How Celebrity Body Talk Impacts People Struggling with Eating Disorders

When Ariana Grande debuted the "Petal" video, many online commentators seized on her appearance as proof of an eating disorder, igniting a heated debate about body commentary. Dr. Rebecca Boswell, who leads the eating-disorder program at Penn Medicine Princeton’s Center for Eating Disorders, says such media coverage can exacerbate the struggles of people with eating disorders, reminding them of past bullying and making recovery harder.

She stresses that thinness does not automatically indicate poor health and that only medical professionals can assess nutritional status. While public expressions of concern may sometimes alert a celebrity’s team to a problem, they also generate click-bait and reinforce invasive scrutiny of women’s bodies. Boswell recommends that discussions about a celebrity’s weight be kept private and focus on observable behaviors, not appearance, and that parents use these moments to talk about body diversity and personal feelings.