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October 7th, 2011
07:26 AM ET
'Sexy anorexia' Halloween costume controversyIt’s hard to imagine a deadly disorder being translated into a Halloween costume, let alone a sexy Halloween costume. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more inappropriate than sexy Cookie Monster, a costume has come along that reaches a whole new level of just plain wrong. Anna Rexia. The Anna Rexia costume features a black bodysuit style dress with a glittery, silk-screened skeleton print, bone headband, heart name tag, measuring tape ribbon belt, and the most shocking accessory of all - a matching measuring tape choker! We're not sure if the costume manufacturer intended for the choker to be a pun. CNN spoke to Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association, about the controversy surrounding Anna Rexia. Grefe was disturbed to hear that some retailers had actually sold out of the costume, but she's relieved that some stores are not selling it anymore. "I find it just appalling," said Grefe. "Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and to think that someone that understood an eating disorder would actually buy this costume is an outrage." Grefe said that only someone with a "sick mind" would purchase the costume, likening it to dressing up as a war veteran missing arms and legs or someone afflicted with melanoma. "To me they're all the same," said Grefe, who pointed out that anorexia, like melanoma, is not a choice. "Talk about the ultimate in poor taste. That costume represents a sick perspective on this illness." While the costume is still being sold - albeit by scant few vendors - the manufacturer, Dreamgirl, discontinued it a couple of years ago. Anna Rexia was initially designed back in 2007 and Dreamgirl’s director of marketing, Alicia Brockwell, told CNN that the designer is no longer with the company. “We understand that some people will not find the dark humor funny,” said Brockwell. “Or that they are sensitive to the topic it addresses. We don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings and would never want to cause harm to anyone. Dreamgirl is a company run by women for women. Halloween is an eccentric and irreverent holiday for people to express themselves in a myriad of ways. While some people may not like a particular costume - it is a matter of taste and personal discretion.” Grefe said that even if the costume was meant to be a joke, it is no laughing matter. "There is absolutely nothing funny about anorexia," continued Grefe. "If you saw an 8-year-old kid on a feeding tube you'd be surprised. Anorexia is not a choice - at all. The wrong people go on a diet, they lose five pounds but they like it too much and they lose another five pounds and lose all sense of reality." Grefe also pointed out the physical consequences of anorexia. "Eating disorders are mental and the consequences are physical," she said, pointing out that related health issues can include early osteoporosis, kidney failure, digestive system ailments, renal disease, and more. "If you're not feeding yourself, you're not feeding your brain and your body - and your body needs the fuel." Grefe also urges anyone with an eating disorder to dial the helpline at 800-931-2237 or visit www.NationalEatingDisorders.org Multiple costume retailers have pulled the costume from shelves and online stores amid complaints, but several vendors still carry Anna Rexia – one online description of Anna Rexia includes the phrase “You can never be too rich or too thin.” Another online shop’s description reads, "If Anna Rexia doesn't want to put it in her mouth there is nothing you can say to change her mind. You can stop trying to sell her on the point that there aren't any carbs and it's all protein because Anna Rexia just doesn't want anything to do with it. Make no bones about it this girl is as disciplined as they can get. Anna Rexia costume is anything but bare bones! Costume includes headband, choker neckband, removable ‘Anna Rexia’ badge and ribbon tie belt. If you're starving for attention, this costume will be sure to put you on top of the world." As Eve Vawter from XOJane.com puts it, "Yep, you too could have been a sexy girl with a disease with a super high mortality rate for Halloween." What do you think of Anna Rexia? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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This is horrible, and I feel it needs to be publicized on television. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and our society is making fun of it? What's next, a cancer costume??? THIS IS CRAP; this is why people get sued - for stupidity like this.
Its just a costume. They have fat people costumes, obesity is a eating disorder. I almost died from anorexia a couple years ago, and Im not offended.
Although I think it is dumb and would never purchase it, I am not going to be outraged enough to form a campaign and have the costume pulled.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech? Welcome to the dumbing down of America where everything and anything that offends can have a huge lawsuit slapped on it! Yay Idiocracy and PC terminology! grrr
how insulting
Halloween costume controversy ,The Anna Rexia costume features a black bodysuit style dress with a glittery, many companies are manufacturing this types of cloths and really thankfull to this information halloween program is conduct in summer.
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I thought this was very cute i gbouht it for my son when he was a baby for his first Halloween. The fabric is very thin and feels like it could rip easy, the foam peas keep falling off and they kept getting in my sons face the real size of this would be more like 4-6 months way to big for a 0 month old baby. the hat was itchy on my son so we had to put another hat under it. i thought it was cute but i really didn't think it was worth it
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I have an eating disorder but I find this costume humourous. We have costumes for fat people, old people, different races... this isnt an issue. Get real, media. its a COSTUME.
this is so ignorant and disturbing, i have struggled with anorexia for almost half my life and have almost died MANY times. this should not be a joke, did you know that anorexia is one of the highest causes of death for women 12-25. i am hurt majorly by this costume, why the heck would anyone want to be anorexic? it destroys lives both physically and emotionally. why would anyone enjoy starving themselves to death? i HATE that i do it, but its not a choice, its a REAL illness.
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Oh and you forgot to ad the feeding tube up that models nose, self-harm scars, hair-loss wig, pale make-up, blue-lips, red blotchy face (from all the crying of course), hospital identification bracelet, hidden food in pockets, white nail polish to paint spots on your nails, wheelchair to be transported in, and IV needle in the arm.
This costume needs to be banned immediately.
fat people can also look good if they choose dress which suits there body , dress is like a part of your body choose it carefully to look sexy and gracefull.