Oh my God...Elizabeth, you don't know how much you affected me. I believe Elizabeth has soooo much to give, not just by her story but her beauty, intelligence, and her strength. It's shame she endured sooo much in her life, she could overcome anything if she just set her mind to it. Her children were forgiving, understanding and loving..bless their hearts for giving her a chance to explain. Her long tough road should be a movie, not because of letting others enjoy her pain but to see her strength. God bless you and your family Elizabeth. My prayers are for you.

I sat in awe in front of the television watching Elizabeth and her story. What a beautiful, honest, classy woman she is. I know that many watchers were disappointed that she did not immediately accept Dr. Keith's offer of a treatment center, but I understood. Having experienced a very small portion of the trauma she endured, I know that it is easy to be robbed of your self worth when you are mistreated as a child, and it is almost impossible to regain that sense of self worth. I saw it also when she made the comment about her grandson, that "He will have plenty of people to love him" I know that she felt that her love would not be "worth" anything to the baby. I wish her the best and hope that Dr. Keith will update us on her.

To Been There,

Yes, totally agree with you about Kate Winslet....one the most beautiful actresses out there.

And regarding the show.....oh my, I think I didn't stop crying throughout it. My heart went out to Elizabeth. What a complete shame!Hopefully, by reuniting with her family, and by seeing that adorable little baby (what a cutie), she will continue taking the steps to recovery.

Kess

I was very moved by yesterday's show that dealt with eating disorders. It was very sad to see this mother struggling to cope with the tragic loss of her two children who were gracious enough to try to understand her problem and forgive her. It was even more sad that this woman was too fearful to accept the help that she so desperately needs. Realistically, this mother needs something that doctors cannot give her at this time. She needs our prayers, our support, our encouragement and our patience. I will be praying for her that she will have the strength to allow God to help her; I will also be praying for her children.

I have done anything and everything to be thin...eating, binging, diet pills, excercise, and even drug use.....I hate being an overweight girl in our society.
I would do anything for gastric by pass surgery but you have to have good insurance or money...does anyone know of a way to get it for free?

I am a 5'11'' woman and I have to fight to keep my weight on.At my lowest weight I was 120lbs. and I looked terrible and felt even worse.Personally,I don't think skinny women are attractive.I think a healthy build looks best.Madonna promoted this look for years.Kate Winslet is also a beautiful woman with a healthy body.I am envious of her!!!

HI IM MARA IM 14 YEARS OLD.
LIKE I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT MY WHOLE LIFE.WHEN I WAS SMALL
I WAS OVER WEIGHT.AND THEN NOW IM GETTIN SKINNIER..WEEKS BY WEEKS IM GETTIN SKINNIER.MY BROTHER AND PARENTS THINK I MIGHT HAVE ANOREXIA.BUT I DONT THINK SO .LIKE EVERYDAY I FEEL LIKE THROWIN UP .AND THERES TIMES WHERE I MAKE MYSELF THROW UP .
SOME SAY IM DOING THIS FOR ANTENTION .BUT IM NOT.I REALLY DONT CARE IF IM FAT OR SKINNY...

I just wanted to point out that you don't have to be extrememly thin or purge 15 times a day to have an eating disorder.I have personally struggled w/ anorexia and purging since I was 18 and I am 31 now. YOU CAN DIE!!! at any weight. People and therapists need to stop taking about numbers on the scale, celeberties,and models and start talking about feelings of control, abuse, and self-haterd, since that is what is behind eating disorders. It is true that you may start an ED for one reason, but ultimatly, you are starving, puking,ect, for love, acceptance, comfort and control over your feelings and you life.

I've had 4 pregnancies in 2 years, 2 ended in miscarriages after 3 mnths. I gained over 100 lbs. I would do anything it takes to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight. I loved my body then, I loved myself. I cannot even look into the mirror anymore, not even to put make-up on or do my hair. My self-confidence and esteem has faded away, I get so jealous and upset if my fiance is gone for long periods of time, my mind wanders in all different directions. I love my fiance, but sometimes I'm afraid that he will leave, because he will find someone who is attractive.

I'm a 31 year old mother of three and find that it's hard for me to lose weight. I have tried many things and now I'm looking for a diet buddy. Someone that could share emails with me and help me reach my goal.... I'm 5f 3i and I would guess I weigh about 214 and wanting to lose at least 80 pounds.......if there's someone out there to help me PLEASE HELP

Whenever you do anything in life for the wrong reasons it will not work out for you in the end. No one should ever be thin for somebody else or to look like a celebrity. That is completely disrespectful to the person God intended you to be...you, wonderful and beautiful you!

