-
Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms Described
Physician Richard Morton srote a paper which described the medical description of what is now known as Anorexia Nervosa. While Morton noticed the symptoms, he did not identify anorexia as a disease and did not attempt to treat it. -
Anorexia First Identified as a Disease
Ernest-Charles Lasegue writes "De l’Anorexie Histerique", a paper that identifes anorexia as a disorder with serious consequences. He wrote that it mainly occured in women and compared it to religous fasting over longer periods of time. Interestingly, the idea that anorexia was caused by problems with body image was not theorized until the 20th century. -
Period: to
Cases of Anorexia Increase
Around the world, the number of cases of anorexia begins to increase drastically. For example, in Sweden, anorexia nervosa was diagnosed 5 time more often than in earlier decades. Women aged 14-26 became anorexic due to societal pressures encouraging them to be skinnier. This is the first time anorexia is linked to body image. -
Anorexia Reaches a Wider Audience
Hilde Bruch publishes the book "The Golden Cage" which contains several real-life stories about women struggling with anorexia. The book sold 150,000 copies and helped make the public aware of the everyday battle for an anorexic individual. -
Karen Carpenter Dies of Anorexia
Singer Karen Carpenter died of heart failure caused by anorexia. When she was 15, she was 5'5 and weighed 91 pounds. While she did receive treatment later in life, her heart was badly damaged by the disease. She died at the age of 32. After her death, media began recognizing the dangers of anorexia and other eating disorders. Carpenter's death is seen as a turning point in the public concern over anorexia. -
Period: to
Anorexia Begins to be Treated
Special treatment centers and physicians begin working on treating anorexia. There becomes a national push to stop anorexia which included anti-anorexia ads on TV, in magizines, and online. Additionally, the eating disorder was expanded to include men, rather than just women. -
Isabelle Caro Dies
Anti-anorexia model Isabelle Caro, who suffered from anorexia, died at the age of 28. She was anorexic starting at the age of 13, and when she posed in the famous "No-Lita" anti-anorexia ad, she was 59 pounds.
