What "To The Bone" Got Right and We're All Looking Past

Old drafted post i just found (august 30 2024)

Ok, I've watched as many ED related movies, documentary, shows, etc that exist in the intergalactic world of the internet. Whether it's a high school volleyball player who is taught by her best friend, a ballet dancer with a mother for a therapist ("who should have seen it coming?!", paraphrasing quote from the movie), documentary in treatment centers in different parts of the world or terrible episodes of Dr. Phil or Intervention.

I don't recommend anybody watch this garbage because it's only fueling sterotypes and not really spreading education (insert eyeroll). In fact, you'd be better watching My 600 Pound Life because at least in that show Dr. Nowazardan sends his patitents to therapy because he knows nothing changes without therapy.

To The Bone Doesn't Teach Someone How To Have An Eating Disorder

Since I have an eating disorder and am currently in recovery (7 years baby, haven't relapsed in the past 3 years), I am more connected with people who are affected by this movie. I've been through a little inpatient/outpatient care and am part of groups and have friends who have had a hard time with this movie. 

Top comments I see: "this is so triggering", "this is not realistic", "that's not how impatient is", and so on. I understand everyone is at different levels of what they can handle. I don't recommend someone with an eating disorder or recovering from one to watch it if they are sensitive to this type of material. 

But at least this movie doesn't SHOW someone how to develop an eating disorder!!! Yes, I said it. That's how I feel. If you watch most movies or TV shows previously mentioned, they focus a lot on the behaviors. Dr Phil shows the cycle of very sick people binge eating, or weighin themsleves. Intervention follows the person around and documents their behaviors. Movies about someone who suffers an ED shows time and time again how they start, develop and begin recovery. 

THAT is triggering to me. Not watching a crappy movie (ultimately i felt like this movie was poorly written), of a girl who was already in an eating disorder. 

What it showed:

• Emaciated Body of Ellen/Eli 3 times (the most extreme is at the end)
• Getting on the scale 2 times
• Doing Sit ups 3 times
• Drinking a big diet soda (the sweet nectar of life)
• Checking the size of her arm (probably the most repeated behavior)
• Refusing food
• Chewing and spitting–probably the most "let me show you how to have an Eating Disorder)