Thin

If you're someone who has (or suspects you have) an eating disorder, then I would certainly recommend that you give "Thin" a serious view.

This documentary certainly does open one's eye to how really critical this problem is in the USA, alone. It's estimated that eating disorders affect millions (especially teen-aged girls) all across the American nation, and beyond.

The one thing that I found to be on the somewhat ironic side of "Thin" was that a number of the employees (both men and women) who worked at the Renfrew Center (where a good portion of this documentary was filmed) were, indeed, grossly overweight. This, in turn, showed yet another form of eating disorder and greatly contrasted the super-thin look of the patients who were in residence there.

All-in-all - I found a good part of this documentary to be on the depressing side, and so, in the long run, I wasn't able to fully appreciate the grave message that it was trying to deliver.

Lauren Greenfield's documentary gave a great view inside of eating disorder treatment facilities, and the lives of the people who need them. Although it did not inform the audience of how eating disorders develop, or how the main subjects got to Renfrew, the treatment facility that the film focuses on, that somehow aided Greenfield in eliminating any bias that may have come out if it had been directed by by someone else. Greenfield also opts to not use any voice overs, and she only interviews the patients, if anyone. I thought this was especially bold, allowing for the footage of the patients lives in the center to speak for themselves, as opposed to swaying the audience's view through a voice over.

After watching this film, however, I have started to question the validity of other eating disorder facilities; do they all treat patients like this, having extreme eating regimens and rules for everything? The scene that moved me the most was when the staff accused one of the patients, Shelly, of hiding food. They questioned her to the point of tears and interrogation, showing her that they had no trust in her. Even after the film revealed that the food was hidden by another patient, the staff members that had accused her were slow to apologize. That type of treatment can be extremely deteriorating to a patient with an eating disorder; they should be in a trusting and encouraging environment that promotes a positive body image, not a place where all of their control is taken away and they are treated like children.

Overall, I am extremely thankful to Lauren Greenfield for making this documentary. It was very helpful for me to learn what it is actually like to have an eating disorder without all of the glamor that morphs it on the internet. It was stark to the point of disgust towards the disorders, persuading me and anyone else, including those who are recovering from anorexia or bulimia, to avoid that type of lifestyle. I recommend this film to anyone who has access to it. Whether or not someone has any interest it watching it, Thin will have an impact on everyone.

In the USA, today, it is estimated that there are close to 5 million adults (most of them young and most of them females) who are dealing, in one way or another, with a serious eating disorder, particularly that of anorexia. It is also noted that (due to this illness) many have literally starved themselves to death.

If you happen to be a hearty eater and have no problem about putting on a few extra pounds, then you may find it somewhat difficult to relate to the eating disorders that plague these women (whose ages ranged from 15 to 30) in this documentary. But, all the same, these eating disorders are very real and clearly pose a threat to the health (both physical and mental) of many, many people, the world over.

Personally, I found "Thin" to be such a depressing experience as I watched these women face their eating disorders on a day-to-day basis that, before long, I began to feel somewhat uncomfortable about being witness to their distress, their frustrations and their tears.

Please, don't get me wrong here - I don't, in any way, belittle or undermine the grave seriousness of eating disorders, but (being an outsider to this dysfunctional behaviour), in the end, I could only rank this documentary with an "average", 2.5-star rating.

This documentary has opened my eyes, if you are even slightly interested in the way these people live their lives and what are their problems, this documentary will help you get in their world for an hour or two. To everyone who thinks you can be addicted and mentally ruined by drugs only, this is the movie for you to be proven wrong!

This movie is very truthful. I would recommend everyone to see it especially younger women and girls. Im overweight myself but do not feel the same way some of these girls do. It is amazing to see how obsessive they are and the lengths they will go to..... It made a very strong impression on me and my friends. It is weird how far these women and girls will go to just to see themselves as thin. My friends are skinny at 110 pounds but some of these women reach 30 pounds lighter than that. I think some parents have a lot to do with the problems. The movie shows that. People can influence you in a good way or a bad way. In this movie there are even cliques. Its like high school in a hospital.