'To The Bone' A Bone-Chilling Tale

Much like 13 Reasons Why before it, To The Bone, the latest film to hit Netflix, is causing significant concern.

The film is loosely based on writer-director Marti Noxon's experiences with eating disorders - specifically, anorexia and bulimia - and star Lily Collins, who herself struggled with eating disorders, plays Ellen, a 20-something who is about to enter her fifth treatment center for eating disorders. Much has been made of the film and rightfully so. It is a significant challenge to discuss any mental health disorder on film, whether it's in a television series or a movie, and when we're discussing the mental health disorder with the highest mortality rate, there's a sharper lens put on every frame of film.

It does not help one iota that star Collins, whose work has been widely praised in the film, is drawing criticism for her comments about losing weight once again for a film role in order to portray someone with disordered eating habits.

"There was never any time limit, there was never a (weight) number, (but) I didn’t want to get to the end of this experience and feel like I didn’t access what I needed to portray Ellen," Collins reportedly said.

She was under the supervision of several key individuals, including her own mother, in order to ensure her personal safety - particularly given her past with disordered eating habits - during her efforts to get as thin as Ellen got in To The Bone. The problem now is, sites and Twitter feeds such as ProAnaChat, a Twitter feed devoted to those who find eating disorders #thinspirational, are turning to To The Bone for inspiration about how thin to get.

Project Heal, the non-profit eating disorder prevention organization that consulted on the film, noted that they neither condoned nor supported Collins' decision to lose weight for her role in To The Bone.

“We in no way intend to endorse the idea that people with anorexia nervosa can lose weight safely," representatives from the organization said. "This was a creative decision on the filmmakers’ part, and filming was completed before Project HEAL got involved in the film. There is strong research showing that getting into a state of negative energy balance and/or losing weight can make people who have struggled with anorexia nervosa much more prone to a relapse. The weight loss aspect is not something that Project HEAL supports.”

While the filmmakers admitted that there were some special effects and prosthetics used in the film to "enhance" Collins' anorexic appearance, there are those who struggle with eating disorders that are already not happy that a film of this nature was even made in the first place.

Author Dana Schwartz tweeted that, "I trust the intentions of everyone involved, but when I was anorexic I would've 100% watched "To The Bone" to see how skinny I should get."

Twitter user Naomi wrote, "Wealthy white girls aren't the only ones with Eating Disorders, they're just the only ones who can afford treatment. #tothebone #nothanks 😒"

While reviews have been positive about the film, with several sites saying that the film does an excellent job shedding light on the dangers and the realities of eating disorders, it's still incredibly important to consider that as with any mental health disorder, everyone's response is going to be slightly different to a film like To The Bone. Tread wisely; if it is a film that will possibly trigger a relapse because of the emotional headspace you might be in, avoid seeing the movie altogether. If you are in a good space, watch it, but perhaps watch with someone who can support you throughout. Learning about eating disorders can be hard enough; viewing a young woman's struggles through disordered eating recovery might be incredibly overwhelming. If you choose to watch To The Bone, do so with the support of those you trust and love throughout the experience.

Eating Disorder Hope also has a list of a wide range of meetings that could be available to those who might need or want online - or face to face - support. Check it out at www.eatingdisorderhope.com.