As a recovering anorexic and bulimic, something is literally "eating away" at these people who have eating disorders. I suggest that these people get the courage to be honest and open (to a professional) about what is really bothering them. The truth will set you free! Trust me...

I just wanted to say that I can relate to what was said on the show. I have suffered for a little over 4 years now from anorexia and bulimia, and I can understand the feeling of being busy all the time. It is something that I think about 24/7. I just can't wait for the day to be able to say I am recovered and not suffering from it.

I watched the show on eating disorders the other day. I struggled with anorexia and bulimia for nearly 35 years, staring in my early 20's. I could identify with the women on the show and always find it helps to know there are others who have experienced the same "hell" of this disease. In addition to many years of therapy, I was hospitalized three times over a period of several years, my lowest weight being 73 lbs. I finally had to fight my way out to a safe place on my own, as the tools given in the hospital/therapy didn't work for me. I say safe place because I am holding my own without binging and purging, but I still make a huge effort to stay thin and am careful of what I eat (in other words, I rarely eat the kinds of food I love and avoid situations where I can't control what I eat). I held out hope for a long time that I would find help and contacted many treatment centers. However, they were not interested in me without insurance to cover the astronomical costs. I find it very sad that our country doesn't have different ethics in this regard. There is so much more I would like to say; if they haven't lived it, most people are uncomfortable talking or hearing about it. I would like to add that, if there is someone out there who's early on in this disease, STOP - ask for help. Don't wait until 35 yrs. have passed and you have risked your life, health and happiness, lost relationships and even your work due to your disorder. I'm here to tell you it's such a waste. I know that and, although my life is no longer threatened, it still has a hold on me.

I battled anorexia for two years my dads been forcing me to eat for the past 3 years. I'm going to college and watching this show made me want to become anorexic again. I was planning on it when I got to college, and I know its wrong, but seeing the girl whose bones are sticking out I want to be, that I strived to be that.

something that never seems to be addressed is the competitive nature of anorexics - the 'I weighed less than you' aspect. I felt your choice of guest questionable - there was a patronising air to this show. the poor girl was cutting herself also, and this was hardly addressed.

Hi there!! I must say that I highly enjoyed yesterday's show on eating disorders. It's such a problem today and it's awesome that the issue is being brought to attention. I am 25 yrs. old and have struggled with bulimia for 10 years solid now. I have been working my *ss off the past year on recovery, and although it's so difficult, it's so worth it. Once I finally got the balls to open up and tell my husband and family about my problem, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Being honest and open is the first step to healing. I just found out 3 days ago that my husband and I are having a baby!!!! Now more than ever my recovery has kicked into high gear. After watching yesterday's show I was reassured by those beautiful women, inside and out, that my recovery can and will be a success. Thank you to those ladies. I have to give all praise and honor to the Lord for helping me get to where I am today. It's still a daily battle, but with my focus on Christ and being around those who are loving and supportive I know I will get better. Oh, one more thing- to the lady who wrote in complaining about the comment made about brown hair- Is that ALL you got from the show yesterday? The show was so encouraging and comforting to so many ladies and men who have spent years and years of their life struggling with this disorder and I feel sad for you that all you could do on the comment page was complain about "the brown hair statement". I hope that you were also able to find comfort and strength in the interviews from yesterday as well. I pray that all the women who wrote in will continue to have faith in the Lord and in themselves:)

To JC, Kim and all those that felt the brown hair comment shouldn't have been shown. Get over it! Have enough confidence in yourself to not care about silly comments made about someone elses hair color preference. I personally love brown hair to blonde anyway....but I certainly hope a blonde wouldn't get insulted because of it. We all have preferences, and if the girl on the show felt ugly with brown hair then that's her problem....don't make it yours.

Kess

I thought your show on eating disorders was very informational. I've struggled with bulimia for 9 years and my recovery is going steady, but since watching your show I am very inspired to live a healthy, HAPPY life! I think this show could be very helpful and educational for all.

i dont know if this anorexic but i eat alot and then i drink plum juice and greean tea plus a diet pill that i have that make you go to the bathroom i dont vomit but i go to the batroom all the time so the food dont saty on me and i still skinny even that i eat alot.

