TRIGGER WARNING: this article might be difficult to read for those suffering, or recovering, from eating disorders.
Apart from the wearing the same Gucci 70s suit Harry Styles wore to the Brit Awards, there was one news line from Jennifer Aniston's recent InStyle interview which everyone seems to be fixating on: she only eats one crisp, or a single M&M, when she's under pressure.
The revelation was only one short comment, as part of a long Q&A-style interview, which covered the span of her career. When the interviewer asked what the actress does when she's stressed, Jennifer simply replied: 'A chip. Crunch, crunch, crunch.' She added, 'I can have one M&M, one chip,' before saying she knew it was 'annoying'.
There are now dozens of news articles on it, and a few people making jokes on social media that Jennifer doesn't understand the concept of stress eating. Like, come on - you eat a multipack of crisps when you're stressed. But, actually, fixating on what famous women do - or don't - eat actually isn't very funny.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not having a go at Jennifer Aniston for eating one crisp at a time, or the fact she's said it in an interview. But it should have been left out. Because, sadly, it was bound to become clickbait for some news websites; a little bit of 'weird' news about how quirky Jen An is.
However, for what some might see as harmless, odd - or healthy, even - the consequences are a bit more sinister. Really, in 2021, we shouldn't be discussing famous women and their eating habits - particularly if they could be seen as restrictive. Not only is it reductive - we are not what we eat, regardless of how the old adage goes - but it's dangerous.
Eating one crisp might just be what you feel like - but, equally, it could also be an instance of extreme portion control. Likewise, limiting food like crisps or M&Ms can play into the idea that some food is 'bad', and some food is 'good'. It's not true - food does not have morals! - but it's an idea that many people with eating disorders can become fixated by.
I know when I was at my worst point struggling with food, when I was 15 or 16 and already very underweight, I'd very rarely 'treat myself' by having one piece of chocolate. And even then, that piece of chocolate would still fill me up: not with calories, rather worry and guilt. (Later, probably due to how much I used to fear 'junk food', I went 180°, and became bulimic.)
Seeing women's diets reported on like this can be inspiration for some, posted on pro-anorexia forums or social media accounts. And there will be people - either already suffering from an eating disorder, or not - seeing the headlines about only eating one crisp as some kind of unattainable goal. As if you can only be attractive, worthy and like the A-list if you restrict yourself similarly (when in reality, it can be miserable, and for some, even dangerous). For those already eating tiny portions, it can reinforce the idea that it's OK or normal to eat such small portions - because somebody famous and successful does.
Of course, we know Jennifer won't have mentioned it because she wants anyone to take her lead, and she won't have meant any harm by it. Or probably expected it to become a huge news headline. But it's the reason TV presenter Holly Willoughby - who is adored in this country - never discusses what she eats, because she knows the obsession surrounding famous women and their diets can exacerbate eating disorders. ‘I actually avoid talking about my diet and exercise regime because I have interviewed so many people affected by eating disorders and I know some people in chat rooms can really fixate on other people’s diets,’ she has said, before adding: ‘I just can't contribute to that.’
When approximately 1.25 million people in the UK alone suffer with an eating disorder (I always tend to think the figure is higher), there should be a responsibility about sensationalising what women eat. 1.) Because it really doesn't matter, your self-worth is not tied to what you eat, or your 'self-control'. And 2.) We know by now it's just not responsible, and, sadly, it might influence more people than you think.
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