The caste system of eating disorders
May 16, 2008 by angelique
Filed under Women's Health
If you’re not from the “world” of eating disorders, you might think that all disordered eaters treat one another the same.
Not so.
You see, like any other “clique”, those with EDs have a caste system, a heirarchy of sorts. It’s not usually discussed, but it definitely exists.
Allow me to explain (and feel free to let me know if any of this has changed recently or if I’m missing something)…
Followers of Ana are undesputedly the “highest” on the eating disorder ladder. These are folks who strongly adhere to anorexic principles and pro-ana tenets. “Rexies” are those with anorexia but who could stop if they wanted to and only choose to be anorexic; they aren’t as high up on the (non-)food chain.
Next would probably be binge eaters. (Not bulimics, but those who simply binge.) They cannot stop with one cookie but have to eat a box — or five. However, they do not vomit after eating nor do they regularly starve themselves afterwards, exercise to excess or use laxatives to lose weight.
At the bottom of the ED caste system come bulimics. These pro-mia gals and guys are almost reviled by many Ana purists. It’s kind of “cool” to be anorexic; however, to regularly worship the porcelain god after ingesting thousands of calories of food makes you “weak” because you gave into the temptation to eat.
As far as those suffering from EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), I’m not sure. I can never tell where these folks fall, though I do know that most anorexics who follow the path of Ana rigidly would probably find those with EDNOS to be “wannarexics” or perhaps “Rexies”.
Class dismissed. It’s Friday. Go play.
Sorry, but I have a hard time believing anything within this little article, due to the serious error in eating disorder definitions.
What you described as a binge eater is simply a “non-purging” type bulimic. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by the “recurrent inappropriate compensating behavior” to prevent weight gain, and according to the DSM-IV, this includes vomiting, laxative misuse, use of diuretics, enemas, fasting, and excessive exercise. The social notion that bulimics simply vomit is ridiculous.
A binge eater consumes massive amounts but has no compensatory behavior to follow, simply guilt.
Which, I’m pretty sure means that on this “caste system” of yours, a binge eater would be at the bottom. That’s just a guess there, since I really don’t believe in this hierarchy.
that’s really immature in my opinion. we all suffer the same. our diseases are not decided, but developed.
so you’re basically saying it’s cooler to be born prone to one disease, but it’s weak to be born prone to another?
that’s like saying kids with autism are cooler than ones with down syndrome.
I don’t think she’s saying that is how it should be, but trust me, that is how it is.
Angelique, would you be interested in looking at a paper I am writing to send to the government about Sociocultural pressures concerning physical appearances in modern society? And would you object if I used your research and articles as reference material?
What an ignorant and insulting piece of shit!
Evidently from your ridiculous comments you are a “wannarexic” and think that you’re clever, duping all the really ill people into believing your dumb, made up crap.
Anyone who has had an ED for any length of time will tell you that there’s a strong probablility that the ED will shift from one type or subtype to another, so how do you account for that in your pathetic “caste” system?
You clearly don’t even know what a caste system is. Go back to special school, you dumb retard!!
I don’t think it was the writer’s intention to belittle, dismiss, or categorize anyone. They are not saying that anyone is above anyone else in their world, but in the ED (eating disorder) world, there IS a caste system though I would say that bulimics are above binge eaters because the ‘fatties’ really are seen as the lowest of the low on the ED latter.
and to the first poster- c- the author said that binge eaters do NOT purge, use laxatives, use excessive exercise, ect, so their description is correct.
daz demonstrates the caste system perfectly by insulting the author by calling them a wannarexic, the author’s own term in a derogatory way which insults people with EDNOS by saying they’re not the really ill ones.
To whom are you replying?
once again, I’m fairly certan she doesn’t think this is fair, this is just the way some people suffering behave. note SOME. In this, she is probably referring to your pro ED girls and guys. Who behave and believe differently to someone who is not pro ED. And yes, people shift subtype, but many proED people will stick to it because they live their eating dosorder as a lifestyle, a long term thing. Or they will say they’ve stuck.
I understand how you feel about people with EDs coming to believe this caste system, however, this isn’t reflected in normal society with other people, doctors etc. but is reflected in your proED societies found mainly on the internet. Their world and this are very, very different.
Once again Angelique, would you be interested in looking at a paper I am writing to send to the government about Sociocultural pressures concerning physical appearances in modern society? And would you object if I used your research and articles as reference material?