I was in the audience for that show, and I asked a question and also revealed that I am in recovery(from exercise bulimia--i didn't specify on the show). I am impressed that Dr. Keith introduced a topic that so many women, and men too can relate to. I think if we begin to discuss it more openly like he did on the show, we can help many people begin recovery from this growing epidemic.

I am 22 years old and have struggled with anorexia since age 9. I was officially diagnosed at age 16 with anorexia nervosa. At age 19 bulimia came into the picture, as did that second official eating disorder diagnosis, and since then I've gone between the two. At this height (5'5") my lowest weight has been in the upper 70's. I've been in outpatient treatment for my disorder since my teens, and have experienced many medical complications (heart problems, GI problems, etc), though none have been permanent as far as I know. I've been lucky enough to SOMEHOW avoid permanent physical damage, but I know it's going to happen if I continue down this road. Since age 20 I've been in longterm residential/inpatient treatment centers 3 times, with the longest stay being 4 months in one facility.

This disease is relentless. I know I'm not alone in this struggle... While the media is not to blame, and there's MUCH more behind the disorder pscyhologically, the media's portrayal of stick-thin women as beautiful certainly doesn't help. Though you see Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen all over the media, and it may fuel people to strive for thinness, I also think that bringing attention to eating disorders in such a large forum could be a positive thing. The more awareness we can bring to eating disorders, the better.

I'm a 22 year-old female who has been struggling with bulimia for 2 years. Every day I wake up and tell myself that today will be the first day I don't binge and purge, that today will be the day I gain enough confidence to look at myself in a mirror and not pinch my stomach. But every day that I try is the last. I can not overcome this awful disease. I am a happy person on the outside who does well in school and seems to have a lot of friends, but on the inside I feel incredibly lonely. I use bulimia as a friend, as something to replace the friends that have moved on and are no longer a part of my life. It's my secret that I share with no one else and that gives me a sick sense of confidence. After watching this show and seeing how truly happy those 3 women are, it has inspired me to make a change in my life and make an effort to get healthy. My only question for them is, "What if they weren't in the public eye and more or less forced to confront their illnesses? Would they have sought out treatment or continued with their eating disorders?" I don't see myself becoming famous any time soon and don't know if I can bring myself to freely admit to my parents what I'm struggling with. I do not want bulimia to control me for the rest of my life, but taking that first step seems like an impossible task. I applaud those women for overcoming their illnesses and hope that I can do the same. Thank you.

I would like to comment off of what JC said. I cannot believe that a show trying to promote a person loving themselves the way they are would allow a comment about having brown hair being a bad thing air. Having brown hair is a beautiful thing...as is having NATURAL blonde hair. What ever you were born with is perfect. I hope that someone reads this and find the need to have a show based on people changing their hair color due to the pressure of society and hollywood. It is obviously an issue. I'm glad that someone else out there was watching and felt the same way I did. Thank You.

Im 15 years old...this was my first time watching your show and it really hade a impact on me,because I have been struggling with bulimia and already hade to go to a doctor and my parents have been hard on me ever sence.I told them I stoppped but I lied.I have been doing this ever sence I was 10 and its been getting to a point where I want to stop.I want to be free from this prison in my mind....HELP ME!!!! Im so sick of always making my self through-up.....I dance and play volleyball for my school and at the final game I pasted out my coached ased if I was ok and said yeah but Im so sick of holding it in all it does to me is make it worse......I need HeLP!!!!

I have been anorexic on and off all of my life. I fight everyday to win this internal battle. I have been extremely lucky to have found a wonderful doctor. She is not only changing my perspective on food, but every thought that processes through my mind. She is helping me to know and accept myself emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritally. I know that the answer to cure this fateful disease lies within me. I know someday I will be a success as well as a survivor through the trials that have been placed before me in this life. I don't stand alone, for when alone is when I attack myself internally. Now when alone, when no one can be with me, I stand in presence of God.
Elizabeth

