Molly wants to change stereotypes about eating disorders
Eating disorders create an atmosphere of isolation and loneliness for those who suffer from their symptoms, as many of those diagnosed with eating disorders wish to be surrounded by a supportive community.
Molly Smith experienced isolation and loneliness after she was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of fourteen.
Molly is now nineteen years old, and she hopes that her podcast about eating disorders can break down stigma and misconceptions about the disorder.
Molly adds that she wished she had the opportunity to launch this series of podcasts when she was younger.
And she says during her interview with “BBC Newsbeat”: “Since I recovered from the disease, I have been very excited to talk openly about eating disorders; Because when I was in a bad state, I felt that no one could understand me.
So Molly created her own podcast as a voice for people going through similar things.
It’s not just a matter of weight.
Molly, from Cambridge, wants to challenge the notion that eating disorders are purely physical disorders.
She says that if she could listen to a podcast with an ordinary person who went through something similar, it would help her a lot, and it would be better than listening to the opinions of specialists and doctors.
The young woman points out that most people think that it is entirely related to losing weight, but for many people, weight loss is just a side effect of eating disorders.
Rachel Bland co-presents “You, Me and Big C” with Lauren Mahon and Deborah James
Molly’s podcast is titled “Weight: A Diary of an Eating Disorder”, and the podcast presents several topics, including: binge eating and different topics from social media.
It also highlights the importance of the role of families and friends, as Molly does not want the podcast to be for people with eating disorders only, so Molly hosts her family members, and she was astonished to hear how upset she caused her parents during her severe illness, and Molly describes anorexia as a selfish disease Extremely.
Molly’s podcast, produced after winning the Rachael Bland New Podcast Award, was launched in 2019 in honor of BBC presenter Rachael Bland, who died in 2018 of breast cancer.
Rachel Bland co-hosts the award-winning You, Me and the Big C podcast, which has been lauded for its candid treatment of cancer. Winners of the Rachel Bland Award get the opportunity to develop a podcast idea with the BBC.
“Rachel’s podcast was amazing and I learned a lot from her. Her work and her colleagues’ work have inspired me so much and I really hope my podcast reaches the same audience” says Molly.
