Friday, March 02, 2007

How Old Are You?

Kind of an odd question, I know. But, as I'm thinking about developing this project, which involves marketing the book, one question that arises is the age of my target reading audience. I'm trying, therefore, to get a sense of to whom my writing may appeal--women in their teens, 20s, 30's, 40's 50's, 60's, beyond?

So, if you don't mind, I'd love to hear how old you are (or in which bracket you fall). If you're not comfortable announcing this in a public forum, feel free to email me. Or, to approach it differently, do you have any idea as to which age brackets this blog/book may most effectively target? I'm curious about how appropriate both the content and writing style are for different age groups.

Thanks!

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm 23, but I struggled with anorexia since I was 17, so your writing would have appealed to me 6 years ago as well. Thank you for what you are doing!

æ said...

Hi DrStacey!
I'm almost 29. Like anonymous, this issue has been with me for a while, since I was about 12, in some form or another. I can see how the notion that any way of controlling food or our bodies is an eating disorder would have been very helpful to me around age 17 and again in my early 20s.

ae

Anonymous said...

I'm 29 and have friends with EDs into and throughout their 30's and 40's.

wife2abadge said...

I'm 42, but my eating issues started when I was about 15, and have been with me off and on ever since.

Anonymous said...

I'm 25 and have been struggling with eating issues since I was 19.

CG said...

23 and I adore your blog.

Kristen said...

Almost 26 here. Have friends in their late 40's who also enjoy your blog.

Michelle said...

I'm 36. Starting binging/purging at 20, recovered at 34. I wasn't interested in reading about recovery, however, until I was in grad school between 27 & 29. I went to counseling before that, but that's cuz I viewed getting help from a professional as "easier" than trying to help myself by myself.

Anonymous said...

qhI'm 18.

Anonymous said...

sensing a trend... I'm 25. ha.

lisa jane said...

Im 25, just:)

Anonymous said...

29!

TrixieBelden said...

Hey there,

I just turned 34 on February 13th. Sometimes I think mentally I am older, but emotionally I'm a 16 year old. Hope this helps! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm 24.

Emily Jolie said...

I'm almost 28, and my food and body image obsession started at age 14 (right around the time I got my first period and my body really started to change). I think your book would appeal to women of all age brackets. As you say, "every woman has an eating disorder!" :)

Stella said...

I'm 26, er 27- I had a b'day back in february. I only recently started writing about my eating disorder, though I have struggled with bulimia and anorexia since I was 18. I relaize now that recovery for me can be helped by professionals, but has to come from me developing a sense of self that is completely centered within myself instead of without. I have to value my body as part of the holy mind, body, spirit trinity that makes up who I am, and recognize my worth and subsequently the importance of health in order to live a long, fulfilling life. I feel most treatments are too clinical and takes the focus of the cause of the disorder and more on treating the symptoms (the behavior). Writing has been intergral in my recovery, and I am discovering my voice through written word. In therapy, I found talking things out to be difficult for me, but my journal was where I could really express myself. It was frustrating to be spending so much money on therapy because when I actually got in the room, I couldn't even began to express the things I was writing in my journal. Thanks for giving us a forum to express oursleves Dr. Stacey.

Anonymous said...

I'm 24, 25 March 17th! Double Wooo!

Anonymous said...

just turned 30!

orchidaceous said...

I am 21, but I'll be 22 Tuesday. I've had a variety of eating disorders since I was 15, and I am in recovery from a relapse back into anorexia. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your blog.

Anonymous said...

30 now.
started dieting at 9.
bulimia 16-23 mixed with periods of starvation, speed & obsessive exercising.

Anonymous said...

I'm 42. I've being seeing a therapist for disordered eating for about 3 years and have made some excellent progress. I don't think that you should limit your book to any particular age group. I see many women my age and older who are still struggling with body image issues and who truly believe that the next diet will work and that they will finally be happy because they are "thin". It is a shame there is so much pain out there.

Boobook said...

I'm ancient! I'm 55, been thinking I was fat since age 10. Now really am fat.

PTC said...

29.

Jen C. said...

I'm 31 and started developing an eating disorder when I was in the 8th grade...not sure what that would've made me...about 13 or 14? It took me until I was 29 to realize I was suffering from something that had a real name attached to it and sought help.

Jenny said...

I'm 35. I don't have an eating disorder but I have at least one friend who does. She's 25. I've been reading this blog to learn more about it; I don't want to risk causing her more pain or making her uncomfortable and you've helped me with that. Also I hope I've gotten better at thinking on how we regard food and how we talk about it, and I can at least try to make the people in my immediate area be a bit considerate, too.

Anonymous said...

I am 30 and have been struggling with bulimia since 17. I wasn't interested in reading about recovery until recently.

Mal said...

I'm 31 and I'd say I've had some sort of eating disorder since I was 8. I'd say I'm in recovery for the past 2 years or so.

Incidentally, I'm also a psychotherapist. Within the next few years I will be applying for a PhD in clinical psych. I love your writing and thoughts on these issues.

Anonymous said...

