There are many anorexic celebrities and famous people with anorexia. In the past, anorexia and other eating disorders were not talked about. However, many celebrities with anorexia are now talking about their condition. The public can learn and find inspiration by hearing about the struggles – and survival – of those with eating disorders.
Unfortunately, not all anorexic celebrities survive. Anorexia is a fatal condition if it is not treated properly, and in some cases even with treatment, people die.
Here are some famous people with anorexia.
Fiona Apple – This singer and songwriter explains that she developed anorexia after being raped at the age of twelve. While many cases of anorexia are triggered by a desire to lose weight, sometimes traumatic experiences are the trigger.
Victoria Beckham – This member of the Spice Girls explains that she developed an eating disorder when under pressure from the group’s management to lose weight. Fellow group members also encouraged her to exercise more and to use liquid meal substitutes. Many anorexic celebrities exercise excessively in addition to under-eating.
Karen Carpenter – This musician began a water diet in order to lose weight and appear more attractive. She continued dieting until she died of cardiac arrest (due to anorexia) at the age of 32. She weighed only 80 pounds at the time.
Susan Dey – This actress struggled with anorexia for many years. Due to extreme weight loss and malnourishment, she stopped menstruating. Her fingers turned orange from eating nothing but carrots. Many anorexic celebrities eat odd diets, such as eating one food exclusively.
Kate Dillon – This model, who was always thin, was told by photographers that she needed to lose more weight. She then battled anorexia for seven years. Today she works as a plus-size model.
Sally Field – This actress struggled with anorexia for a three-year period in her twenties.
Calista Flockhart – This actress struggled with anorexia while filming the television show “Ally McBeal.” In addition to under-eating, she also exercised excessively.
Jane Fonda – This actress struggled with anorexia for more than 30 years, beginning at the age of 12. She was one of the first celebrities with anorexia to speak openly about the disorder.
Christy Henrich – This gymnast was told by a gymnastic judge that she would have to lose weight if she wanted to make the U.S. Olympic team. She suffered massive organ failure and died due to anorexia at the age of 22. She weighed only 60 pounds at the time.
Alanis Morisette – This singer fought a four-year battle with anorexia between the ages of 14 and 18 while trying to break into the music business.
Mary-Kate Olsen – This actress (one of the Olsen twins) struggled with anorexia for some time before checking herself into a treatment program for eating disorders. After her recovery, she donated thousands of dollars worth of designer clothes that no longer fit her to a thrift store.
Scarlett Pomers – This actress from the popular show “Reba” struggled with anorexia for years. She is now a spokesperson for an eating disorders association. A number of famous people with anorexia go on to serve as activists working to prevent eating disorders.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler - This actress from the popular show “Sopranos” struggled with anorexia for years. She also exercised excessively.
Courtney Thorne-Smith – This actress from the television show “Ally McBeal” says she developed anorexia due to pressure to be thin. Her eating disorder led her to leave the show.
Anorexic Models – Follow the link for more information on how the fashion industry influences eating disorders. You can also read about more celebrities with eating disorders here.
As you can see, there are many, many anorexic celebrities. If you suffer from anorexia or another eating disorder, hopefully reading about these famous people with anorexia will give you hope. Most survived, recovered, and went on to thrive despite their struggle.
Learn more about anorexia nervosa including signs and symptoms, causes and treatment.
Hopefully other people reading about these famous people with anorexia will see it as a warning. Too often our society rewards extreme thinness, even when it endangers someone’s health or life. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. We can work together as a society to embrace a more realistic body image and thus to save lives.