Lady Gaga's Eating Disorder Confession Kicks Off a Body Revolution

Well done, Gaga.

On Monday I mused over my conflicted feelings toward Mother Monster and her contradictory messages regarding self-acceptance and body image. I just couldn't come to terms with the way she endorsed embracing the "Born This Way" mantra while simultaneously discussing her strict diet and workout regimens. How could she celebrate self-love but engage in the same body dissatisfaction she railed against?

The reason, as many commenters pointed out, is that, well, she's human. In her latest move, Gaga proves that even as a poster child for unconditional confidence, she has ongoing issues that in many ways make her even more worthy of role model status.

On Tuesday, the pop star launched "A Body Revolution 2013" on her Little Monsters site, and in addition to encouraging fans to share their flaws and "inspire bravery," Gaga fessed up about her own continuous battles.

A series of four pictures show Gaga stripped down to her bra and underwear, eyes closed, tattoos blazing, posing in a variety of body-conscious postures. The first caption reads: "Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15" and the next: "But today I join the BODY REVOLUTION."

Pretty powerful.

According to Jezebel and MTV.com, thousands of fans have uploaded their own photos, chronicling their struggles and praising Gaga for her bravery, honesty, and compassion.

And I'd like to join them. People can say what they want about Gaga's shtick seeming manufactured or carefully orchestrated to draw media attention. You know what? It works.

She's an expert at attracting billions of eyeballs to watch her every move. But when everyone's watching her do something this courageous and massively motivating, it just means more men, women and children are finding comfort and solace in a place they once associated only with suffering.

Could Gaga just have a great publicity team behind her? Of course. Does it matter? Not a bit. By putting her own face and body at the forefront of a cause that affects countless others, she's created a safe haven for fans to admit their own struggles and heal their wounds.

So consider me sold, Gaga -- count me in as one more Little Monster dedicated to the Body Revolution.

 

Follow Michelle Konstantinovsky on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MichelleKMedia

Comments

[Fiona Lipshaw]

06:48 AM on 10/03/2012

I think GaGa is great! Although a little freaky at times, she is confident in her own skin whether she is skinnier, or curvier either way she is happy and that is an excellent example to set to influential kids (let's face it her target audience is teenyboppers and young adults)

Good on her!
Fiona,
discover your next favorite bra
www.brayola.com

[rlj13]

01:05 PM on 09/26/2012

Yeah, I applaud her bravery at showing the world her perfect body that we've already seen a million times in "body-conscious positions."

[michelley415]

04:01 PM on 09/26/2012

What looks like a "perfect body" to the outside world is often anything but in the mind someone suffering from an eating disorder.

[Mark Centola]

11:44 AM on 09/26/2012

A strict diet and workout regiment is a good thing...having an eating disorder is not good, but being fat is not good either. I am confused...

[romano70]

12:58 PM on 09/26/2012

Lets put it this way: coming forward with such intimate struggle is always a good thing. It tells millions of girls that its Ok not to be perfect.

[nerdalert67]

12:01 AM on 10/02/2012

Exercising so much that you are at an unhealthy body Body mass index in considered an eating disorder these days. Individuals who constantly work out tend to restrict eating, and exhibit the psychological symptoms of an eating disorder (i.e. fear or gaining weight, and for women-missing your period for a long period of time). It is difficult to see constant exercising and strict dieting as an eating disorder because it is a socially acceptable and even idealized lifestyle (this may very well come from the association you mentioned: being fat is not good) While I am certainly not suggesting that everyone who diets and exercises has an eating disorder, it is possible to develop the psychological and physical symptoms of an eating disorder from exercising. Further, when expanding the definition of an eating disorder to include over exercising, the demographics of eating disorders change such that more males now meet the criteria of eating disorders.

[laurendt]

11:41 AM on 09/26/2012

I'm a little conflicted about this. It seems only now that she's gained a fair amount of weight that she seems to care about the "Body Revolution." When she was thinner she was talking about all the things she did to try and stay skinny. Like some others, she seems to only support the more "normal" standard of beauty when she no longer fits the "ideal."

