Anorexia - One Type of Self-Sacrifice

Reverence for thinness is commonly thought to be a relatively new phenomenon, the product of a culture enjoying plenty with respect to food, one where those who withstand temptation are admired. In contrast, this article views eating disorders as a sociological and cultural phenomenon having roots in the Middle Ages. The main argument developed is that eating disorders result from the culturally determined subjugation of women, who are the majority of its victims.