Stigmatization of eating disorders

Anna is a twenty-one year old woman who has struggled with anorexia nervosa for several years. She blames herself for developing the eating disorder and not being able to control her eating and purging. Anna’s family and friends cannot understand how someone as smart and thoughtful as her could care so much about her physical appearance and what others think of her. They also feel frustrated that Anna cannot recognize that she is hurting herself and those around her. Such comments from others increases Anna’s deep sense of shame about her eating disorder, so she further conceals her struggles with food and weight. Anna isolates herself from others because she fears that they can’t understand her pain and suffering. She also fears that she may be seen as different or morally weak because of the eating disorder.