilt for eating that cake or not working out? Sure. But thanks to the blog world I see my relationship with food and my body, as a path of continuance and growth.
I feel that I found my voice and words to describe my relationship with my body and food by reading and participating in the blog community. I never felt that way with magazines. I feel that magazines distort the words and images related to the human body and food. I feel that the blog world has helped me feel empowered to pursue being healthy. I no longer care about losing 10 pounds in 10 days. I no longer care about a dress being a certain size. I care about being happy, caring for my body, eating cake because it tastes good
I feel that the blog world is supportive, empowering, honest and real, and allows women/men a voice to share their struggles and stories.
Katie, I think you make some great points- there should be no shame in talking about the presense of disordered eating. Only help, compassion…the good stuff. I hadn’t thought of that.
I do not read the big six blogs. For a simple reason. I don’t diet. It NOT healthy. I used to, and I have a history of eating disorders and it messed me and my body up big time. I now find I get pretty angry when I see yet another girl going on about health being size related. If you are serious about health, read some books, like ‘Health at any size’. It’s not all about BMI and calories. I have found it hard finding blogs about health that aren’t just dieting in disguise. This blog is one of the few I have found where calorie counting doesn’t happen.
Also to the comments here about poor me it’s so hard being skinny, GIVE ME A BREAK! Every day I am told by society that I am not ok, and I am not normal. It’s the clothes that i can buy, the models that are accepted as beautiful, it’s the media, blah, blah, blah, do I really have to go on? How can people say if there was an article written in Marie Claire about how bad it is to be fat there would be outrage???? The WHOLE magazine is a monthly article about how bad it is to be fat. I’m angry that I have to read comments like that on this site.
I think the rage that is directed at these six women is coming from a place where non skinny women live every day feeling like ugly freaks. We don’t want to be preached at that the only way to be healthy is in a size. We especially don’t want to be preached at by people with no formal training at all. HOWEVER, the way I deal with it, I don’t read their blogs, simple, no article needed.
I really appreciate you sharing your opinion, and I think you make some really great points. I agree that any emphasis on size needs to be tossed out the window; I have so much respect for the Health At Any Size movement/philosophy, and I wish it were more mainstream. I also would love to see an article focused on the day-to-day experiences of someone who does not fit the “super-skinny” description, to highlight the unspoken bias/stigma that most certainly exists.
Thanks Katie, I do want to apologise. I was feeling very angry this morning when I wrote that, this whole thing has triggered a lot of issues for me. I love your blog, and I jus didn’t expect to read some of the comments I did.
I think there is a lot of empathy thrown at women with skinny eating disorders, and none given to women with disordered eating that makes them fat. There is a real blame game that happens with overweight women that doesn’t apply quite so much to the thin women. There are dozens of books, movies, soap shows where there is glamorisation of the waif thing girl with issues. None about the opposite end of the scale. (Other than HUGE which I haven’t seen yet as I’m in Australia) WHY? Because thin in all it’s forms is always preferred in Western society.
I do sympathise with skinny girls who are called anorexic or abused for being smaller than the ‘norm’. I think that is also a big part of the health at any size. We all know girls who eat endlessly and are always skinny. Size is not an indication of health.
We also all know the girl who is super food conscious and vegan and whatever the latest craze is, working out endlessly, not even wearing deodorant because of ‘toxins’ and then merrily sucks down a pack of cigarettes every day!
I think this whole discussion has a real tinge of the judgement. Something women are very good at doing to each other. I think health is a very private thing, it’s no one’s business what my health status is.
If these women want to write these ‘health’ blogs, fine, even if they are promoting disordered eating. Fine.
WE are the consumers of this stuff.
WE make them the ‘big six’.
WE need to think about why we glorify them, and call them out on their issues, not wait for a bored journalist to do it.
I’m sorry that you’ve had such a negative experience in regards to disorder eating and issues with mainstream media and societal ideals of feminine beauty. But in all honesty I used to wear a size 18 and now I wear a size 0 and currently I’m harassed much more now that I ever was when I weighed over 200lbs. People never called me fat or pig behind to my face. Now people have no problems constantly commenting that I need to eat a sandwhich or call me skeletor (which my dad and brothers did until I burst into tears one day). So I might be one those poor whiny skinny women but I’ve been on both sides and I know which one has been more emotionally difficult for me.
Also if our health is such an individual/private choice then why should it be our job to monitor the “big six”. If you disagree with how the “big six” live their lives, then don’t read the blogs. But don’t judge the people who do. Because a healthy lifestyle is finding what works best for them. Some people enjoy counting calories and some people don’t. Some people train for marathons and some people talk long walks. And it’s not our job to monitor how they live their lives.
