Eating disorders are about emotional pain, not food
Taylor Swift's new Netflix documentary delves into eating disorders and the emotional pressures of the entertainment industry. (Jean Nelson/Deposit Photos/)Michele Patterson Ford is a Lecturer in Psychology at Dickinson College. This story originally featured on The Conversation.In her documentary “Miss Americana,” music icon Taylor Swift disclosed her history of eating disorders. Her revelation underscores the fact these disorders do not discriminate. According to the advocacy and awareness organization Eating Disorders Coalition, they strike all genders, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.Despite their prevalence—the problem is worldwide—myths about eating disorders abound. Such as that they are a choice. They are not. Or they’re not a big deal. They are. Or that a person with an eating disorder is always severely underweight. Not always.As a licensed psychologist and psychology professor, I find it’s common for my clients and students to say “A little food helps me with my anxiety” or “I’m not thin...