The 'fat activist' with anorexia: 25st influencer who starves herself reveals how plus-size people struggle to get help for eating disorders
The 'fat activist' with anorexia: 25st influencer who starves herself reveals how plus-size people struggle to get help for eating disorders
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A self-described 'fat activist' has opened up about her struggle to access treatment for an eating disorder in a candid new documentary. Aubrey Gordon, 41, who lives in Oregon, admits she's resisted seeking medical treatment for symptoms of anorexia, for fear that doctors will undermine her condition. She has previously spoken about weighing 350lbs - the equivalent of 25st.
![[Once the writer behind the anonymous blog , Your Fat Friend, Aubrey is also known for penning two books on 'anti-fat bias' and for cohosting the podcast Maintenance Phase, which 'debunks the junk science behind health fads']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/14/94597819-14332981-image-a-18_1738075274995.jpg)
The writer behind the anonymous blog, Your Fat Friend, which became a viral sensation, Aubrey is also known for her two books on 'anti-fat bias' and for co-hosting the podcast Maintenance Phase, which 'debunks the junk science behind health fads'. In Storyville - Your Fat Friend, which airs tonight, at 10pm, Aubrey speaks candidly about her struggle with symptoms of anorexia - admitting that on 'many days' she goes without eating for most the day.
![[Backlash: While Tess has received an outpouring of support, she said she has also had people with anorexia accuse her of 'lying' because she's not underweight]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/16/42660094-14332981-Backlash_While_Tess_has_received_an_outpouring_of_support_she_sa-m-2_1738081677627.jpg)
'I am a person with an eating disorder,' she confessed in the documentary, alluding to having 'atypical anorexia', a condition whereby people exhibit symptoms of the disease, but don't have a low BMI. 'Many days, I would make it the whole day without eating and then feel a real crushing sense of failure when I had to eat something,' she said.
![[Aubrey pictured going grocery shopping. She described how she'd been shamed previously for buying fruit because it's too sugary]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/14/94597881-14332981-image-a-21_1738075298464.jpg)
Despite this, Aubrey said she has avoided discussing her condition with anyone, fearing ridicule from medical professionals. 'I know how many fat people go in to seek treatment for an eating disorder and get told they don't look like they've missed a meal in a while. Or get laughed at by healthcare staff,' she said.
![[Having struggled with her weight from a young age, Aubrey had begun attending children's weight loss programmes and day fat camps but the age of just 11]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/28/14/94593791-14332981-image-a-22_1738075306864.jpg)