As I said in the beginning, I don’t read those blogs because I do think they have disordered eating and obsessional behaviours. But if you guys like that, if you read it and want to take part, GO FOR IT! But I think some of these blogs also make judgements about how other people live, when they don’t live like they do. THAT I can have a problem with. When they criticise my choices, I have a right of reply.
I think you shouldn’t be criticised for how you look, ever, how big your nose is or how small your boobs are. But as you have seen, people think when it has the label of ‘health’ its up for grabs by the general public. I don’t think you should be treated like that, no one should.
I do get comments about my size, have for years. I can’t get clothes to fit, and so on. It’s obvious from any estimation that overweight people are discriminated against far more than slim, hell, on the runways of Europe you’d probably earn heaps.
I think this discussion started with the suggestion that people interested in these blogs DO call them out for their disordered behaviours. That wasn’t my suggestion, I’m happy to ignore them, as long as they don’t criticise me.
It’s the endless judgement that I can’t stand. You want to starve your whole life and damage your body, go for it, just don’t tell me I can’t be healthy because I’m not doing that.
I think you both are making important points, and I appreciate that you’re keeping the discussion going.
I would add that it seems like both of you are bothered by the judgment aspect of it. I think it’s fair to have a genuine concern about someone else’s health, and even to voice that concern. But it should come from a place of compassion, not judgment or cruelty. Making fun of someone’s body in any way is unacceptable. I feel like the lack of kindness all around is what is preventing us from making any real progress. Thoughts?
Also, if the “Reply” button isn’t working on my last comment, you can reply to Sarah’s comment and it will post at the bottom. Technical issue!
Thanks Katie. My issue with the concern over my health from other people is the general public have such a black and white view of health. They think you must be within a certain range of weight and they think dieting is the only way to get to that magical range. THAT’s when I have a problem. I don’t want everyone who thinks they ‘know’ telling me about my body, not matter how much compassion they might have!!
I am 6ft and roughly 200 pounds (not sure, don’t weigh myself). I am tall, so in proportion the weight isn’t as substantial as it sounds. But I don’t want to focus on my body, I want to focus on my life! Food is and probably always will be, an issue, but I’m working through it. How fast I do that, or if I loose weight in that process, or how I sort my issues out, no ones business.
…that is, unless I offer it up for discussion. I think a lot of dieting women do offer it up for discussion. By talking about what they ‘can’ or ‘can’t’ eat that day, or about their bodies in negative ways, or about how they need to get to the gym to work off whatever they ate. If you do all those things in front of people, then people think they have an invitation to discuss it with you, and then, they will tell you what they really think!!
So, I don’t do that, I don’t discuss my food, weight, body in a negative way, any of it. I don’t think it’s good for me, my kids or my friends.
The big six are discussing it, and inviting comment. Unfortunately you can’t decide what comments you want to hear and what ones you don’t when you do that.
Thanks Katie and Intuitive_Eater for your comments and thoughts. The judgement aspect does bother me since I try to encourage health at every size. And I never for one second wanted to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings. I know for me personally that since health, weight, etc is such a personal subject that I do not feel it is my place to monitor blogs or tell other people what health should be for them. I know it’s idealistic but I just want everyone to be happy with his or her body, mind, spirit, etc. Because we are all uniquely wonderful and should support/cheer on anyone struggling with their self image.
I personally am very excited that this whole situation is opening up a discussion about what “health” really means. Part of what I hope to do with my blog is demonstrate that our society’s traditional view of health is inadequate because 1) it doesn’t encompass all of the mental/emotional/spiritual stuff that for me is definitely part of the equation and 2) it fails to take into account that “being healthy” doesn’t look the same for everyone; like both of you mentioned, it’s a very personal, individual thing.
I’ve been following this & have made comments on other blogs. I think that how she portrayed this was horrible.
I also believe that there is some level of bloggers being threats to journalists….
I read the first page of the article and skimmed over the second and as my heat as I’ll probably get for saying what I’m about to say I feel that I’d rather voice my opinion than just agree with what everyone else says for fear of backlash.
I have to admit that I have often thought to myself as I’m perusing all of these foodie blogs and sites where writers post pictures of their food, “Is this healthy? Is this normal? Is it truly possible to take pictures of your food all day long, write about food, talk about food, and basically surround yourself with food information all day long and NOT have any kind of issue with it?” It seems like the majority of the people who start these blogs had, at one point, either an eating disorder or an issue with weight to begin with. When they’ve gone on to lose weight and/or “recover” they still spend all that time with food.
