BBC recently published a piece entitled, Fear over eating disorder care in Japan. The title of this article says it all. Some countries do not offer proper treatment for eating disorders. But the reason why countries like Japan do not have proper care set up for those struggling has nothing to do with the medical system. Rather, these disorders are going untreated because of a social taboo that still exists.
Much like Motoko’s story in the article, people and societies that still stigmatize mental issues would rather not have anyone know. Motoko’s parents refused to let her see a doctor or tell anyone her issues. Sadly, this is a common thread.
When a culture stigmatizes eating disorders, it attaches a shame to the disorder. The shame is not only for the person suffering but also for those around him or her. Family, friends and peers would rather look the other way than address an uncomfortable issue. The language for the issue or disorder does not exist because as a society it has gone unrecognized and unaddressed.
According to the article, doctors estimate that just as many people in Japan suffer from eating disorders as in the UK. But when comparing numbers, BBC notes that only 10,000 people were getting treatment in Japan as compared to 725,000 in the UK. The disparity exists because in the UK, there is an open conversation about mental disorders, including eating disorders.
Also, in the UK, there is not as much of a stigma in mainstream news and society around mental disorders. Japan, like many other countries, need to first address the way eating disorders are approached socially in order to begin addressing the issue. The conversation needs to be judgment-free so people who are struggling can ask for help.
Eating disorders are still taboo and kept hidden in many parts of the world. In Japan, for example, thin and fair-skinned women are seen as the beauty ideal, and being less than ideal can be seen as abnormal and shameful…
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