Chapter 9, Worshiping the Gods of Thinness Summary and Analysis

In this chapter, Dr. Pipher discusses the increase in eating disorders among adolescent girls. She starts by introducing Heidi, a sixteen-year-old bulimic gymnast. Heidi describes weekly weigh-ins where the young gymnasts count each other's ribs. As she explains, "If they are hard to count, we're in trouble". Girls like Heidi are at high-risk for developing disorders since their identity is based on being thin. Many models, gymnasts, dancers, and actresses begin dieting in order to be successful, but soon their bulimic behaviors become addictive. They binge and purge to relieve stress and feel in control. Dr. Pipher says that Heidi will have to acknowledge that her perfectionism is damaging both her physical and emotional health. She will have to strive to be just ordinary, not perfect. She needs to give herself...