Letting Ana Go

Last updated
Letting Ana Go
Letting Ana Go.jpg
First edition
Author Anonymous
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre young adult
coming-of-age
Publisher Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date
2013
ISBN 9781442472235 (hardcover edition)
OCLC 859393680

Letting Ana Go is a 2013 book about a girl suffering from anorexia nervosa, published anonymously with no discernible author. The main character, "Ana", is a sophomore student and athletic track star who keeps a strict food diary and finds herself growing increasingly distant from her own family, while her own mother struggles with newfound morbid obesity and separation from her husband. The book calls into question the mental healthcare system in The United States and the financial cost of such care as a barrier to sufferers of issues like eating disorders. Letting Ana Go was published under various imprints of Simon & Schuster in 2013.

Contents

Plot

An anonymous author, using the name "Ana" as her pseudonym, shares her story of regressing into full-blown anorexia as her parents deal with family dysfunction. Ana's mother constantly expresses a negative self-perception of her own overweight body, while Ana's father has a girlfriend with a skinny waist and large breasts. While Ana's parents are well-off financially, their increasing arguments impact the direction of their spending habits, and they fail to express much love or affection towards Ana; Ana's father presents her with a car as a birthday present, but otherwise does nothing else symbolic for the occasion, leaving Ana feeling alone and unappreciated.

Ana begins keeping a food diary with a friend, wealthy fellow student Jill, and they both try to lose as much weight as possible for their track team, which transmutes into an obsession with getting on a ballet troupe's list and exploring thinspiration websites. This intermingles with Ana's parents breaking up, and her mother constantly buying too-small clothing sizes while trying to fit into them despite her burgeoning obesity. The family's money begins to dwindle, and Ana takes her mother's self-deprecating statements to heart, such as "nothing tastes as good as thin feels", and continues losing weight until she is admitted to a local hospital due to physical health complications. Ana dies as her family cannot afford to send her to a special care facility for minor children suffering from eating disorders, while Jill, whose parents are rich, is able to recover in comfort.

Reception

Letting Ana Go received mixed reviews from critics. Publishers Weekly said of the book, "this harrowing cautionary tale (in the vein of 2012’s Lucy in the Sky) demonstrates the inability of family and friends to rescue a loved one from the disease that has become her “best friend,” as an athletic high school sophomore with a healthy attitude toward food is gradually overtaken by anorexia." [1] Reviewer Andrea of The Overstuffed Bookcase said, "I think that Letting Ana Go is a good book for women (and men, too!) to read to maybe realize what’s going on. It’s set in 2012 and 2013 so it’s completely relatable for teens (they use apps on their phones to track their calories, etc.), so they won’t be thinking it’s something that used to happen. This happens now, every day. And not just to girls, but to boys, too. I’m not sure if this is a true story (I’m assuming it’s not, but it could be), but that’s irrelevant. This is a story that needs to be told over and over again, until we as women break through that box that society has forced us in, and realize that our worth is not determined by our weight." [2] Kirkus Reviews called the book "a disturbing tale that feels meant to titillate rather than caution... anyone familiar with the sensationalist pseudo-diary Go Ask Alice knows it won’t end well for an anonymous (fictitious) teen who chronicles her eating disorder." [3]

Some critics were more positive about the book. For example, Karen Coats, writing for Johns Hopkins University Press, wrote that the book "echoes Go Ask Alice in presentation and appeal, but it's a sounder exploration of its focus problem." [4] Maddie Caso, a journalist for Entity Magazine, said of the book, "The novel isn’t only about eating disorders and anorexia, it touches on divorce, staying in shape, and teenage drinking, concerns that impact a lot of teenagers. "Ana’s" parents got divorced, and she her mom worry over her own weight and stressing about the fact that they got divorced because of her weight. Both "Ana" and Jill are athletes, and there is an inherent pressure on them to stay fit or in shape. The journal so accurately depicts what it’s like living with an eating disorder, the feelings of not being good enough, the lengths people will go to to be beautiful. But the novel also brings up important political discussion around anorexia nervosa: should health insurance cover medical bills incurred because of an eating disorder? When "Ana" is admitted to a hospital for recovery, her insurance won’t cover her stay, negatively impacting her ability to recover from the disease that has so greatly impacted her life. The novel is one of the few to depict eating disorders and the negative impact they have on people’s lives. For those suffering from an eating disorder, the novel’s ending can help give them the push they need to recover, and for those who don’t suffer, it tells the story of those who do and warns people against the dangers associated with eating disorders." [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