I have battled so many eating disorders. I had anorexia for about a year and went from 140 to 99. I was almost hospitatlized and I was forced to go to the doctor every week, as well as dietitians, and therapists. People have no idea the control eating disorders have on you until you actually have one. I had "recovered" from anorexia and then developed exercise bulimia. I exercised all the time, and didn't really have a social life or a life at all for that matter. Anyways to make a long story short...., I want to become anorexic again, and I know thats wrong, but I can't help it. I want to be super skinny and to me thats the only way. By watching the episode today on Dr. Ablow I really sympathized with everyone cause I know how it feels. You are alone and lost in the world, it's one of the most terrible things that can happen to you..., so if you feel like you are getting an eating disorder, nip it in the bud ASAP before it controls your life forever. I totally regret everything and I wish that I could go back in time and change it, but I can't. We can't change who we are or what we did, but there is hope in the furture. Someday I hope to FULLY recover from all of my eating disorders.

well its pretty hard to say but my sister in law has an eatting disorder. I really want to help ber but i really have no idea on what to do. She clams that she doesnt have a problem, because just resently she got hurt and had to go to the hospital, not because of her eatting disorder, it was because she feel and cracked her head open.But now all she thinks is that she just is in pain rihgt now and ill because of her injury. Its really sad, because i really do love my sister in law alot and i just want to help her, but its kinda hard to help her when she doesnt want the help and doesnt even tell that she actully has a problem.also while when she was in the hostipal she was in a simi coma and the doctor found exusive amount of diet piles in her urine. Then when we went to her house we found about 20 different kind of diet piles under the cabnet. I guess she is taking about a hand full of piles everyday. Her parents dont really think that its wrong to take piles everyday to loose weight because its good for her, but shes not eatting at all. everytime I go down there to visit her all she does is exercise and not eat and stays far away from the family. This is really not the sister in law that I know, because she was always hanging out with the family, but I was always wondering what was going on with her, becasue she started to loose alot of weight but after watching your show I really began to think that my sister in law really does need help. How can I find help for her??

I have struggled from anorexia and bulimia for the last 10 years. I am also a survivor of incest with which I endured 7 years of being repeatidly raped. After much time of doing nothing and denying that I had a problem, I have begun to find some help.

Watching Dr. Keith today really made me angry. I feel that he should know what companies are advertiing for certian shows. Today was very upseting as his show is talking about anorexia and the commericials are talking losing weight. How rediculous is this. Advertising one thing and talking about another. I think this was a terrible thing. Surigi-lite or any other advertising about losing weight while having a show on anorexia. I am angry. This totally sickened me.

Dr. Keith,

I will be 53 years old in Feb 07, and I have had an eating disorder since 1972,
when I was in high school.
I hid it, dealth with it, indulged it for all of these years, but now, at 52 years of age, it has taken over my life. Since I retired, everyday is a battle with food. I don't do anything all day but obsess about eating and working out. I feel helpless and hopeless. Thank you for the show today...I think you could just do EVERY SHOW ON THE TOPIC OF EATING DISORDERS...there are so many suffering...just like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for doing this show! I am 32 yrs old who has been in recovery for 2 years from anorexia with bulimic tendencies. I have been physically recovered for a year but the mental part..well I expect that to be a lifetime challenge. But I am getting there I do disagree with Hollywood not being responsible. I believe that the media, society and Hollywood do play a responsible part. And they should start promoting awareness for EDs. They should show negative attention towards EDs.

I just watched the show on anorexia. Your 3rd guest with the long blonde hair said something that really made me angry. She said she was so ugly growing up, and Dr. Keith asked her to explain. She then said she'd had buck teeth and brown hair. Since when is brown hair ugly!!! I'm 48 years old, and I've been struggling with my insecurities of weight and looks all my life. I HAVE BROWN HAIR! The old saying that blondes have more fun, men always looking at blondes as sooo sexy, etc., and she's got the nerve to say brown hair is ugly. Thanks, that just added insult to injury. I think Dr. Keith should have been on top of that comment. It would be a great topic for a show. How there are just as many, if not more, beautiful women with brown hair! In fact, most blondes are not real blondes, they're fake, and they act fake!! I've tried blond and it was awful, and besides that, I shouldn't have to change who I am to try to get attention, but society says different.

Dear Dr. Keith,

I watched your show on "Would do Anything to be Thin."

I could really relate to Noelle on the show.

Here's my own story...

My identical twin sister and I were born 3 months premature. She weighed in at just 2 pounds and I weighed in at 2 pounds and 2 ounces. My sister was diagnosed with a heart murmur at birth and at finally nine months old doctors diagnosed me with Spastic Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus.