I just want to point out that I say this knowing full well that I am one of those people who continues to struggle with some kind of food issue – I wholeheartedly admit that. I don’t post pictures of what I eat and a lot of what I write now is about my baby, but I still discuss my disordered body image thoughts, food, etc, and I am guilty of reading a lot of the blogs out there who post food pictures. I will also say that often times after looking at these blogs I start to question whether or not I’m eating “the right way,” or “the right stuff,” or should I be eating less? Should I be eating more? Should I be eating 3 big meals a day or 5-6 smaller meals, etc, etc, etc. Granted I will admit that I am also easily influenced by others, but I surely can’t be the only person out there who deals with this and reads these blogs.
This is not to say that every blog author or reader out there struggles with food. However, I can’t truly imagine any regular Jane Doe, someone who has never had a weight issue, never struggled with food or exercise, reading these blogs on a regular basis though. When I think about my friends and relatives who maintain a normal weight (or have even lost and gained a few pounds) but don’t think about, read about, and deal with food the way that I do, I can’t ever picture them going online and reading food blogs. Googling a recipe or checking out a site for a meal idea? Sure..but not reading posts every day on a regular basis.
With all of that being said, I want to point out that yours is probably one of my (if not my favorite) blog because you discuss these issues (intuitive eating, binge eating, the thoughts behind it all, etc) openly and honestly. I love how you put forth your opinion but then create a great discussion forum out of it. I like that you post food pictures and recipe ideas occasionally but you write in a way that feels..REAL to me. I don’t really know how to explain it – I just feel like sometimes I read certain blogs and everything is always sunshine and roses. Like they once struggled with food or an ED and now life is perfect and grand and it just doesn’t seem human.
I’ve actually stopped reading certain blogs (partially because I don’t have the time) but also because for me they were triggering.
As for the tone of this article, I will admit that it is quite condescending and I’m not in favor of that. On the other hand, I don’t entirely disagree with what it says…
Hayley, I’m so inspired by you right now! It took a lot of guts to write this comment, and I am so glad you did. It’s comments like yours that will really get the dialogue going; we need to be willing to consider ALL points of view. I think it is perfectly valid to say that the article’s argument is worth discussing and examining even though the tone was unfair and unkind. I think there is a window of opportunity here to do some serious reflection, but that requires people like you, being brave enough to share an opinion that may not be the most popular one.
GREAT COMMENT! I totally agree with you Hayley. I the comment about the perfect life blogs, that really resonates with me. That’s also why I love Katie’s blog.
I also know all the people in my life who are a ‘average’ weight, have never dieted and don’t really think about food. That’s not to say they don’t like it, or enjoy it, they do, but they aren’t writing or reading anything about it.
Part of the whole intuitive eating thing that I love so much is about getting back to basics. Food is just food. It nourishes you, in good ways and not do good ways. Relax, let your body tell you what you need and then get on with your life!!!
Enough with the obsession.
I am loving your point of view and I agree!
I enjoy following food blogs for their recipe ideas, but I do find some of them very obsessive when they post pictures of every meal; especially the ones where that’s all they do!
You are right, and I never thought about it before but a lot of these bloggers have had serious eating disorders in the past and almost all the popular ones seem to have no problem with food now. I do find this hard to believe. They are obviously posting all the sunshine and none of the thunderstorms. Although I don’t enjoy reading about people being miserable, it does seem more “real” when people post their ups and downs.
I do love how food blogs have opened up my eyes to different ways of eating and I love experimenting with food from regular eating to vegetarian to vegan to raw food. It’s just wonderful!
Great comment! I love how you’ve pointed out both sides of the story.
“But I think the best response is to rise above that anger and do exactly what the article accuses this community of failing to do: be reflective.”
LOVE THIS! I really enjoyed your thoughtful, reflective (not reactive!) response
I, too, really picked up on the shame—contempt and criticism regarding disordered eating……sigh. Thanks so much for bring that up — I couldn’t really put it into words like ytou did.
And the idea about a healthy dialogue in the community is spot on. That article was dumb. (0:
I LOVED your response.
~Missy
Thank you, Missy!
I was sad to see that as a whole, the community had a knee-jerk reaction against MC. I think the article was tasteless and tabloid writing BUT I think the topic needs to be discussed. I rarely see ED discussions on healthy living blogs unless the writer is specifically recovering from an eating disorder. I think we can all relate to disordered eating in some way and it NEEDS to be discussed and not shamed.
AMEN!