Diana, Princess of Wales, one of the world's most beloved women, suffered from bulimia. It is said to have developed during her unhappy marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales. When she married, Princess Diana was normal weight. By 1987, she was emaciated. She helped women worldwide face their own eating disorders when she publicly discussed her own. At the time of her tragic death in an auto accident in 1997, she seemed to be in recovery.

People admired Diana for her warmth, beauty and devotion to her sons. But most of all, they identified with her exquisite vulnerability.

(See "The Tarnished Crown," Anthony Holden, Random House, 1993)

Jane Fonda, actress, activist, athlete, wife and mother, was one of the first famous women to openly discuss her eating disorder. In the late 1970s, she went public with her "bulimarexia," the binge-and-vomit cycle that nearly ruined her health. Overwhelmed by the the demands of the Hollywood culture, she spent nearly 20 years in the relentless pursuit of thinness. She changed her life by opening her heart and mind to Buddhism, yoga, healthy eating and the relentless pursuit of exercise.
Women all over the world see Jane Fonda as a beacon of light in the eating disorders awareness movement. She is a role model of strength, determination and honesty. "Go for the burn" rings in their ears as they push themselves towards ever-greater physical endurance.

(See "Jane Fonda's Workout Book," Jane Fonda, Simon and Schuster, 1981)

Joan Rivers, commedienne, author, entrepreneur and mother developed "acute onset" bulimia after the tragic suicide of her husband, Edgar Rosenberg. Devasted by the loss, her appetite went into orbit as she launched her gastronomic space program--bags of cookies, whole cakes and ice cream by the gallon. She was so angry and despondent that for a moment she too considered suicide. The love of those around her caused her to take stock. She began to count her blessings, not her losses. She sought counseling. She volunteered to help others. She learned that the long journey back to health begins with small steps. Step-by-step, she recovered.

(See "Bouncing Back," Joan Rivers, Harper Collins, 1966)

next: Reworking the Myth of Personal Incompetence: Group Psychotherapy for Bulimia Nervosa