I’m not sure why Kate Middleton’s severely underweight appearance is just starting to snowball as a topic now – In my opinion, Kate’s weight has held a steady low since two or so months before the wedding, with her most dramatic weight loss occurring 1-2 months after the engagement announcement. Be as it may, regarding Kate, the media has failed to be accurate yet again, and the matter of the “Disappearing Duchess”, as many are now calling her, deserves some setting straight.
The media is completely idiotic on this issue, and they’ve totally mishandled it. As usual, most publications defend Kate or give ambiguous or moderately favorable opinions, even after stating harsh, unfavorable facts. From what I’ve gathered from a multitude of sources, here are the purported facts: Kate is 5’10; Her pre-engagement weight was about 130 lbs. (~59 kilos) and she wore a size 8 (UK size 10); Additionally, a royal factsheet revealed that at her wedding (and obviously now still), Kate weighed only about 100 lbs. (45.4 kilos) – her wedding gown was a size 2 (UK size 4). As far as opinions go, some publications have gone so far as to bring in “experts” to analyze whether Kate’s weight loss was healthy, she lost the weight too quickly, she has an eating disorder, and this was all caused by stress. The overall conclusions, as you may have guessed, are that Kate’s weight loss was healthy, and that she lost it very slowly, which was healthy as well. Supposedly, her extremely thin appearance isn’t from an eating disorder, because it’s genetic (looking at her mom and sister, who are both slim), and Kate has always been slim – therefore, she is naturally and effortlessly so. Lastly, it’s said that the pressure from the potential millions who would watch her wedding caused her more stress than typical brides, and that drove her weight loss.
First off, people don’t need “expert” opinions to visually identify a person who has a troubled relationship with food and exercise. This is true whether a person is too fat or too thin, and the media insults our intelligence by insinuating that we aren’t able to recognize this type of problem ourselves. That’s just their way of manipulating the obvious truth, because their “experts” aren’t any closer to Kate or her private information than we are. Obviously, Kate has a problem – plain and simple. I don’t take issue with her wanting to drop a little weight before her wedding, as many brides do. What is disturbing though, and what the media has glossed over, is that Kate was very thin before losing any weight – flat abs and everything! She looked healthy, had a fabulous figure, and didn’t need to lose anything to begin with. And when she did lose weight, she wasn’t reasonable: She didn’t stop at 5 lbs.; She didn’t stop at 10 lbs.; She didn’t even stop at 25 lbs.! That is what makes it a problem and unhealthy. The fact that she didn’t (or couldn’t) stop herself at a reasonable weight suggests that Kate no longer has control and that an eating disorder is a likely factor. Also, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator at WebMD.com, into which I put Kate’s height, weight, age, and dress size, Kate is very underweight. People of a healthy weight have BMIs between 18.5 and 24.9, but Kate’s BMI is an alarming 14.3. WebMD’s evaluation for her is that she should “Be Careful”. People don’t just drop that low without being seriously ill somehow, and Kate’s good physical health (aside from the weight) points to a psychological issue (again, possibly an eating disorder) by the process of elimination. But of course, the media, who desperately want to promote both thinness and Kate Middleton, would rather bring in pseudo experts to dance around the issue rather than do the math and bluntly confirm that there’s cause for alarm.
Also, I disagree with “experts” who claim she lost her weight slowly, and therefore healthfully. First of all, no weight loss, no matter how gradual, is healthy when it makes a person look emaciated and have a ridiculously low BMI. I mean, 5’10 and 100 lbs. is healthy? – They’re joking, right? Additionally, those who commented on the length of time she spent losing seemed to count all the months between the engagement announcement and the wedding day or even today. Within those 5 – 6 months, it was said that the 20 lbs. (9 kilos) she lost (inaccurate, because she actually lost 30 (13.6 kilos)) had her losing about a pound per week, which is acceptable by medical standards. But aside from the inaccuracy of weight, the time frame is also inaccurate by my estimation. Several weeks before the engagement was announced, she and William were photographed at a friend’s wedding where Kate looked like her usual, 130 lb. self. A few weeks later at the engagement announcement, she’d already lost a good amount of weight – at least 10 lbs. if you ask me, because any less probably wouldn’t have been very noticeable on a person of her height (See my article “Revealed! Kate Middleton Accurate on Slammed Royal Engagement Coin” to compare her pre and post engagement looks). That alone wasn’t healthy. Then, the first time I saw Kate’s photo after the engagement announcement, I thought her appearance was jarring. There was a photo of her attending another wedding while wearing a black coat (odd for a wedding, so it was highly publicized) where her head started looking too big for her body. Her face was as wide as her waist, and that was while her waist was covered in several layers of clothing, including a jacket. Based on these and other observations, along with the dates of the events I mentioned, I think Kate lost 25-30 lbs. in 2-3 months, and that definitely isn’t healthy.
