Title: Dangerous “Stomach Bug” Jokes Harmful for Those with Eating Disorders
By Erica Mones
As someone who has personally struggled with an eating disorder, I am all too familiar with the range of social media posts about eating disorders that vary from mildly distasteful to completely offensive.
One common trend I’ve noticed is the use of jokes about the stomach flu to connect with people who want to lose weight or those who try to sell weight loss products. However, what many fail to realize is that the stomach flu, food poisoning, and gastrointestinal issues are no laughing matter, especially for individuals who live with bulimia nervosa.
Bulimia involves self-induced vomiting, which can lead to severe consequences such as dehydration, seizures, irregular heartbeats, and even sudden heart attacks. Therefore, making “flu jokes” to promote weight loss is not only irresponsible but also exploitative.
A recent Facebook post caught my attention, which said, “I mean, I could just rock this stomach bug forever and never worry about putting the weight back on. But if you are interested in a less virus-ey way to get the body and life you want, and think you could eat all the food posted below in a day, reach out.” The writer then proceeds to promote her multi-level marketing (MLM) business selling “diet” foods. This sort of humor not only perpetuates the idea that vomiting is an acceptable tool for weight loss but also glamorizes and trivializes the dangerous behaviors associated with bulimia.
While it is important not to stigmatize eating disorder behaviors or those who struggle with them, it is equally crucial not to glamorize or joke about these behaviors. Bulimia can be deadly, and even when it isn’t fatal, it can systematically destroy lives.
During the height of my own bulimia, my life spiraled out of control. Eating disorders are isolating illnesses that caused me to skip my college classes and withdraw from my friends. I felt as though I was living a double life, projecting a seemingly successful exterior while secretly battling with self-hatred, fear, and the hope that someone would uncover my secret.
In my disorder, I purged even when I didn’t want to. I believed that any food intake would make me gain weight, equating weight gain with losing control of my life. It became a daily routine, and my fear of gaining weight was ultimately a fear of failure, as I used food and weight control as a means to prevent myself from pursuing anything else.
At the peak of my illness, a dietitian at my treatment center told me that my body was breaking itself down. Although I appeared to be within a “healthy weight” range, my life revolved entirely around food—avoiding it, eating it, tracking it, vomiting it, and burning it off. While my friends were embarking on internships and finding significant others, I was too ill to hold down a job or be in a healthy relationship.
Therefore, it deeply troubles me when I hear jokes like Emily Blunt’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada” saying she’s “one stomach flu away from her goal weight.” It not only hits too close to home for me, but it also perpetuates the dangerous notion that vomiting can be a temporary solution for weight loss.
Recovering from an eating disorder is already a challenging journey, particularly in a society that celebrates weight loss and normalizes disordered behavior. However, we can begin to make progress by retiring these harmful “vomiting” jokes and recognizing the impact our words can have on others.
If you or a loved one are struggling with disordered eating, please consider contacting the National Eating Disorder Helpline’s toll-free phone number at 1-800-931-2237.
About the Author:
Erica Mones is a writer who focuses on mental health. Her work has been featured in notable publications such as Yahoo, POPSUGAR, Well+Good, and The Progressive.