Movies about feeding and eating disorders - Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straightforward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

Click to see the Ultimate List of Mental Health Movies index

What are Feeding and Eating disorders?

There are times that you refuse to eat, perhaps because you have acid reflux, you're not feeling hungry, you feel upset, or you're too busy to eat on time. At other times, you eat the wrong things or more than you should. Neither of these scenarios, by themselves, indicates an eating disorder. Eating disorders are complex phenomena characterized by a severely destructive relationship with food that permeates throughout the psychology and lives of those affected. In eating disorders, out of control eating (or not eating) rituals, attempts to control, and obsessive food or body-related thoughts dominate people lives.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are the most well-known eating disorders. There are others. The DSM-5 (psychiatries most widely know diagnostic manual) describes them using the following criteria. These are abridged and included for educational purposes…

Not interested in the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders? Scroll down to go straight to the movies.

Note: Diagnosis requires the condition to be sufficiently severe to warrant additional clinical attention.

Pica: 307.52 (F98.3 [children] F50.8 [adults])

A. Persistent eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances over a period of at least 1 month (e.g. dirt, clay, and flaking paint).

B. The eating of nonnutritive, nonfood substances is inappropriate to the developmental level of the individual.

C. The eating behaviour is not part of a culturally supported or socially normative practice.

Rumination Disorder 307.53 (F98.21):

A. Repeated regurgitation of food over a period of at least 1 month. Regurgitated food may be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out.

B. The repeated regurgitation is not attributable to an associated gastrointestinal or other medical condition.

C. The eating disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, or avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder 307.59 (F50.8):

A. An eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food; concern about aversive consequences of eating) as manifested by persistent failure to meet appropriate nutritional and/or energy needs associated with one (or more) of the following:

1. Significant weight loss (or failure to achieve expected weight gain or faltering growth in children).

2. Significant nutritional deficiency.

3. Dependence on enteral feeding or oral nutritional supplements.

4. Marked interference with psychosocial functioning.

Anorexia Nervosa:

A. Restriction of energy initial weight in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health. Significantly low weight is defined as a weight that is less than minimally normal or, for children and adolescents, less than that minimally expected.

B. Intense fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat, or persistent behaviour that interferes with weight gain, even though at a significantly low weight.

C. Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.

Bulimia Nervosa:

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterised by both of the following:

1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.

2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviours in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.

C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviours both occur, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.

E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.

Binge-Eating Disorder 307.51 (F50.8):

A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterised by both of the following:

1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances.

2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).

B. The binge-eating episodes are associated with three (or more) of the following:

1. Eating much more rapidly than normal.

2. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full.

3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry.

4. Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating.

5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward.

C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present.

D. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months.

E. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappropriate compensatory behaviour as in bulimia nen/osa and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.

Movies about Feeding and Eating disorders

If we missed an essential film about feeding and eating disorders, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

Movie Title: Starved

Release: 2005

Rate: 7.8

Cast: Eric Schaeffer, Laura Benanti, Sterling K. Brown

Storyline: A humorous look at an eating disorder support group.

Movie Title: Physical (TV Series)

Release: 2021

Rate: 7.3

Cast: Rose Byrne, Rory Scovel, Dierdre Friel

Storyline: "Physical" is based on Weisman's personal experience with an eating disorder and, as seen in season two, the difficult process of recovery.

Movie Title: Bad Habits

Release: 2007

Rate: 6.7

Cast: Ximena Ayala, Alma Sofía Martínez, Marco Treviño

Storyline: Intertwining stories of abuse, adultery, and anorexia center around a Mexico City family with an obsessed mother.

Movie Title: The Whale - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2020

Rate: 7.7

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins

Storyline: An English teacher struggles with disordered eating following the death of his partner. He uses binge eating to cope with his impending death as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter.

Movie Title: Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Release: 1997

Rate: 5.6

Cast: Swoosie Kurtz, Courtney Peldon, John Ashton

Storyline: The film depicted the unavoidable eating disorders, injuries, and demanding parents that skaters and gymnasts face.

Movie Title: In the Mirror Dimly - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rate: 6.0

Cast: Holly Burgess, Dennis Lawrence, Ed Sparks

Storyline: Nicole, a teenager, fights with her mother and discards all of her father's letters. Eating disorder takes over her life after her mother sends her to live with her father.

Movie Title: Feed - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2017

Rate: 6.0

Cast: Troian Bellisario, Tom Felton, Ben Winchell

Storyline: A single mother fights to save her teen daughter from developing anorexia after making a weight-loss pact with a classmate who suffers from bulimia.

Movie Title: A Secret Between Friends: A Moment of Truth Movie

Release: 1996

Rate: 6.3

Cast: Lynda Carter, Katie Wright, Marley Shelton

Storyline: A single mother fights to save her teen daughter from developing anorexia after making a weight-loss pact with a classmate who suffers from bulimia.

Movie Title: Binge

Release: 2016

Rate: 9.0

Cast: Yuri Baranovsky, Daniela DiIorio, Kim Fitzgerald

Storyline: Angela, a bulimic disaster, enrolls in eating disorder rehab, where she must juggle her failing pastry store, a romance with her therapist, and a cast of weird food abusers, all while trying not to vomit.

Movie Title: The Wonder

Release: 2022

Rate: 6.6

Cast: Florence Pugh, Tom Burke, Kíla Lord Cassidy

Storyline: Lib Wright, an English nurse, is responsible for Anna, a young child who hasn't eaten in four months. Anna believes that she only gets food from heaven, and Lib suffers as she watches Anna's health deteriorate as she refuses to eat as penance for sin.

