Why We’re Glad Ke$ha Is Putting Her Health First
Whether you love or hate Ke$ha, she did something truly empowering this past week – she admitted herself into rehab for an eating disorder.
After being bullied online for a picture of her on the beach back on 2011, the singer admitted that her new-found fame after the 2010 release of “Tik-Tok” didn’t completely prepare her for being in the limelight. “With my first record, I didn’t realize how many eyes would be on me,” she admitted in an interview with Metro. On a Facebook post she wrote on Saturday, she said “I’m a crusader for being yourself and loving yourself but I’ve found it hard to practice… I’ll be unavailable for the next 30 days, seeking treatment for my eating disorder … to learn to love myself again. Exactly as I am.”
It’s kind of huge for her to openly admit the issue and take care of it on her own. And her awareness of her situation, as well as her motivation towards improvement, is pretty darn impressive.
There are a ton of factors that go into the development of eating disorders: control, coping skills, personality, past traumas, family issues, as well as genetics. It doesn’t help that the media – for years – has been focused on being thin. While many recent movements have helped open people’s minds that the most beautiful woman is a healthy woman (regardless of her size), tabloids still love to compare the beach bodies of celebrities and poke fun at cellulite. In Ke$ha’s case, it seems like those in her camp have participated in bringing her down further.
According to TMZ, Dr. Luke, the music producer who signed Ke$ha at age 18, reportedly slammed her appearance in a 2012 music video (by comparing her to a refrigerator) and the comments stung pretty deeply. What gives him the right to bash her appearance? What gives anyone the right to bash anyone’s appearance?
It’s amazing the damage that one comment can cause. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, as those who suffer put themselves at risk of heart failure, organ failure, malnutrition or suicide. Up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder, but up to 95% of those who suffer are in the age bracket of 12 and 26. It can happen to anyone.
When we look at Ke$ha, what we should see is a young, beautiful entertainer whose music helps liven up the summer. We shouldn’t be seeking out a number on the scale, or the circumference of her thighs, and it’s painful to think that someone who she put a lot of faith in body-shamed her to the point of illness. Ke$ha, you got this. We’re rooting for you to get healthier and realize that your true supporters love you for you.
No matter what, these disorders will continue to exist. But you can try and help them decrease by being the stronger person – make a pledge to yourself that you’ll never judge someone based on their body. What satisfaction do you truly get by calling someone else fat? What difference does the weight of a celebrity or peer make in your own life? What should matter to you is whether or not they’re healthy, and of course, happy.
If you’re having issues with an eating disorder, it’s never too late or too embarrassing to seek help. You’re beautiful despite what the scale might try to tell you, and you’re worth fighting for. Consider calling the The National Eating Disorders Association at 1-800-931-2237 if you’re looking for support.