An eating disorder is a mental disorder defined by abnormal eating behaviors that negatively affect a person's physical or mental health. Types of eating disorders include binge eating disorder, where the patient eats a large amount in a short period of time; anorexia nervosa, where the person has an intense fear of gaining weight and restricts food or overexercises to manage this fear; bulimia nervosa, where individuals eat a large quantity (binging) then try to rid themselves of the food (purging); pica, where the patient eats non-food items; rumination syndrome, where the patient regurgitates undigested or minimally digested food; avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), where people have a reduced or selective food intake due to some psychological reasons; and a group of other specified feeding or eating disorders. Anxiety disorders, depression and substance abuse are common among people with eating disorders. These disorders do not include obesity. People often experience comorbidity between an eating disorder and OCD. It is estimated 20-60% of patients with an ED have a history of OCD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulimia nervosa</span> Type of eating disorder

Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging or fasting, and excessive concern with body shape and weight. This activity aims to expel the body of calories eaten from the binging phase of the process. Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Purging refers to the attempts to get rid of the food consumed. This may be done by vomiting or taking laxatives.

Promotion of anorexia is the promotion of behaviors related to the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. It is often referred to simply as pro-ana or ana. The lesser-used term pro-mia refers likewise to bulimia nervosa and is sometimes used interchangeably with pro-ana. Pro-ana groups differ widely in their stances. Most claim that they exist mainly as a non-judgmental environment for anorexics; a place to turn to, to discuss their illness, and to support those who choose to enter recovery. Others deny anorexia nervosa is a mental illness and claim instead that it is a lifestyle choice that should be respected by doctors and family.

Anorexia athletica, also referred to as hypergymnasia, is an eating disorder characterized by excessive and compulsive exercise. An athlete with sports anorexia tends to overexercise to give themselves a sense of having control over their body. Most often, people with the disorder tend to feel they have no control over their lives other than their control of food and exercise. In actuality, they have no control; they cannot stop exercising or regulating food intake without feeling guilty. Generally, once the activity is started, it is difficult to stop because the person is seen as being addicted to the method adopted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ana's Song (Open Fire)</span> 1999 single by Silverchair

"Ana's Song (Open Fire)" is a song by the Australian alternative rock band Silverchair. It was released in May 1999 as the second single from their third album, Neon Ballroom. The song is about lead vocalist Daniel Johns' struggle with anorexia nervosa. "Ana's Song" peaked at No. 14 on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart, at No. 12 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and at No. 28 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999, it was nominated for two awards. The track also earned Silverchair a Comet Award in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of anorexia nervosa</span>

The history of anorexia nervosa begins with descriptions of religious fasting dating from the Hellenistic era and continuing into the medieval period. A number of well known historical figures, including Catherine of Siena and Mary, Queen of Scots are believed to have suffered from the condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eating Attitudes Test</span> Questionnaire of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders

The Eating Attitudes Test, created by David Garner, is a widely used 26-item, standardized self-reported questionnaire of symptoms and concerns characteristic of eating disorders. The EAT is useful in assessing "eating disorder risk" in high school, college and other special risk samples such as athletes. EAT has been extremely effective in screening for anorexia nervosa in many populations.

Ellen West (1888–1921) was a patient of Dr. Ludwig Binswanger who had anorexia nervosa. She became a famous example of existential analysis who died by suicide at age 33 by poisoning herself.

Purging disorder is an eating disorder characterized by the DSM-5 as self-induced vomiting, or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas to forcefully evacuate matter from the body. Purging disorder differs from bulimia nervosa (BN) because individuals do not consume a large amount of food before they purge. In current diagnostic systems, purging disorder is a form of other specified feeding or eating disorder. Research indicates that purging disorder, while not rare, is not as commonly found as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. This syndrome is associated with clinically significant levels of distress, and that it appears to be distinct from bulimia nervosa on measures of hunger and ability to control food intake. Some of the signs of purging disorder are frequent trips to the bathroom directly after a meal, frequent use of laxatives, and obsession over one's appearance and weight. Other signs include swollen cheeks, popped blood vessels in the eyes, and clear teeth which are all signs of excessive vomiting.

Wannarexia, or anorexic yearning, is a label applied to someone who claims to have anorexia nervosa, or wishes they did, but does not. These individuals are also called wannarexic, “wanna-be ana” or "anorexic wannabe". The neologism wannarexia is a portmanteau of the latter two terms. It may be used as a pejorative term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anorexia mirabilis</span> Near-starvation religious fasting

Anorexia mirabilis, also known as holy anorexia or inedia prodigiosa or colloquially as fasting girls, is an eating disorder, similar to that of anorexia nervosa, that was common in, but not restricted to, the Middle Ages in Europe, largely affecting Catholic nuns and religious women. Self-starvation was common among religious women, as a way to imitate the suffering of Jesus in his torments during the Passion, as women were largely restricted to causing themselves voluntary pain by fasting, whereas holy men experienced suffering through physical punishment.