I'm 26. when I was 6 I was hanging out with my friends and they started to talk about another girl at school. Elaine (my best friend) said "she is totaly fat,I bet she weighs 5 stone"(70lb for you americans) and of couse I weighted 5 stone... and that was he begining of it all

Anonymous said...

21

psychologista said...

I'm 23, been dealing with all this since 17, on and off.

Anonymous said...

"I think your book would appeal to women of all age brackets. As you say, "every woman has an eating disorder!" :)"

What Emily said.

I won't say how old I am - my mom says that a woman who will tell her age will tell state secrets (no I'm not Dr. Rice in disguise) but I will say I went on my first diet when I was 9 (!!), and from what I understand fatphobic parents start their girls on diets much earlier now - and first graders (they are generally 5 and 6) have espoused fears of "getting fat".

Tell your publisher - for I'm sure that's who asked - that this is a book for the MASS MARKET WOMENS' DEMOGRAPHIC. (And mothers can buy two - one for themselves and one for their adolescent daughters.) Then have them come to this page and see.

Kelly said...

30. Been dealing with the body image issues since I was 9 - when I started developing and went from a skinny little girl to a curvy little girl with a few extra pounds.

Anonymous said...

I am currently 17. I had struggled with anorexia when I was 15 and 16. I've become healthier and gained more baggage; going on 6 months now.

Anonymous said...

I am 18 but have been struggling with this since around 13

Anonymous said...

My eating disorder started to develop when I was 15. As a 20-year old college student, I'm now beginning to imbibe the effects of the E.D. Controversial as the title may be, I think it's appeal would draw women from many age groups, especially in the 20s.

lauren said...

Im 29 and have been dealing with this for a long time I just saw your site first time today and I look forward to reading more
Lauren

Anonymous said...

I am 44. Overeating/binges to cope began in highschool. I cannot believe I am STILL dealing with this stuff. I really thought by now I'd be older and wiser.

Anonymous said...

I will be 21 May12

Anonymous said...

I am 21. I am an athlete and suffer from the "Female Athlete Triad".

Recently I relized that it was a nice way for my doctors of saying that I have eating disorder without alarming my parents, or making a big deal to my coaches (he told my parents that I should add a few calories if I felt like it)-

None of them know I eat under 400 calories a day.

Anonymous said...

I'm 15 ((:

ivy said...

Hi, I'm 23, just a couple months shy of 24. I love your blog! It seems like your readers are concentrated in the 20s-30s age range, with a few outliers.

drstaceyny said...

1. Thanks to all who offered up their ages. . . and more.

2. Thanks to cg, kristen (by association), stella, orchidaceous, mal, lauren, and pearl for your support. . . and to all for reading.

3. Happy birthday to all those who celebrated (or will celebrate) in Feb. and March!

Liquorice Torpedoes said...

33 as of last week.

Radioactive Tori said...

I am almost 32. My problems began when I was very young. I can remember being in third grade (maybe younger?) and "forgetting" my lunch so I wouldn't have to eat.

Anonymous said...

23

Anonymous said...

38. My doctor let my mother put me on a diet when I was 8 weeks old.

I have a hormonal disorder, so I hit puberty at age 6. I've been on diets since that time with my involvement (as opposed to having them rammed down my throat). I was hospitalized at age 9 for kidney failure after strictly following Atkins for three weeks.

The moment I could get out of the house at age 16, I haven't looked back. While I struggled with various eating issues throughout my 20s, I haven't owned a scale in the past decade. I am "moderately obese" and I do mostly ok with that. So long as I don't talk to anyone in my family, who are CRAZY obsessed with weight.

I probably wouldn't be the right market for the book, because the truth of its message is simply too obvious for me to spend money on it. ;) But I think that the core of coming to grips with this problem is somewhere in the early to mid 20s.

Anonymous said...

i'm 17

Anonymous said...

I'm 29. I have gained weight, been obese, lost weight, been normal weight, been treated for Binge Eating Disorder...

Anonymous said...

I am almost 22 and have been dealing with compulsive exercise/anorexia since I was 13

zoe said...

Hi,

Thanks for writing such a good weblog! I'm a Dutch 29 year old woman, I have been anorexic/bulimic for 12 years.

The internet is a blessing and a curse for people with EDs, but your blog falls into the first category.

Best wishes,

Jet

Anonymous said...

I'm 31 !

Anonymous said...

42. I struggled with ED symptoms from age 14-early 20's, then LIFE took over (kids, career, etc.) and I became less self absorbed, and didn't really have a problem for a long time.

Now that the kids are older, and my life is more settled, the old demons seem to be returning a bit. I can say that almost all of my friends also deal with weight issues. I think as women age and put on weight due to a slower metabolism and deal with issues of losing our youth/prospect of death... it combines to make our weight "control" seem more important (than it should!).

I agree with many of the previous posters- your book will be one that would appeal to all ages.

Anonymous said...

26 - have lost 5 stone in the last 10 months with bulimia! God knows where it came from - have just arranged my first doc's appointment - so hopefully this will be a short spell and i will make a full recovery!

Fi Fo Fum said...

Me? I'm 22; but your blog would have appealed to me since i've been 14 (when i really started struggling with body image issues)

Laurie Anne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.