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Disordered eating is an illness that affects almost 30 million citizens in the United States alone, which is about 9% of the total population.
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Let’s take a look at some narrative (not a documentary) eating disorder related impact entertainment campaigns done through television:
In its third season, the popular teen romance Heartstopper tackled the sensitive subject of eating disorders through Charlie Spring’s storyline, collaborating closely with the UK-based charity Beat to ensure authenticity and care. This partnership extended to script reviews and the inclusion of Beat’s resources within the series, such as a scene where characters access Beat’s website for help.
Heartstopper challenged misconceptions—such as the belief that eating disorders predominantly affect young women—by highlighting how these issues impact LGBTQ+ youth, who are statistically more vulnerable. By showing Charlie’s journey from denial to seeking treatment and recovery, the series not only raised awareness but also conveyed a message of hope, encouraging viewers to seek support for themselves or loved ones.
"We wanted to work with Beat to ensure that Charlie’s story in season 3 and his experience of having an eating disorder felt realistic. We also wanted to ensure that there was nothing in the show that was particularly harmful or triggering to people who have experienced eating disorders."
— Alice Oseman, writer and executive producer of "Heartstopper"
The Netflix original film To The Bone follows Ellen, a young woman struggling with anorexia nervosa on her journey to recovery. The movie is largely based on the experiences of Ellen’s actress, Lily Collins, and the director of the movie, Marti Noxon, having both had a history of disordered eating patterns.
While successfully sparking conversation and audience engagement online and about eating disorders, the film has frequently been criticized for potentially being triggering and even aspirational to people suffering from disordered eating, despite Noxon’s assurance that "[her] goal with the film was not to glamourise [eating disorders], but to serve as a conversation starter about an issue that is too often clouded by secrecy and misconceptions.” Notably, Beat provided a statement and accompanying guide to viewers, and advised that people currently suffering with any form of an eating disorder be cautious if choosing to watch the film. Talk about creating positive social impact!
Cassie Ainworth— from the scandalous series Skins UK— suffers from anorexia nervosa. Similar to To The Bone, the show’s depiction of Cassie’s anorexia has previously been critiqued for its potentially triggering portrayal of eating disorders, with the criticism even going so far as to claim that Cassie’s anorexia could be “inspiring” to people suffering from this ailment.
For example, in one scene, Cassie shares and discusses the methods she uses to avoid eating, which to some viewers, was not something to be wary of— but a tutorial to follow.
There is not substantial evidence that the team behind Skins UK worked alongside any eating disorder related organizations; to better portray the perils and harm of these disorders, the team may have consulted with professionals in the eating disorder sphere and paid extra attention to what could be taken as a trigger by people suffering from these disorders.