To the Bone is a fictional drama/comedy directed by Marti Noxon portraying life with an eating disorder. Prior to the film beginning, an announcement appears on the screen which reads, “The film was created by and with individuals who have struggled with eating disorders, and it includes realistic depictions (Curtis, Miller, Lynn, & Noxon, 2017).” The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze the validity of the portrayal of eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa, in this film.
The film commences with Ellen, the main character is a 20 year old female living and struggling with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, being kick out of an inpatient treatment program and returning her father and step mothers home for a brief period. In a last-ditch effort to save her life, Ellen is placed at an inpatient treatment center run by an unconventional doctor, called Threshold. Threshold has six other live in patients all struggling with various types of eating disorders. The film follows Ellen’s life inside the treatment house, including interactions with peers, her struggle with food,
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Other common manifestations of the disorder are cold extremities, lanugo, yellow skin, muscle weakness, constipation, dehydration, and dry skin. Medical factors to look for include hypotension, bradycardia, decreased urine output, and low T3 and T4 values (Halter, 2014, p. 347). When assessing a patient suspected of having this type of disorder, a comprehensive psychiatric assessment must be done. An evaluation of the following areas must also be explored: perception of the problem, eating habits, history of dieting, methods used to achieve weight control, value attached to a specific shape and weight, interpersonal and social functioning’s, and mental status and physiological parameters (Halter, 2014, p.