2008 Woodie Awards
Humor: I am not a freak, I have an eating disorder
Deborah Chessey
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Opinion
I am a non-traditional college student and as such, I have a non-traditional eating disorder. It isn't one of the cool ones that come with public service messages and spokes models and shiny pamphlets. People with my eating disorder are mocked and shunned. As a group we are ridiculed by friends, family members and occasionally, complete strangers. I often wish my eating disorder were as trendy as anorexia, because then I would get some help and perhaps a little sympathy. But no, my eating disorder has not been recognized by Oprah and therefore, those of us who suffer from it do so in quiet shame.
People with my eating disorder hear blistering comments such as: "Do you want a napkin?" and "Maybe you should try cutting your food before putting it in your mouth." We get called, "slob" and "animal." We often get asked, "Were you born in a barn?" or "Were you raised by wolves?"
This eating disorder has nothing to do with weight or body self-image. In fact, people with this disorder like food and we always digest the food that we eat. Perhaps it is our eating choices that create the problem: we like barbecue sauce and salad dressing and drippy condiments.
We know that it isn't a good spare rib unless the sauce drips down our arms. We are aware that fry sauce often falls off the fry before it gets to our face; but we are willing to take that chance for the creamy catsup/mayo concoction. Tacos crumble across our chests when we bite into them, and burgers shoot out of the other side of the bun. The lids are never placed solidly on our drinks, and it is impossible for one of us to eat a handful of nuts without dropping half of them down our shirts.
Well, I have fought with this eating disorder for long enough and I am ready to bust out of the closet and proclaim that I am not an animal; even though I eat like one. I have feelings, and it hurts when my eating habits are compared to those of barnyard animals. Before you point the finger at the grease slide on the front of my shirt, take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror.
People with my eating disorder hear blistering comments such as: "Do you want a napkin?" and "Maybe you should try cutting your food before putting it in your mouth." We get called, "slob" and "animal." We often get asked, "Were you born in a barn?" or "Were you raised by wolves?"
This eating disorder has nothing to do with weight or body self-image. In fact, people with this disorder like food and we always digest the food that we eat. Perhaps it is our eating choices that create the problem: we like barbecue sauce and salad dressing and drippy condiments.
We know that it isn't a good spare rib unless the sauce drips down our arms. We are aware that fry sauce often falls off the fry before it gets to our face; but we are willing to take that chance for the creamy catsup/mayo concoction. Tacos crumble across our chests when we bite into them, and burgers shoot out of the other side of the bun. The lids are never placed solidly on our drinks, and it is impossible for one of us to eat a handful of nuts without dropping half of them down our shirts.
Well, I have fought with this eating disorder for long enough and I am ready to bust out of the closet and proclaim that I am not an animal; even though I eat like one. I have feelings, and it hurts when my eating habits are compared to those of barnyard animals. Before you point the finger at the grease slide on the front of my shirt, take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
amelia
posted 4/27/07 @ 9:21 AM MST
I was somewhat upset by your blogpost, comparing your aesthetic problem to a legitimate eating disorder. At first, I really thought you were referring to something in earnest. (Continued…)
valerievenus
valerievenus
posted 5/04/07 @ 11:56 AM MST
I agree with Amelia. But I was VERY upset!
HOW DARE YOU! I am one of the ones who have had the eating disorder anorexia as a teenager, and am now always worried about my daughter going through the same thing. (Continued…)
Deborah
posted 5/08/07 @ 12:24 PM MST
I assumed when I wrote this article that someone would be offended that I compared my aesthetic problem to an eating disorder that gets public attention. (Continued…)
Eating disorder treatment
posted 4/07/08 @ 1:49 PM MST
Eating disorder? What exactly an eating disorder means? Have you ever considered going to a nutritionist? Eating problems can become pretty serious because the organism doesn't know to approximate anymore the amount of food necessary. (Continued…)
Kelie
posted 4/15/08 @ 8:42 PM MST
Valerie,
I just wanted to let you know that if you are going to poke fun at those of us who have thyroid problems, please recognize that it is HYPO-thyroid disorder that causes us to be overweight; HYPER-thyroid disorder causes its sufferers to have a racing heart and higher-than-healthy metabolisms. (Continued…)
Tiffany
posted 5/01/08 @ 8:27 PM MST
I thought Deborah's column was hilarious, as usual.
Hasn't anyone ever noticed that most comical routines/comments/articles are based upon things that are considered improper to publicly mention? Lets not throw out the dramatics on something that was obviously not meant to be degrading, this was totally thrown out of proportion. (Continued…)
Drug Rehabilitation
posted 9/02/08 @ 6:54 AM MST
I suffer from the same problems, society always seemed to be looking down on me but last year I saw a nutritionist and a few doctors and with their help started to control my eating and get into exercise. (Continued…)
eating disorder treatment
posted 9/23/08 @ 6:10 PM MST
I do agree with some of the posters here, some people seem to think that eating disorders are just about girls who want to look pretty. But people are dying from this, their bodies are permanently damaged. (Continued…)
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