<i>The Best Little Girl in the World</i> American TV series or program

The Best Little Girl in the World is a 1981 television film directed by Sam O'Steen and executive produced by Aaron Spelling. The film is based upon the 1979 novel of the same name written by Steven Levenkron.

<i>For the Love of Nancy</i> 1994 American TV series or program

For the Love of Nancy is a 1994 American made-for-television drama film directed by Paul Schneider. The film, based on a true story, deals with anorexia nervosa. Lead actress Tracey Gold was actually recovering from the disease while making the movie and used her own life experience for the portrayal of Nancy.

<i>When Friendship Kills</i> 1996 television film by James A. Contner

When Friendship Kills is a 1996 American made-for-television drama film directed by James A. Contner. The movie is a part of the Moment of Truth franchise and deals with the danger of anorexia nervosa among teens.

Maudsley family therapy also known as family-based treatment or Maudsley approach, is a family therapy for the treatment of anorexia nervosa devised by Christopher Dare and colleagues at the Maudsley Hospital in London. A comparison of family to individual therapy was conducted with eighty anorexia patients. The study showed family therapy to be the more effective approach in patients under 18 and within 3 years of the onset of their illness. Subsequent research confirmed the efficacy of family-based treatment for teens with anorexia nervosa. Family-based treatment has been adapted for bulimia nervosa and showed promising results in a randomized controlled trial comparing it to supportive individual therapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anorexia nervosa</span> Type of eating disorder

Anorexia nervosa (AN), often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by low weight, food restriction, body image disturbance, fear of gaining weight, and an overpowering desire to be thin. Anorexia is a term of Greek origin: an- (ἀν-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis (ὄρεξις, "appetite"), translating literally to "a loss of appetite"; the adjective nervosa indicating the functional and non-organic nature of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa was coined by Gull in 1873 but, despite literal translation, the feeling of hunger is frequently present and the pathological control of this instinct is a source of satisfaction for the patients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kate Tchanturia</span> English psychologist and eating disorders researcher

Kate Tchanturia is a British psychologist who is a professor of psychology in eating disorders at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. She is also Consultant Psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for the National Eating Disorder Service. Her main research interests include cultural differences in illness presentations, cognitive profiles in eating disorders, and experimental work in emotion processing and translational research from experimental findings to real clinical practice. Tchanturia has a particular interest in women’s mental health and has pioneered the PEACE pathway for autism and eating disorder comorbidity.

Body image disturbance (BID) is a common symptom in patients with eating disorders and is characterized by an altered perception of one's own body.

<i>Starving in Suburbia</i> 2014 television drama film

Starving in Suburbia is a 2014 American psychological drama made-for-television film about a high school student and competitive dancer, Hannah, who develops a severe eating disorder after becoming obsessed with a pro-ana forum on Tumblr that promotes self-starvation, as Hannah's family are preoccupied by her wrestler brother's upcoming tournament. The film stars Laura Wiggins, Brendan Meyer, Paula Newsome, Marcus Giamatti, Izabella Miko, Emma Dumont and Callie Thorne. It received mixed reviews from critics, while being noted for addressing two phenomenons previously unaddressed by made-for-television films: pro-ana websites, and anorexia among males.

<i>Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager</i> 2002 young adult novel by Beatrice Sparks

Kim: Empty Inside: The Diary of an Anonymous Teenager is a 2002 young adult psychological coming-of-age novel by Beatrice Sparks, written as the "true" diary of Kim, a teenage gymnast who suffers from anorexia, bulimia and self-deprecating fatphobia in a struggle for self-control. The book was released by Avon and HarperTeen, and received positive reviews from critics. It was Sparks's first published book on the subject of eating disorders.

References

  1. "Letting Ana Go". www.publishersweekly.com. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  2. UNKNOWN, Andrea (14 June 2013). "Review: Letting Ana Go by Anonymous". theoverstuffedbookcase.com. The Overstuffed Bookcase. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. "Letting Ana Go". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  4. Coats, Karen (September 2013). "Letting Ana Go by Anonymous (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; Johns Hopkins University Press. 67 (1). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. Caso, Maddie (6 March 2017). ""Letting Ana Go" : Book Review of Anorexia Survivor". www.entitymag.com. Entity Magazine. Retrieved 13 August 2022.