Friday, March 29, 2024

Eating disorders are not diseases

I am writing in response to an column I read in The State News titled “Pop culture trivializes dangers of eating disorder” (SN 3/12).

In her article, Kathryn Garvale attempts to critique society’s use of the word anorexia as an adjective to describe one’s appearance or behavior.

Her data, as well as the information provided by the Web site www.anorexia-sufferers.com, attempts to exemplify this and then compare anorexia with other diseases. The list includes AIDS, breast cancer, skin cancer and heart disease.

I would like to represent a different faction of society.

My faction is able to distinguish the difference between choice and circumstance. Circumstance surrounds the occurrence of diseases like cancer, AIDS, and heart disease.

Cancer is not a choice and is caused by an abnormal growth of cells. Its victims can undergo costly treatments but still live a life of fear.

AIDS is a contracted disease that leaves its victims suffering with tremendous pain. At the current time AIDS has no cure and its victims must live without the sexual compassion that most humans take for granted. Heart disease can be traced to a person’s lifestyle, but there is no clear formula to what actually causes the disease.

My faction has the opinion that eating disorders are a choice and should not be placed in the same category as other real diseases. Just because you choose to starve yourself and are looking for an excuse is no reason to place yourself in groups that have a real struggle.

Eating disorders are not diseases, they are a choice of not eating. Only the poor and developing nations have no choice but to not eat.

Kye Tidey
international relations senior

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