Health

Kate Moss' motto gives comfort to 'pro-anorexic' community

by generaldecay | November 21, 2009 at 02:47 am

354 views | 24 Recommendations | 7 comments

When the supermodel Kate Moss, in a rare online interview this week, told readers that one of her mottos was "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels", the fallout was instant, vitriolic and damning.

How horribly ill-conceived was this remark by Kate Moss? (Let's face it, she's neither the smartest nor the most forward-thinking person on the planet.) In a world where celebrity-obsession is rife, where we place more credence on what celebrities say than what politicians, teachers and family say, her remarks could not have been worse. Teenagers, and teenage girls in particular, are surrounded by pressure to be skinny, to be beautiful, to be flawless, to be perfect, and this pressure comes from people exactly like Moss. I can't believe she was so irresponsible.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Beat, an eating disorder charity, said Moss's words were "potentially very dangerous" because they were strongly associated with pro-anorexia websites. "This phrase is often used as one of their 10 commandments or mantras. And it is young women between the age of 12-20 who are the most at risk from anorexia, which is unfortunately the same group that could be influenced by celebrity culture."

Some of the reaction:

One user of Twitter said Moss should be able to say what she wanted. "Did it really come as such a shock? C'mon," she wrote, adding: "Anyways, she's right."

...

Television presenter Denise Van Outen, said the model was "talking out of her size zero backside", adding "Having been in the industry for so long, she knows the impact her comments will have on vulnerable young women."

...

Another regular user of pro-anorexia websites, who did not want to be named, called the comments irresponsible. "She's making unhealthy attitudes and behaviours seem somehow attractive," she said. "A lot of young girls see her as some kind of an icon so promoting these kinds of attitudes is really inappropriate. It really made me angry when I heard about it."

And many more on the piece.

I dare say that Moss will have to apologise, or issue some sort of retraction, for her statement. But what would be the point at this stage? Her words are already out there, and absorbed, so it will be too late...

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Yommie

at 04:18 on November 21st, 2009

Why should she aplogise? It's her view and what she believes. And she is entitlted to what she believes. Our problem should be with those who will take in her comment without scrutinising it in their skull-enclosed noodles.

We need to teach out children to learn how to pick who their role-models are. But how can adult teach these things even when they are brainwashed by silly adverts and feather-brained celebrities.

generaldecay

at 05:38 on November 21st, 2009

If only it was as easy as that - teaching our children to pick their role models. Parents have been trying to do that for years, and they STILL pick whoever they want. And the people who come out with this sort of thing are very often top of the list.

Ed trial pack (not verified)

at 06:06 on November 21st, 2009

It's her view and what she believes. And she is entitlted to what she believes.

Amy Judd

at 08:01 on November 21st, 2009

She of course is entitled to her views, but as someone in the public eye, she should at least acknowledge that her comments will have some sort of chain reaction to people that aspire to be a top model at only 5ft7.

generaldecay

at 11:08 on November 21st, 2009

Exactly Amy. There's a difference between saying what you feel, and making a statement that you know (or should know) will have profoundly negative effects on many young people.

Thanks for the recommendation and comment.

Barbara McPherson

at 10:56 on November 21st, 2009

I agree that K. Moss should be able to express her feelings freely. To ask her to act in a responsible manner is probably too much to expect. Remember the "heroin chic" look a few years ago. The onus in on the media to not give air heads the publicity.

generaldecay

at 11:09 on November 21st, 2009

Barbara, thanks for the recommendation and comment. As I said above to Amy, there's a difference between expressing your views and making a very public statement that is bound to have negative effects. People in positions of power have to hold their tongues every day of the week and consider the effects of what they might be about to say. Kate Moss should be no different.