Movie Title: To the Bone

Release: 2017

Rate: 6.8

Cast: Rebekah Kennedy, Lily Collins, Dana L. Wilson

Storyline: A young woman who suffers from an eating disorder meets a doctor who challenges her to face her condition.

Movie Title: The Best Little Girl in the World - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1981

Rate: 6.5

Cast: Charles Durning, Eva Marie Saint, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Storyline: A girl who is ignored by her parents wants to be a ballet dancer but she needs to lose weight. After starving herself, she develops an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa.

Movie Title: Kate's Secret - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1986

Rate: 7.1

Cast: Meredith Baxter, Ben Masters, Georgann Johnson

Storyline: A wife who seems to live a perfect life had been secretly struggling and suffering from an eating disorder called bulimia nervosa.

Movie Title: The Karen Carpenter Story - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1989

Rate: 6.9

Cast: Cynthia Gibb, Mitchell Anderson, Peter Michael Goetz

Storyline: The ups and downs of the famous singer, Karen Carpenter, who struggles with eating disorders called anorexia and bulimia.

Movie Title: Life is Sweet - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1990

Rate: 7.5

Cast: Alison Steadman, Jim Broadbent, Claire Skinner

Storyline: Struggling with bulimia, an eating disorder, Nicola almost starved to death. She binges on foods then forces herself to vomit (purge).

Movie Title: For the Love of Nancy - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1994

Rate: 6.5

Cast: Tracey Gold, Jill Clayburgh, Cameron Bancroft

Storyline: Based on a true story, a lady is obsessed with her physical appearance and conscious about her weight. She struggles with an eating disorder.

Movie Title: 301 302 (South Korean) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1995

Rate: 6.6

Cast: Eun-jin Pang, Sin-Hye Hwang, Chu-Ryun Kim

Storyline: Two girls who live in the same apartment building deliver foods cooked by the chef to a writer who struggles with an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa.

Movie Title: Dying to Be Perfect: The Ellen Hart Pena Story

Release: 1996

Rated: 5.4

Cast: Crystal Bernard, Esai Morales, Casey Sander

Storyline: Bulimia and anorexia are eating disorders that threaten a runner's relationship with Denver's mayor and her dream of competing in the Olympics.

Movie Title: Perfect body - Watch now on Prime

Release: 1997

Rate: 6.3

Cast: Amy Jo Johnson, Brett Cullen, Wendie Malick

Storyline: When a coach keeps on pressuring a gymnast to lose weight, she starves herself which led to an eating disorder.

Movie Title: Sharing the Secret - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2000

Rate: 6.6

Cast: Mare Winningham, Alison Lohman, Lawrence Monoson

Storyline: When her parents got divorced, a teenager struggles with an eating disorder called bulimia. She binges on food to gain control once in her life.

Movie Title: Dying to Dance

Release: 2001

Rate: 6.3

Cast: Mary-Margaret Humes, Kimberly McCullough, Natalija Nogulich

Storyline: A ballerina who has been overwhelmed by everything around her develops an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa.

Movie Title: Love on a Diet (Also Japanese) - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2001

Rate: 6.6

Cast: Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Rikiya Kurokawa

Storyline: A romantic comedy movie about a girl who is suffering from depression , low-esteem, and binge eating disorder because of a failed relationship. After attempting suicide, she meets Fatso who helps her to get back on track.

Movie Title: Hunger Point - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2003

Rate: 5.9

Cast: Barbara Hershey, Christina Hendricks, Susan May Pratt

Storyline: A frustrated mother with two daughters who forces them to follow a strict diet and regimen that causes one to be interned with an eating disorder and the other one to rebel.

Movie Title: Thin - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2006

Rate: 7.6

Cast: Shelly Guillory, Brittany Robinson, Alisa Williams

Storyline: A documentary film about four women having treatment for eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa.

Movie Title: To Be Fat Like Me - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rate: 5.9

Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Melissa Halstrom, Michael Phenicie

Storyline: A teenager from a family with an eating disorder is physically fit but pretends to be overweight. She believes overweight people use their weight as an excuse. She tries to prove that personality can outshine physical appearance.

Movie Title: Starving in Suburbia - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rate: 6.3

Cast: Laura Wiggins, Isabella Miko, Callie Thorne

Storyline: A teenage dancer visited a website that promotes thinness and an eating disorder called anorexia as a life choice. Her obsession has fully taken hold of her but her family tries to save her.

Movie Title: God Help the Girl - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rate: 6.4

Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray

Storyline: A girl escapes from the psychiatric hospital where she is treated for anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder. She meets new friends and pursues her dream of becoming a musician.

Movie Title: The Road Within - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2014

Rate: 7

Cast: Zoe Kravitz, Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel

Storyline: In a behavioural facility, Vincent who has Tourette syndrome meets Alex who has Obsessive-compulsive disorder and Marie who has an eating disorder called anorexia. The three went on a road trip to fulfil Vincent's wish to scatter his deceased mother's ashes.

Movie Title: NOVA: Dying to Be Thin - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2000

Rated: 7.3

Cast: Susan Saradon

Storyline: A documentary about experts' analysis on eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and the nation's perspective of a perfect body.

Movie Title: My Skinny Sister - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2015

Rate: 7

Cast: Rebeka Josephson, Amy Diamond Henrik Norlén

Storyline: Stella who's in the adolescence stage admires her elder sister Katja. She later discovers her sister's secret - her eating disorder.

References and Links

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

More on feeding and eating disorders: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/feeding-and-eating-disorders/

What is anorexia nervosa?: https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia

What is bulimia nervosa? https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615#:~:text=Bulimia%20(boo%2DLEE%2Dme,calories%20in%20an%20unhealthy%20way.

Eating disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_disorder

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi