Preen.ph
  • Home
  • Profiles
  • Fashion
  • Culture
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Space
  • Events
Social Accounts
0
0
6K
0
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About
  • INQUIRER.net
0 Likes
0 Followers
6K Followers
0 Subscribers
Subscribe
Preen.ph
Preen.ph
  • Home
  • Profiles
  • Fashion
  • Culture
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Space
  • Events
  • Culture
  • Culture - Home
  • Homepage Carousel
  • Latest Stories
  • TV

How ‘To the Bone’ Might Affect People Suffering From Anorexia

  • Posted on July 11, 2017
  • 3 minute read
  • Jacqueline Arias
Total
0
Shares
Like 0
Tweet 0

To the Bone instantly caught everyone’s attention when Netflix released its official trailer last month. The image of an extremely thin Lily Collins got me to click the video super fast to see what was going on.

As the title suggests, it’s a movie about a young woman struggling with anorexia—a condition that both Lily and director Marti Noxon suffered from. A bold move on Netflix’s part considering that eating disorders aren’t light subjects to tackle. Then again, the streaming site has never shied away from showing controversial topics like gender equality, corporate corruption, and mental health.

Before the film officially premieres on Netflix on July 14, there are already controversies surrounding it. Mostly concerning how anorexia was glamorized and how it’ll affect viewers. If you feel wary about watching it, here are some points you should take into account before streaming To the Bone. (May this be a firm reminder that the film should have a trigger warning disclaimer.)

#1 Methods of disordered eating

The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) in Canada, along with other organization, were alarmed by To the Bone’s themes. They warned that “people who might be struggling with dieting or disordered eating” might engage in dangerous methodologies to lose weight if the film shows it step-by-step. Marbella Carlos of NEDIC also told CBC News Canada that this might become similar to 13 Reasons Why’s effect on its viewers. Especially after a 23-year-old man imitated the suicide in the show. Not to mention that the number of attempted suicide cases among girls also rose.

#2 Making anorexia look fun…

The first few seconds of the trailer already shows how Lily’s character, Ellen and her friend made a game out of counting calories. It’s an upfront way to show how cautious Ellen is of what she eats, but not in a healthy way. The scene, among many, might also give the impression that anorexia is fun to do, hence normalizing it. “I think (the trailer) makes eating disorders look like kind of a fun thing to have and that it makes it look exciting and that people do it for attention,” an anorexia survivor told CBC News Canada.

#3 …and attractive

“Some sufferers say the portrayal of her character, Ellen, as beautiful, cool and well-dressed, could make eating disorders seem appealing,” The Daily Mail reported. This might prove dangerous for people who are struggling as they might think that unhealthily losing weight is the key to getting “the ideal body.”

#4 Lily Collins as a “thinspiration”

In relation to the previous point, Lily has repeatedly said that she lost a significant amount of weight the “healthy” way. This is so she won’t come back to her previous struggle with eating disorders. The result is her looking almost skeletal for the role.

Many would say it’s effective method acting. (Also see: Christian Bale in The Machinist and Jared Leto in Dallas Buyers Club) A friend even complimented her for her thin frame, which Lily said it’s why eating disorders exist. However, should we really associate the word “healthy” with her drastic weight loss for a film about anorexia? It’s also concerning that netizens are calling Ellen their “thinspiration.”

#5 Stereotyping

Many are worried that To the Bone might reinforce a stereotype that eating disorders only happen to people of certain statuses and looks. There’s the fact that Lily is an attractive white woman (although there’s also a woman of color in the film who’s recovering from anorexia), and making anorexia look easy to treat if you have the means to do so. When in reality, not every person can relate to that and might give sufferers the wrong impression.

 

Screengrab from To the Bone

Follow Preen on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Viber

Related stories:
WATCH: ‘To the Bone’ Is an Honest Look at Anorexia
The Questions that ‘Sense8’ Should Answer in Their Two-Hour Finale Special
Billions, Sense8, and Other Shows You Need to Binge Watch
‘Girlboss’ Gets Axed After Just One Season

 

Total
0
Shares
Like 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • anorexia
  • culture
  • eating disorders
  • health
  • Lily Collins
  • Netflix
  • Preen
  • Preen.ph
  • To The Bone
  • tv
Previous Article
watches
  • Fashion
  • Fashion - Home
  • Homepage Carousel
  • Latest Stories
  • Shopping List
  • Uncategorized

It’s About Time You Find a Watch That Fits Your Lifestyle

  • Posted on July 11, 2017July 11, 2017
  • Tisha Ramirez
View Post
Next Article
  • Fashion
  • Fashion - Home
  • Fashion Feature
  • Homepage Carousel
  • Latest Stories

Hoarding Clothes? Let Go of Them With These E-Commerce Apps

  • Posted on July 11, 2017July 11, 2017
  • Jacqueline Arias
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Celebrities
  • Culture

Hold up! Matt Damon is here in the PH

  • Posted on December 4, 2020December 4, 2019
  • Renee San Juan
View Post
  • Culture
  • Technology

These Instagram accounts raise awareness on mental health

  • Posted on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019
  • Renee San Juan
View Post
  • Celebrities
  • Culture

Chris Martin says he used to be homophobic because of his religious beliefs

  • Posted on December 4, 2019December 4, 2019
  • Renee San Juan
View Post
  • Culture

Did the ‘Black Widow’ trailer just show who will replace Natasha Romanoff?

  • Posted on December 3, 2019
  • Jacqueline Arias

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Editors’ Picks
    • Culture
    • Editor's Pick
    • Momhood
    Raising kids in the age of call-out culture
    • Posted on September 21, 2019September 21, 2019
    • 3 minute read
    • Bless This Mess
    • Culture
    • Editor's Pick
    I treat bath time as a sacred self-care ritual—you should too
    • Posted on August 27, 2019August 27, 2019
    • 4 minute read
    • Bless This Mess
    • Culture
    • Editor's Pick
    “Reset Day” is the new definition of quality me-time
    • Posted on August 5, 2019August 8, 2019
    • 5 minute read
    • Bless This Mess
    • Culture
    • Editor's Pick
    6 bad habits that need to stop before I turn 30
    • Posted on July 27, 2019July 31, 2019
    • 5 minute read
    • Bless This Mess
    • Culture
    • Editor's Pick
    Conquering Mercury retrograde: How to overcome our cosmic foe
    • Posted on July 20, 2019July 20, 2019
    • 4 minute read
Social Accounts
0
0
6K
0
Like us on facebook
Subscribe to our Newsletter
about
Preen.ph © 2018. Hinge Inquirer Publications, Inc.
Social Accounts

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Go to mobile version