TV host Angela Scanlon, who has openly admitted to a personal 15-year struggle with anorexia and bulimia, lends her voice to the documentary “Anorexia, My Family & Me” (broadcast on RTÉ One, Monday at 9.35pm). The programme provides an intimate look at the lives of three Irish families being drastically altered by the impact of eating disorders. The documentary’s narrative is quite intense, interspersing elements of hope and despair, fully capturing the solemnity of the subject matter. The commendable aspect of this RTÉ production is its empathetic approach towards this serious topic, avoiding over-dramatisation.
The viewers are introduced to Josh, a 16-year-old from County Wicklow, struggling to gain weight, threatening his well-being. His admittance to a mental health ward to manage his calorie intake and alleviate the pressure on his heart brings out his mother Jenny’s yearning for his future existence.
The narrative moves on to Amanda from Coolock, Dublin. This 36-year-old traces her journey of anorexia back to her teenage years, asserting that it has predominantly shaped her life ever since. She started comparing her body with others at the age of 14, which led to a deep-rooted obsession.
The documentary also profiles Seán, a 42-year-old resident of Swords, County Dublin. Father to four children, he reveals how his low self-worth translated into an unhealthy pattern of excessive workouts and insufficient food intake. His extreme weight loss notably led to his wedding band becoming loose and repeatedly slipping off his finger.
Ireland currently faces an escalating crisis of eating disorders, highlighted by Dr Kielty Oberlin from Bodywhys: The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland. She notes a significant surge in incidents in recent years and explains how the struggle of one individual with an eating disorder pervades the entire family. Anorexia, for instance, not only shapes the existence of the person afflicted but also profoundly affects their loved ones.
Eating disorder functions through a characteristic process wherein an individual imposes restrictions on dietary intake, progressively eliminating necessary food items from their diet. This consequently normalises the sensation of hunger, suggests Oberlin. The development of such disorders is consistently linked to poor self-esteem.
In agreement, Seán deplores the deep-seated self-loathing he has experienced all his life. He articulates his attempts of early morning runs with no fuel in the system, symbolic of his pursuit of weight loss and rejection of his true self. His struggle led him to hope for his existence to slowly fade away.
Nevertheless, Seán maintains a hopeful approach, keeping track of his eating patterns and acknowledging his recovery journey. Meanwhile, Josh from Wicklow’s eating habits are under the consistent surveillance of his mother through family-based treatment, known as FBT. Similarly, in Coolock, Amanda seeks help from an integrated treatment service. This has instilled hope in her mother, Doreen, who senses a minor but encouraging positive change, stating, “I think there’s a slight improvement.”
The aspiration remains that these small improvements can gradually magnify and that Amanda, Josh, and Seán will gain the necessary support. It is hoped that they will concentrate on the brighter aspects of their lives. Their willingness to share their experiences could potentially aid their progression towards happier times.