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Essay / The Thin documentary: Television and social media
In the United States, an estimated five million people suffer from eating disorders, and as many as one in seven anorexic women will die from them.1 The Thin documentary is a documentary about four women suffering from anorexia or bulimia. The documentary takes place at the Renfrew Center residential facility in Coconut Creek, Florida. Alisa, Brittany, Polly and Shelly's emotional journey through the eating disorder facility is shown. This documentary gives us an insight into the daily treatment these women receive and their personal experiences. From early morning weigh-ins, individual and group therapy sessions, emotional meals, relationship with food, interpersonal relationships with Renfrew staff, and relationships with family members and other women in the establishment. Through their journey with an eating disorder, we get to see women struggle while receiving treatment, and we see that some women will do anything to get better, and others relapse and sabotage their lives.