[Whitrome]

01:58 PM on 09/26/2012

Perhaps you don't understand what it means to have an eating disorder. It has nothing to do with excusing her weight gain-rather, from my point of view, she is explaining her prior struggles.

[Sirrus]

06:57 AM on 09/27/2012

Additionally, I interpreted these antics as a way to implore those struggling to speak about it. Everyone is going to have different interpretations so there's nothing wrong about questioning her motives.

[ThinStead]

11:34 AM on 09/26/2012

I think anyone in the limelight probably has body issues. Being on TV and under close scrutiny puts a lot of pressure on women to actually try to remain under weight. The media puts a lot of pressure on young women as well. I suffered for years with compulsive eating and bingeing behavior. Examining memories and situations from my childhood, as well as what food meant in our family growing up helped. Now I help others release the emotions that are causing their disorders. There is hope. You just have to be willing to do some self reflection and emotional release work. I wish Gaga the best of luck.

[Justice Beaver]

10:33 AM on 09/26/2012

How about that video where she sounds like she's doped out of her skull and says she's like omg a feminist because she buys into the myth that white women are oppressed in western culture?

Yea, this is a bright bulb we're talking about here.

[Sirrus]

07:09 AM on 09/27/2012

Anyone who appreciates the arts or has experienced the bohemian lifestyle may stick their nose up at this whole dope thing. Do you know how many musicians snort cocaine? How many lead singers will you see on stage bump cocaine during a performance?

The difference between Lady Gaga and other artists is that she has activity promoted marijuana. Real artists, [Heck, Marylin Manson for that matter] doesn't need to display drug use on stage in order to create lyrics with any real depth to promote the meaning and messages in his art.

[midnitevow]

10:33 AM on 09/26/2012

With those pictures she challenged her critics, "Here I am; fire away!" while at the same time assuring her fans she has the same insecurities and fears as they do. The controversial and spectacular Gaga aside, those who have followed the Lady for the last three years know she has a great deal of humility and compassion, and certainly wears her heart on her sleeve.

[Marci WarhaftNadler]

09:45 AM on 09/26/2012

Absolutely!
let people question her motivation..at least she's talking about what so many celebrities are dealing with but so few will admit.

I battled severe body image and eating disorder issues for most of my life and now help others avoid the trauma I couldn't. When those of us who've been through it STAND UP and share our experiences, we give other sufferers a safe place to share their own.

You Go, Gaga!

[MeghanButler]

08:40 AM on 09/26/2012

I love how people rag on stars like Nicki Minaj for not being good role models but then when a mega star like Gaga does something like this - which is a great cause - everyone is on her for "trying to make a buck." Can't we all just give her a little credit for using her fame for something that will help many people? It's a no-win society these celebs live in, geesh.

[michelley415]

10:29 PM on 09/25/2012

I don't actually disagree with you that the Gaga Machine is all powerful, but I don't really think it matters. If she helps one person feel comforted, I don't really care if she somehow makes a buck off of it. In terms of encouraging positive body image, I care more about the result than the process behind achieving that result. But that's just my humble opinion.

[jsmithLAHT]

07:14 PM on 09/25/2012

Sell your insecurities to Corporation Gaga! Let your problems with your own body fuel her popularity. Watch the media gush over how kind she is, and how we should all buy her next cd as she displays your images on her personally branded website and program.

[jsmithLAHT]

06:36 PM on 09/25/2012

And hey, it's all Gaga branded! Lend your story of insecurity and pain to help Lady Gaga's career!

[JTD313]

08:57 PM on 09/25/2012

She's trying to help her fans embrace and overcome their insecurities by flaunting her own insecurities; not everything she does is for financial or public gain. She didn't go to the media and exploit this "revolution" of hers for publicity, she shared these pictures and self-acceptance messages on her fan-interactive website. Say what you want about her, but there's no doubt in my mind that she genuinely loves and cares about her fans.