Mary Kate Olsen Needs Empathy and Support

Experts at The CEDRIC Centre worry young tweens and teen girls might emulate Mary Kates eating disorder.

June 27, 2004 -- News that Mary-Kate, one of the Olsen twins, is battling anorexia nervosa, has thrown the spotlight again on the sometimes deadly eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa primarily affects young women in their teens and early 20s, characterized by a pathological fear of weight gain and leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss.

Michelle Morand, director and founder of The CEDRIC Centre, (Community Eating Disorders and Related Issues Counselling), hopes the family knows, Anorexia is a very complex and challenging issue, and it can be overcome and left behind for good.

Michelle Morand and head counsellor Karen Stein of The CEDRIC Centre also worry young tweens and teen girls might emulate Mary Kates eating disorder. The Olsens are under incredible pressure to be thin, but thats true of most young women now, and given how tweens emulate the twins, its very possible they may also imitate Mary Kates disordered relationship food, said Karen Stein.

There are many possible reasons why Mary Kate may turn to food as a coping strategy. The most important thing in this situation is that Mary Kate knows that full recovery is possible and that she is given ample time, space, and understanding by the people closest to her, and by the media, to explore the underlying reasons for her behaviour, and to make changes that will be lasting and most importantly, life enhancing.

The CEDRIC Centre specializes in eating disorders, and related issues such as anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. All our counsellors have recovered from an eating disorder, and possess the skills and expertise to provide our clients with the tools and support they need to create lasting change.