Thin Commandments

By Angie Best-Boss, Contributing Writer

The Thin Commandments were originally written by Carolyn Costin, MA, MEd, MFT, for people with eating disorders. They are tongue-in-cheek commandments that aren't meant to be followed but to illustrate beliefs that lead people astray.

Thin Commandments:

1. If you aren't thin, you aren't attractive.
2. Being thin is more important than being healthy.
3. You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, and do anything to make yourself look thinner.
4. Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty.
5. Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing oneself afterwards.
6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.
7. What the scale says is the most important thing.
8. Losing weight is good/ gaining weight is bad.
9. You can never be too thin.
10. Being thin and not eating are signs of true will power and success.
11. If you are thin, you will be loved and accepted

In the US there are an estimated 10 million female sufferers plus one million men. The thin commandments have been appropriated by numerous pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites, which also have articles about the 'Joys of Anorexia', 'The beauty of Bulimia', how to 'teach one another how to play the dangerous game', and how to figure out the minimum number of calories you need each day to stay alive.

Find a Treatment Facility Near You

Click on a state below to find eating disorder treatment options that could be right for you.

Select a State Below