Larkin McPhee

Editorial Reviews

A 14-year-old looks at her image and says, "I see somebody that is fat and ugly and a disappointment." She is like a growing number of young American girls afflicted with such eating disorders as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Tormented by an irrational fear of being fat, an estimated eight million young women are torturing themselves—sometimes to death.

It’s no wonder eighty percent of women are dissatisfied with their bodies. Driven by the waif-like images flooding the media of popular actresses, models, dancers and celebrities—who can weigh nearly twenty-five percent less than the average American woman—young girls are obsessed with an unattainable image of perfection.

Nova explores the serious consequences of eating disorders in Nova: Dying to Be Thin. Anorexia and bulimia have become mainstream maladies, with open discussion of the millions of cases throughout the U.S. Anorexia alone accounts for the highest
death rate of any psychological illness. If patients survive, the effects of self-imposed starvation can be extreme, from bone loss to heart damage. Nova goes behind closed doors to explore experimental treatments for these eating disorders. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide… (more)

Amazon.com Customer Reviews
school, December 13, 2003
By keru (Hawaii)
I had to watch it in my 8th grade PE class and it is very informative and somewhat graphic. It shows the scariness of it and makes you eat for one thing! You wont ever forget it!

Excellent documentary!, July 8, 2001
By Melissa (Boston
I was so impressed with Dying to be Thin. I am a graduate student and I used this video while presenting on disordered eating in adolescence. My classmates and professor seemed very receptive to the video. This would be a great video to show to girls ages 15 and up. It focuses on anorexia and bulimia as well as treatments for both.… (more)