I am in a hotel room in Milwaukee watching ‘Real 911 Calls”; largely because I can’t figure out the hotel TV, I am reduced to watching some nimrod call 911 because the neighbor lady won’t return the soccer ball her kids kicked over the fence. Of course, as much as I disdian reality TV, I appear to be watching it. Oh wait – here is a commercial for something called “Extreme Cheapskates”… good god. These people are flossing their teeth with their hair.
Earlier tonight Dan and I had a nice dinner together at a fine dining establishment just a few blocks from our house. It is a real throwback to the type of supper clubs that were extremely popular 40-50 years ago with with dim lights; heavy furniture; tablecloths; and salad bars containing iceburg lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, cottage cheese and fermented peaches. The chalk board by the door listed the Wednesday night special as (no lie) the Friday night fish fry. After dinner I dropped Dan back at home and drove to my park-n-fly location in Milwaukee, where I will board a flight to San Antonio in the early morning.
As I scroll through the trashy reality TV options, I am reminded of the controversy awhile ago surrounding the winner of the Biggest Loser (a title that is at least as confusing as the Wednesday night Friday fish fry); when the winner appeared to be dangerously underweight.
I have always been particularly appalled by this show — it represents an extreme form of fat-shaming that subjects desperate people to eating disordered behavior: excessive levels of dietary restriction and purging via excessive exercise. That behavior simply isn’t healthy for anyone, and should not be encouraged or dramatized.
With the exception of severe anorexics; you just cannot tell if someone has an eating disorder or is malnourished by looking at them. Bulemics (and those afflicted with other disorders) come in all sizes; someone of a normal or above average weight can still be malnourished and/or dangerously ill. Many people appear fine on the outside, but their health and quality of life have been seriously impaired by disordered eating.
It’s getting late; I’ll be turning in soon. I think I forgot to bring dental floss, but lucky for me I have hair to spare.