Nobody wishes an illness on anyone, celebrity or not, says Dr. Stephanie
Setliff, a psychiatrist who treats young people with eating disorders at
Children's Medical Center of Dallas.
"But it does help bring awareness," she says. "You wouldn't believe how
many of my patients have said to me in the last 48 hours, 'Did you know
that Mary-Kate Olsen went to treatment?' "
The 18-year-old actress entered treatment last week amid reports she is
battling anorexia nervosa. Along with her twin sister, Ashley, Ms. Olsen
is especially popular among young girls – the age group most susceptible
to eating disorders.
"I think it's an opportunity to remind kids that even people who seem to
have everything – all the money, all the fame, all the friends – can
come down with an illness," Dr. Setliff says.
"They shouldn't feel ashamed, and they shouldn't feel stigmatized."
Those reminders, Dr. Setliff says, should be part of an ongoing effort
to prevent eating disorders, watch for signs of them and seek treatment.
Advocacy groups estimate that as many as 11 million Americans – mostly
young people and 90 percent of them females – suffer from eating
disorders. Most of the cases involve anorexia – self-starvation to lose
weight – or bulimia, where people eat, then force themselves to throw up.
Dr. Setliff suggests these guidelines for parents:
Send a positive message. "I think it starts by conveying to young
children that their body is something to be proud of and respect, and
that keeping fit, healthy and strong is something they want to do."
Set a good example. "If you don't eat right and do regular
exercise, you can't expect them to," she says. "Your words cannot
overcome what your behavior is telling your child."
Talk back to the media. From TV to movies to fashion magazines,
popular culture bombards kids with the message that you can't be too
thin.
"Right when they're experiencing it, you have to tell them, 'That
doesn't look healthy. That's not our family,' " Dr. Setliff says. "When
you see Lara Flynn Boyle on the cover of People looking like
she's about to die, you have to tell them that's not normal."
Watch for early warning signs, which include weight loss, a
distorted body image, fear or avoidance of food and, for girls, missing
several menstrual cycles.
"This can kind of sneak up on you," Dr. Setliff says. "It's not the kind
of illness where you suddenly wake up with an earache."
The first stop, she says, should be the family pediatrician.
In serious cases, victims can suffer severe weight loss, fainting or
chest pain, which can be life-threatening.
"Then you go right to the emergency room," Dr. Setliff says. "First you
make sure they're medically stable, then you start treatment."
RESOURCES
For more information on eating disorders, contact:
The National Eating Disorders Association has a toll-free
helpline, 800-931-2237. Its Web address is
nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Something Fishy is a Web site with information on eating
disorders, bulletin boards and chat rooms for people seeking support and
a memorial to people who have died of the disease. The address is
www.something-fishy.org.
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