I've had 15 surgeries total now and as a result of those have 22 scars. 14 of them are on my legs alone. I've had to endure lots of physical therapy throughout my now 25 years.

Most of my life I've watched my weight and have had poor body image issues.

In high school, college and now currently my symptoms of an eating disorder are definately evident.

I didn't seek any help til I got to college and then it took a lot of encouragement from a good friend to go see a counselor on campus.

As of December of 2005, I got my Bachelor's Degree in Human Service Counseling and would like to get started on my Master's Degree this coming fall.

As of today, I'm 5 foot tall and weigh only about 90 pounds and do for a fact know I have Anorexia.

I'm not seeing a counselor anymore, but know I should be.

My family knows about this issue and are pretty supportive, but I know they are concerned about me, but they are at a loss as to what to say or do right now.

I just want to say thanks for doing shows on Eating disorders b/c I think it is a problem and the more people that speak out about it the BETTER!!

I was watching your show today and questioned if I had an eating disorder. To tell you a little about myself : I am 38 years old. I am a mom of 5 wonderful kids. My height is 5'6". But I only weigh 98 pounds. And wear a size 1 in jeans. My daughter who is almost 14 wears larger pants than I do. I always feel so busy even when the kids are in school. I sat and thought about it and realized that I am only eating one good meal a day and that is Dinner in which I make every day for my family. I can lose weight faster than I can gain it. I can actually lose up to 7-10 lbs in a week if I get sick I can eat junk food and not gain a pound. I have had my thyroid tested and it came back negative. I do not throw up or anything like that. I just didn't realize that their could be a eating disorder by not eating. I just don't think about it. I am getting to skinny and afraid for my health. I already am showing signs of problems due to my teeth have gotten very weak and are breaking off in pieces. I am always tired, stressed out, and feel like my world in swallowing me up. I just thought it was stress that kept me so thin, but because I am so thin I get stressed trying to figure how I can gain weight. I was hoping maybe there is some place I may call to find out what my options may be to help me gain some weight, or figure out why I can't.

Thank You

Hi. My name is Sheila. I am a mother of three and suffer from both anorexia and bulimia. I'm 32 years old and weight 94 lbs. My lowest weight was 89 lbs. I have tried getting help but everytime I go to a doctor or a hospital the only thing they do is give me some electrolytes and send me home telling me I need to eat more. I even tried therapy but my therapist didn't believe I had a problem. He said that I didn't fit the general criteria of someone that had an eating disorder. I know I am too thin and desperately want to get help but I just don't know where to turn. Can you please give me some ideas of where I can go for help?
Sincerely,
Sheila

I'm seventeen years old. I've struggled with my weight all of my life. Today, I watched the show and heard what the actress from Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Elisa Donovan, said about eating disorders. It was something to the effect of how she always felt busy because she was occupied by her eating disorder. I do not have an eating disorder, but I can not say that I am far from developing one. I can say, however, that after watching today's show, I am further from developing one than I was before the show. I, however, am obsessed with my weight. I do not use the term lightly. Of anything, I am not using stressing the term enough. I am obsessed. I indentify completely with what Elisa said. I feel so occupied with the fact that I'm overweight that, even though I am often very busy with my many responsibilities in school, I find myself exggerating how busy I am in my mind because I feel like being obsessed with my weight is some sort of job that I do practically 24 hours a day. I say 24 hours a day because I occupy myself with it sometimes even in my sleep. I find myself feeling like I'm busy all the time because I can't get over the fact that I'm not happy with myself. I can't get over the fact that I obsess about every pound and look in the mirror over 100 times a day. I'm not sure if I will ever be happy with myself, but I am glad I watched the show today. What Elisa said helped me better helped me understand why I feel so busy all the time. Thank you.

while watching your show today I was just wondering if there is any data on whether this problem is an American problem and other countries see it at the rate we do in the U.S.?

Long story short, I was anorexic when I was in college and through the help of friends and my husband, I got help. I've been good for many years. In April, I gave birth to my second child. For some reason, my metabolism kicked into high drive. Without trying, I am 10 lbs underwieght. My liver is starting to fail because of the rapid weight loss. I don't want to loose anymore, byt I can't convince myself to gain because gaining weight in our society is bad. What should a person do when I'm told that I'm doing what is "not normal"?

I really liked the show today. More American girls suffer from this than not and now its affecting boys. I think the entertainment industry is really doing a number on our egos.