Would you say that it is the fashion houses and the media that is at fault in the increasing number of anorexia cases seen nowadays? This was the question that was posed to top supermodel Gisele Bundchen in an interview last Friday. Gisele Bundchen was ranked the 16th richest women in Forbe's list of 20 richest women in entertainment recently.
Not so, replied Gisele Bundchen. Instead, she lay blame on weak family support for anorexia. In the interview last week, Gisele said that she never suffered from the problem because she had a strong family base.
Gisele herself comes from Brazil and has credited her family from being supportive of her since young despite looking skinny. In school, her peers had often teased her by calling her names like Olive Oyle, a thin character from Popeye. Gisele attributed her genes for giving her the silhouette that is suitable for modeling.
Despite having a faboulous killer body, she claimed that she was a popcorn, candy and McDonald's sundae lover. In fact, she was discovered when she was 14 years old while having a McDonald's Big Mac with her friends at Sao Paulo on her way to school.
Interestingly, the interview was conducted during Fashion Rio show, which has banned models of under 16 years of age and also required models to prove that they are of good health. The strict guidelines follow the death of a top Brazilian model from complications due to anorexia nervosa.
Nonetheless, the fashion industry has also started to pay heed. In September last year, Spain refused to allow models below a certain weight from the Madrid fashion shows. The Italians also signed a pact not to take in sickly and skinny girls onto the catwalk.
Here are a couple of messages that can be learnt from the supermodel herself. Good family support is essential in preventing anorexia in the first place. Thus, surround yourself in a warm and loving environment whereby there is constant communication of love and acceptance of each other, despite perceived flaws or imperfections in body shape or behaviour.
Anorexia patients themselves should also seek out the company of a close, supportive network of family and friends. Often enough, they are ashamed of their body and condition and do not want others to know about their condition. Having the assurance of love and support can help the patient put things into perspective and to overcome their eating disorder.
While it may be that the media and the fashion houses play a role in promoting the idea of a stick thin frame as the perfect body image, anorexia patients have to learn to take responsibility for themselves. The most important thing is to get help instead of resisting help. Anorexia patients should pay heed to well meaning advice from family and friends about their condition and seek proactive measures to stop their eating disorders. Where support from family is lacking, it appears that there are now plenty of support groups and treatment centers for counscelling and professional help available.
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