Need a movie with emotional eating piece?

[rcbinmichigan]

Hi, I support a dietitian/social worker at the University of Michigan who leads a 12-week workshop addressing emotional eating. She uses a film clip from a 1990 movie called "Eating," which has white, thin, glamorous, narcissistic female characters talking about childhood food associations and the psychological meaning of food in their lives. Many of the workshop participants balk at the images, not being able to relate to thin, or all-white, or all-female.

Do you know of a film that addresses the emotional component of eating that has a multi- gender/race/size characters?

One of the things my coworker loves about this film is that different characters talk passionately about their childhood experiences with food, that impacts their relationship with food as adults. There is also a mother with a grown daughter who's exhibiting secretive eating, due to the mother's hammering her about her weight.

I have searched IMDB and Netflix, and am not sure where else to search to find something similar with characters that are far more representative of our population make-up. If you know of any, we'd greatly appreciate the tip.

Thanks, Ronda

 

[Lynn M.]

Hi Ronda-

There was a movie called "Fatso" made back in 1980. It starred Anne Bancroft and Dom Deluise. It sounds like it might fit the bill on what you are looking for. Here's a synopsis that I pulled off a movie site:

In this dark and sometimes sad comedy, Dominick -- an extremely obese man -- is pushed by his sister Antoinette to shed a few pounds lest he end up dead like his cousin. To do so, she helps him enroll in the fanatical weight-loss group, the Chubby Checkers, who will do anything to keep fellow members from over-eating. Another incentive for Dominick is his love for Lydia, a women whom Dominick fears has deserted him because of his obesity.The process of weight loss is torture, and he is left with a painful choice (one that the naturally thin don't always understand), suffer the pain and lose the weight or somehow learn to live with it. After his initial attempts to lose weight end in failure, and he goes on a gigantic food bender (one of the great binge scenes in movie history), in the end, Dominick learns that Lydia loves him for who he is, and he decides that he should do himself the same favor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide


I remember seeing this move back then. It wasn't bad.
Take care, Lynn

 

[newswoman13]

Ronda,

It's funny you ask. Just a few weeks ago I posted research questions on the recovery process from the body wars (including any extreme of EDs to all the various and many shades of gray) -- I'm helping to produce a film on the recovery process.

My survey is closed, but if you want to visit my blog which you can see below, you can read more, and if you have any feedback, let me know. We're definitely trying to show a variety of painful stories/dysfunctions (pain is relative) as well as a variety of people.

In the meantime, a great film to show "everyday" people is The ABCs of Eating Disorders.

Take care,
Caroline

 

[WormwoodScrubs]

Have you ever seen "Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story"? It was a film school project, and it doesn't star people, only Barbie and Ken dolls. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but being a recovering anorexic myself, I felt this movie nailed some of the reasons behind anorexia nervosa and bulimia. It's available in DVD-R only (i.e.: bootleg), as the film maker used some Carpenters' songs without Richard's permission (I believe he owns the rights to their songs), but if you can find it, it's a strange, wonderful film. It focuses a bit on their music and the pressures of fame, but the essence of the film is Karen's struggle with her weight.

It does not, however, focus on different genders or race.

ETA: There was a made for TV movie starring Meredith Baxter in which she suffered from bulimia. It was called "Kate's Secret" or "Barbara's Secret" or something like that.

Also, I saw a documentary at Best Buy (can't remember the name but I'm sure you could google it or find it on imdb) which focused on a group of girls/women with anorexia. Not sure if it's what you're looking for, however...

 

[Rockael]

There is a movie with Allie mcBeal in it about Anorexia/Bulimia.
Term: Bulimarexia
Liftime always aired those types of movies.
Maybe they have an archives or something to help find.
Just google movies about eating disorders.
I do not think that the movies ever really showed mentally what you go through concerning food eating etc.
The not knowing how much to eat /Calories Sodium Fat Obsession.
Counting every single item that goes into the mouth.
And when you would allow yourself food, which do you choose? etc
Will you still have that feeling of hunger that leads you to believe you are safe from gaining weight.
I could go on and on, since I started around the age of 16 and struggled for years. Laxative Abuse, Colonic Boards, Boy I've done it all. Even now. I am 49. My Disorder controls my life to this day, has
altered my life decisions etc. Hiding from the world and my husband has a job where I at times need to be out there.
Wow sorry to go on and on, I wish I could help others, but I am not totally cured just have alot of experience. And a body I messed up internally. Did I mention teeth problems?
Rocky:-( ;-)

 

[RunninTeach]

I haven't seen either of these, but Soul Food and Real Women Have Curves came to mind as possibilities to check out.

[font face="heather" font color=brick red size=+2]~Cathy [/font face] http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/4.gif
"Out on the roads there is fitness and self-discovery and the persons we were destined to be." -George Sheehan

 

[rcbinmichigan]

Thanks, all, for these suggestions. I will look them up and forward the descriptions to the workshop facilitator for consideration.