When Dieting Goes Too Far: 3 Celebrity Deaths

Too many people today are faced with eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia are serious diseases that if not treated, could end up in fatalities

Most people suffering from eating disorders cannot stop themselves. They feel as if any weight that is put on will make them ugly, which only turns the disorders into vicious cycles: they need to eat to get healthy, but they feel awful when they eat.

Eating disorders don't discriminate, and they can affect both men and women of all ages. Even celebrities have experienced eating disorders, and the following five didn't live to talk about it.

1. Karen Carpenter


KarenCarpenter was the drummer and lead singer of The Carpenters, a band popular during the 60s and 70s. Though they experienced much success in the early 70s, gaining both #1 and #2 spots on Billboard's Top 100, the band started to fall apart in the late 70s when Richard Carpenter, brother and bandmate to Karen, became addicted to quaaludes.

Karen struggled with anorexia for most of her life, but in the 70s, not much information was known about the disease. In the early 80s, she started seeing a therapist about her disease. After a few weeks, she called her therapists telling hims she felt strange and weak, and was sent to the hospital. After being in New York for two months, she gained over 30 pounds, which had an adverse effect on her heart. Since she was so tiny, her heart couldn't handle the extreme weight gain, and on February 4, 1983, at the age of 32, Karen Carpenter died of heart failure associated with anorexia.

2. Christy Henrich

At the age of 14, ChristyHenrich made the US National Gymnastics Team and represented the US in the 1989 World Championships.

Even though she was a successful and talented gymnast, a judge told her that she needed to lose weight. She started limiting the amount of food that she ate, and eventually, she became anorexic. At first, nobody noticed, but eventually, her body became too weak to compete. She was asked to leave the team and continued to lose 47 more pounds.

Her family finally forced her to seek treatment, but after multiple stays in the hospital, rounds of treatment and successful bouts of recovery, Christy succumbed to anorexia at the age of 22.
Since her death, the attention given to the health and weight of gymnasts has changed. Many other gymnasts came forward to discuss their battles with the disorder. Now, when gymnastics are broadcast on TV, stations are not allowed to show the weight of the gymnast or talk about their weight.
3. Ana Carolina Reston

AnaCarolinaReston was a Brazilian model who started her career at the age of 13. In 2004, she attended a casting call in China and was told that she was too fat. She started eating only apples and tomatoes, and after two years, cut down her size to almost half of what it was.
In 2006, she was hospitalized for kidney malfunction due to both anorexia and bulimia. One month later, the kidney malfunction spread into full on disease, and she died due to complications of starvation.

At her time of death, Ana Carolina only weighed 88 pounds and had a body mass index of 13.4—a BMI of 16 is considered starvation.

All of these women were talented and died at early ages due to their battle with anorexia or bulimia, two popular dieting diseases that affects numerous people every day. If you or someone you love is battling with an eating disorder, seek help immediately.

Lizzie Watters is a writer and cook.  She enjoys writing about recipes, cooking tips, dieting and kitchen safety.  Lizzie recently wrote about her favorite banana nut bread recipe.