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Kate Middleton Being Used As ‘Thinspiration’ On Pro-Anorexia Sites

by Justin Fenner | 10:16 am, July 15th, 2011

The list of women who wouldn’t love to raid Kate Middleton‘s closet is fairly short, but the number of young girls who want to be as thin as the Duchess of Cambridge is growing every second. Images of the duchess and her sister Pippa Middleton are being used as “thinspiration” on pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites.

Today Health reports that both sisters, whose personal style is followed aggressively across the fashion blogosphere, are now getting lots attention for their trim figures and visible collarbones. The young women who follow the eating disorder websites use pictures of pin-thin celebs as motivation to lose more weight, and Kate’s princess status (and wasp waist) have catapulted her to the top of the list. A user of one site has Middleon ranked at number two on her list of top ten thinspirations, in between Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate Olsen.

“Every little girl at one time wants to be a princess, and these images will not only reach teenagers but middle and elementary schoolers,” said Jill M. Pollack, director of the Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia. She has been treating patients suffering from eating disorders for over 20 years. “To have the Middleton sisters [on pro-ana sites] is like, oh my God, a disaster waiting to happen.”

Kate, who’s noticeably lost weight over the past year, has been famously reluctant to pick up her mantle as a style star. But we’re certain she wouldn’t want her image used as a prop for women and girls to prolong potentially fatal illnesses, and we hope that she’ll join the crusade against eating disorders. If she can influence people to lose weight, maybe she can influence them to have a healthy relationship with food, too.

[Today]



  • Joyfull40

    Well that would make all those young women and girls pretty naive, wouldn’t it? As has been said, Kate Middleton has visibly lost weight over the last year. Understandable as she has had a great deal of the unknown come her way, compared to the carefree lifestyle she had been living. I’m quite sure when Kate Middleton becomes more familiar with her role as Duchess of Cambridge, her weight will return to normal.  

    People like Jill M Pollack need to back off with the ‘oh my gods’ and do some research before jumping the gun. There’s two sides to every story, to every photograph, yet it seems Ms Pollack only wants the public to see her side, even though she has no clue of Ms Middletons personal life.  

  • Bikerk

    Thoughtful comment, Joyfull40.  Thanks.

  • http://twitter.com/littlesebastien Sebastien

    I hope Kate gains the weight back. She’s too thin. I’m not surprised the pro-ana girls have noticed and started using her.

  • Fran

    she is too thin, her shoulders stick out farther then her hips. proportionally females hips should the same width as her shoulders. i wonder if she’ll gain it back i bet its intimidating now.

  • Maliag

    jfen. you forgot the t in middleton

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000137155074 Kaitlyn Cocuzzo

    This seems dangerous, and really just plain stupid to me!! I hope that someone stops this, it is going to hurt little girls, and this is actually really insulting to Kate, and to everyone who has actually suffered from eating disorders. These websites should really be shut down!

  • Catwoman8599

    Perhaps the stress of her new life is the cause.  I say this because I went into the Air Force at 130#.  I lost thru basic, training, etc.    I ate anything I wanted and my metabolism just burned it.  I stabelized at 105# for years. I am 5’6″/female.  I actually got down to 103 at my lowest. This went on for about15 years before I very gradually gained it back.   Years later while taking my history a doctor told me that I had a ‘type’ of anorexia.  My hair was shiny, my nailes were strong, my acne disappeared, and I was eating like a football player and not ‘paying for it’…   This was all because of the stresses of leaving civilian life for military life.  At the time no military doctor was concerned, so neither was I .  Even tho 3 ribs in front and back showed and I was quite ‘fat free’ looking.  So Kate just may be eating like a horse and yet slimming down.  Granted 95 is way less than 103 when you are that small.

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