Lisa Gordon-Miller

The Lohud Journal News

Donald Trump is perpetuating the eating disorder crisis we have in America with his fat-shaming attacks. Consider his hurtful comments about Rosie O’Donnell being fat, or his attack on Carly Fiorina, asking voters why anyone would vote for “that face.” Or his calling Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe in 1996, Miss Piggy. Or blaming the hacking of the Democratic National Committee headquarters on a 400-pound person sitting at a computer at home.

Using fat-shaming remarks or a 1-to-10 beauty scale to measure a person’s self-worth sends the absolute wrong messages to our young girls and boys. As Hillary Clinton said in the first debate, “Words matter.” She is right. They can scar you for life if not used carefully.

In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders, according to the National Eating Disorder Association.

Eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness (including major depression). A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders found that 5 to 10 percent of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease and that 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years.

I’m a recovering middle-aged anorexic-bulimic woman. In June of 2013, I voluntarily checked into the psychiatric ward at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Center for Eating Disorders because at 5 feet, 4 inches, I was 79 pounds, on my way down to 70 pounds. I needed help. Or I’d soon be dead.

It's not 1970 for women anymore: Dana Calvo

My eating disorder started when I was 10 years old. My older sister, whom I adored, was a little chubby in the eyes of others and suffered terrible humiliation and verbal abuse at home and at school. The diet word was bandied about in my house like candy falling from a piñata when I was growing up. I immediately associated love with thinness and so started my long struggle with weight and food.

It’s scary to voluntarily check yourself into a locked-down psych ward. There is an immediate sense of shame and embarrassment that goes with the Clockwork Orange stereotype of a psych ward. You keep asking yourself, "How could I, a successful career woman with a wonderful husband and family, be here with all these seriously mentally ill people? Come on, I’m not that sick." But actually, I was very sick.

Eating disorders are real, complex, and potentially life-threatening addictions that can have serious consequences for health, productivity and relationships. They are not a fad, phase or lifestyle choice.

When I was released from Weill Cornell two months later, I weighed 100 pounds with 20 more still to go. I was in an out-patient program for several months thereafter to reach my desired weight of 120 pounds.

Religion may be a miracle drug: Column

POLICING THE USA: A look at race, justice, media

I’m in recovery now but I will never, ever be normal around food and eating. Meals, cooking, going to grocery stores, eating at restaurants, and going to weddings, graduations, and other events that include food will always create great anxiety for me. My blood pressure spikes every time I see food, smell food and eat food. My only hope is to manage my addiction through behavior modification tools and techniques, medicines for depression, support networks for keeping me on track and the kindness of people who know how to hold their tongues when it comes to fat shaming and referring to women on a scale of 1 to 10.

I would prefer that Trump, rather than investing in more casinos and golf courses, think about underwriting an eating disorder clinic in a hospital. He could help fund research on cognitive behavior therapy for anorexia or bulimia, or provide grant money to YMCAs to create eating disorder support networks in their communities, much like they have for diabetes or cancer.

At least he would be doing some good for others, not just himself.

Lisa Gordon-Miller is a public relations professional and an advocate of eating-disorder awareness. This column first appeared in The (Lohud) Journal News.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To submit a letter, comment or column, check our submission guidelines.