Is Anorexia Contagious?

"Are A-list stars catching anorexia from each other? Could you?" asks the June 2000 issue of Glamour. The accompanying article (glibly titled "Hollywood Starve Wars") points out that ever since Calista Flockhart became thin, her Ally McBeal costars have each dropped a dress size or four. And as our celebrity-deifying culture looks toward these women as role models, experts fear that more young women will develop eating disorders. It's an informative look at an important topic, and writer Megan McCafferty uses none of the ol' "maybe they're naturally pencil-thin" rhetoric.

"If your posse is bent on fat-bashing, seek out new friends interested in nonbody issues, like politics or pets," McCafferty advises. Seems like Glamour's moving in the right direction (especially with their fashion pages of real-women models). But it's hard to digest their advice when an earlier teaser tells of an "exclusive special section" coming in the next issue. The topic? Yep, you've got it: "Does this make me look fat?" Along with slenderizing fashion looks, Glamour will tell readers how to "hide whatever you hate!"

Hmm. Did somebody miss the contradicting content, or is this just another instance of love-yourself-but-love-Gwyneth-more lip service? With these extreme messages, it isn't clear which one Glamour subscribes to. --Annie Tomlin