My Sister and I Went on a Joint Diet. She Stopped and I Didn't. | Op-Docs

Описание

This documentary deals with anorexia. Documentary and text by Eisha Marjara: I am intrigued by origin stories. How things happen, what the circumstances were that led to one’s big moment. One summer, my younger sister and I went on a diet. Eventually, she stopped. I did not. Losing weight was like pausing the clock, halting the changes that were happening to my body against my will. It felt like the most powerful thing ever. At my lowest weight, I asked my psychiatrist if I was the skinniest person he’d ever seen. I took pride in being that skinny — shockingly skinny. It was like giving the middle finger to mother nature, to turning into a woman, to growing up. I had found a solution. Women and girls often turn their bodies into projects: changing their hair, their makeup, their clothes, their weight. We’re often told to erase parts of ourselves in the hopes of being told we are enough. Some girls feel the influence of such messages more than others. I was the ideal candidate. This short film, “Am I the Skinniest Person You’ve Ever Seen?” depicts my struggles with anorexia, but this story is not unique to me. I want to tell my story so that girls and women who are going through — or who have gone through — something similar might feel less alone. If you are experiencing or affected by an eating disorder, know there is help and you’re not alone. Where to find help: The National Eating Disorders Association (https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/) supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders. F.E.A.S.T. (https://www.feast-ed.org/) is an international nonprofit organization run by caregivers of those suffering from eating disorders, meant to help others. Maudsley Parents was created by parents who helped their children recover with family-based treatment (http://maudsleyparents.org/), to offer hope and help to other families confronting eating disorders. https://findahelpline.com/ can help you find support internationally. More from Op-Docs: https://www.nytimes.com/column/op-docs Sub