I am writing in response to Kye Tidey’s letter, “Eating disorders are not diseases” (SN 3/14). It troubles me such an ignorant and uncompassionate way of thinking still exists in our society.

Tidey compares eating disorders to “real” diseases, declaring that eating disorders are a choice not to eat, whereas diseases like AIDS and cancer are not choices but circumstances of a person’s life.

It should be pointed out that AIDS and cancer can be linked to choices - one can choose not to have sex or, in the case of skin cancer, to spend less time in the sun. But that is irrelevant because eating disorders are “real” diseases and not simply a choice not to eat.

Granted, they are not identical to diseases like AIDS or cancer, but they are psychological disorders, more similar to depression or alcoholism. Would anyone say a person chooses to be depressed or to become dependent on alcohol?

Eating disorders are the result of an intense fear of gaining weight, which prevents a person from having normal eating habits. These people are not “choosing” anything - most of them are deeply ashamed of their behavior and wish they could just eat like “normal” people.

And society doesn’t make it any easier by imposing strict standards for physical appearance on one hand while on the other hand punishing the victims of eating disorders.

People with eating disorders need support, not blame. I strongly suggest that anyone interested in more information about eating disorders check out the books “Reviving Ophelia” by Mary Pipher and “The Body Project” by Joan Jacobs Brumberg.

Valerie Ciesicki
zoology junior