Dana: The Eight-Year-Old Anorexic Tonight! (Thurs) 9:00pm

KD

Gone fishing
Thursday 02 October
9:00pm - 10:00pm
Channel 4
At the age of eight Dana, a happy and self-assured child, stopped eating. She was obsessed by calories and exercise, her weight plummeted and she had to be hospitalised. Her bewildered and desperate parents then had Dana admitted to Rhodes Farm clinic, which specialises in the treatment of young people with eating disorders. Cameras follow Dana during her 12 weeks at Rhodes Farm, where patients aren't allowed to bargain - they have to eat. It's a sad, alarming film that will doubtless unsettle the parents of young girls as one stark fact emerges - in the face of media pressures over low-fat diets and body images, many more much younger girls need medical treatment for eating disorders.
 
Thanks, wanted to watch it and had forgotten, so thanks for the reminder!
 
Im not sure im going to watch this, I have a 6yr old thats already asked if she can go on a diet (shes really skinny but says her friends are on a diet as they want to be extra skinny). Might cry all the way through it.
 
Im not sure im going to watch this, I have a 6yr old thats already asked if she can go on a diet (shes really skinny but says her friends are on a diet as they want to be extra skinny). Might cry all the way through it.
oh my god thats crazy im not sure i knew what a diet was at 6 :confused:
 
That's why I hate seeing people bringing their kids to class. I don't think a slimming club is a healthy environment for children to be in
 
I started trying to diet at 10/11 years old. It's not right....
 
I've sky+'d this - will deffo watch it later. I find things like this fascinating really. Makes me really stop and think!!!
 
Watched this with my daughter. A couple of her friends are recovering anorexics.

My cousin was diagnosed as anorexic at the age of 8, this would be more than 30 years ago. She went away to be treated, came back having put on weight, went on to become seriously overweight in her teens, became anorexic again for a few years, then stabilised again and went on to have a baby last year (Having been told she would never be able to conceive).

I really identified with these girls in the programme, and felt anxious when watching them making themselves eat. I feel that we have a lot in common with anorexics, both develop an unhealthy obsession with food in order to cope with 'issues'. Whereas they won't eat, we won't stop.

I seriously hope that Dana has recovered, but felt that she gave the 'right' answers to the psychologist rather than talking about her own feelings.

AJ
 
I missed it :(. Does anyone know if it'll be on again or if its available to watch online??

Its so sad to see young girls suffering with such a terrible illness. At their age they are aware of what goes on around them and i dont think they fully know the consequesnces of what they do. Death is such a difficult subject for young children to deal with and i dont think she is aware that her illness could result in her death (i didnt see the episode so i'm just assuming here).

I hope she recovers from the illness. I've heard that Rhodes Clinic is a very sucessful place for treatment and recovery.

xx
 
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I watched it whilst on msn to spooky and it was really upseting. Unfortunately i could relate to several of the things the girls in the documentary spoke about.

Agree with amanda jayne though. Dana did "cheat", being only 8 she thought that if she ate the food they gave her she would be cured and they would let her go home. She didnt grasp the concept of triggers and how to prevent what happened in the first place. I hope she is happy and well.

Taz x
 
i watched this and i two am so worried as i have 2young god daughters and plan on having children when i have lost the lbs god willing, - i do think we need to protect children as much as possible around the whole diet but now in schools with all the healthy eatting they are getting in the wrong message my god daughter said last week to me she didnt want chips as they were for fat people she is only 4 :eek: i asked where did she get that from as she is allowed chips once a week and she said nursey say all things that make you fat .... just not on really they should be talking about healthy and un healthy not fat and diets
 
I think the problem is that these sorts of initiatives are usually run by people with lots of ambition. but no experience of the issues that are involved. In the same way that the best rehab councellors are probably those who have experienced addiction, the best people to advise on healthy eating are folks like icemoose and porgeous who can see both sides- not some ratty soulless little skinny-minny like Gillian-bl**dy-McKeith........rant over......
 
i asked where did she get that from as she is allowed chips once a week and she said nursey say all things that make you fat .... just not on really they should be talking about healthy and un healthy not fat and diets

I totally agree, but (playing devils advocate here, whether pushing the 'healthy' thing over the 'skinny' thing would work is unlikely.

Most girls want to be beautiful (which they equate with being skinny), above all else. Squewed values, but that's how it is. Even many adults chose size over health (see other thread about it).

Sad, but true.

the best people to advise on healthy eating are folks like icemoose and porgeous

Hey! What about me :D :D
 
KD -

Of course I didn't need to mention you due to your already immense fame in the field..:queen:
 
My memory for names is poor at best- daft (and/or rude) names sink in deeper!!
 
Pierce!!!!! I need to change my name!!!!

Pretty please:eek: :D

There again, perhaps I'll tell you what KD stands for. That'll do it :D
 
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