Parents' Guide to

What's Eating You

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Gritty, up-close docu about overcoming eating disorders.

TV E! Reality TV 2010
What's Eating You Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 10+

Based on 2 parent reviews

stars_shining4u
stars_shining4u Adult
November 4, 2010
age 16+
This show brings to the surface deadly disorders that America is afraid to address. I applaud the media for tackling these eating disorders especially on a very popular network. It is also great at showing us how someone got an eating disorder. How it comes from some sort of hurt with the persons interpersonal life especially occurring at a young age. This show may be uncomfortable for a parent to watch if they have an eating disorder and doesn't want to tell their spouse or significant other or is still hiding it from their child. So, make sure if you watch this show with your 16 year old that you are comfortable talking to them about this subject. From experience the people in the show are very accurately depicted with their struggles.

This title has:

Great messages
qau ni
qau ni Parent of 17-year-old
October 16, 2010
age 3+
its allrite

This title has:

Too much swearing
Great messages
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

WHAT'S EATING YOU is a six-part documentary that follows adults trying to save themselves from life-threatening eating disorders. Cameras follow men and women who are battling medical conditions ranging from anorexia nervosa and bulimia to lesser known obsessive food rituals and compulsions. With the help of therapists, medical doctors, and dieticians, they attempt to confront their disorder, rebuild their relationship with food, and work towards living a longer and healthier life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

The series offers viewers a gritty look into the worlds of people trapped by their dysfunctional relationship with food and eating. It also offers a chance to learn more about eating disorders and who develops them. The experts on the show underscore the fact that an eating disorder is a symptom of a larger problem, and that a person cannot be successful in treating it if they are not willing to confront the problem.

The series is a little voyeuristic, and scenes of people taking large amounts of laxatives, struggling to swallow small bits of food, and compulsively eating things like chalk and toilet paper, are often difficult to watch. But they are offered as a way of providing insight into what these people are going through, and are accompanied by important messages about recovery. Given all of this, viewers may be left wondering why this reality-doc is being aired on a network known for promoting idealized celebrity images that some would say contribute to the distorted way some people feel about their bodies.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about eating disorders. What causes the onset of an eating disorder? What's the difference between a compulsion and a disorder? How does the media contribute to a person's relationship with food and/or his/her body image?

  • Talk about who gets eating disorders. Do girls develop eating disorders more than boys do? Kids: If you suspect that you or someone you know has an eating disorder, what should you do? Parents: how can you help your kids develop and maintain a positive body image?

  • Talk about the people in this series. Why do you think they agreed to appear on the show? Do you think they are being exploited, or are they helping others by sharing their stories?

TV Details

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