As for claims that Kate is “naturally thin” based on her history of being thin and the thin appearances of her mother and sister: The claim is rubbish and irrelevant to Kate’s present state. First of all, to suggest that a person is “naturally thin” is to suggest that she makes no effort to remain so, and Kate undoubtedly makes many efforts to be thin. It’s obvious by looking at Kate and her history that she’s always been very sporty and athletic, and she continues to work out strenuously and regularly. That’s great, and she deserves recognition for her active lifestyle and efforts in this day and age… but they’re just that: efforts. I have trouble accepting the claim of “natural” thinness in Kate by the media when it’s clear as day to me that if she didn’t have endless hours to work out and attend to her own wellbeing – if she had an office job perhaps – or any job, be it a corporate one or raising a family, as most women her age are well into, that she’d be working out, skiing, rowing, and playing tennis less and would be plumper than she is. She exercises like crazy, even working out at Princess Diana’s old gym, and plus, she’s on the extreme Dukan Diet which heavily restricts her eating. Her mother is also reportedly on the diet, which can help account for her thinness. Her sister Pippa also appears to do a great deal of exercise, because chiseled arms and legs don’t result from calorie restriction alone. Either way, and whether Kate was “naturally thin” before her engagement or not, there’s nothing natural about Kate’s current appearance. She looks emaciated and has the figure of a 5’10 12 year old boy, which she’s made efforts to attain after looking far more healthy and womanly. And all this while she’s supposed to be trying to provide an heir to the throne – the only “job” the woman has had in years.
Now that the media storm on Kate’s Olsen-Twin-thin appearance has been set straight, stay tuned for the second installment. In Part II, I plan to discuss what her new image represents and how it will affect her new position as an official role model.
© Enclave 24, June 5, 2011
Looking forward to Part 2….
Maybe she doesn’t want to have a baby. All attention would be off her.
Female anorexics can’t have kids. Eggs stop coming out because the body thinks it is starving.
She may not want to share the spotlight with a child.
She wasn’t skinny in college, was she? Is this some horror that’s just showed up?
Would serve the “royals” right, I suppose.
No heir, finally, at least not directly. Would be karma from killing of Princess, should have been queen, Diana.
[...] Middleton’s extreme weight loss and have established and analyzed the cold hard facts (see Part I), it’s time to move on to Part II and discuss what her actions mean for her new status as an [...]
Happy to hear it! I just published it a bit earlier :-)
When she finally passes out at a Royal Gala, or is found upchucking in a Royal
loo, reality will reach the duchess and the media too.
Love it! Not to continue the rhyme but, in that case, I think the media would pass it off as a nasty Royal stomach flu ;-)
“First off, people don’t need “expert” opinions to visually identify a person who has a troubled relationship with food and exercise. This is true whether a person is too fat or too thin, and the media insults our intelligence by insinuating that we aren’t able to recognize this type of problem ourselves.”
Thank you! I am so pissed off by the amount of press calling her ‘slim’ and ‘svelte’ and ‘slender’. She is being praised for this? WTF?? She is anorexic! (If she was in first trimester with really bad morning sickness that might explain it, but that does not seem to be the case.)
I hope she gets help. People who are a couple of pounds overweight generally are not in serious immediate danger. Anorexia is a completely different ball game. Things can spiral out of control quickly and fatally.
I found your blog searching to see if anyone was pointing out the painfully obvious. Hope you keep writing, at least there will be one voice of reason out there.
Thank you for your comment :-D I agree and am also disappointed in the media’s praise toward Kate’s new body. When I saw the photos of her attending a recent gala, I was actually pretty shocked at her hip region and arms in some of them: http://www.popsugar.com/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-Pictures-Ark-Dinner-17813509
But yet again, Kate received mostly rave reviews on her look. I also agree with you that this isn’t from pregnancy. Kate lost her weight before the wedding, so it couldn’t be unless she conceived before it. Also, if she were that terribly sick, I expect she’d be avoiding the limelight (she doesn’t want to be upchucking randomly at these highly publicized events!). Something tells me Kate will have to focus on improving her health and increasing her weight soon. In my opinion, it’s going to be awfully difficult for her to conceive or carry a pregnancy to full term unless she does.
I thought this was a good article. She looks horrifically thin to me. But… do women of that weight and height still menstruate?
When’s the next installment?
Thanks for commenting! I’m not sure whether Kate is fertile at her height and weight, but hopefully if she is able to conceive, she makes getting healthier her first priority. The next installment has already been published :-) It’s right here: http://enclave24.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/kate-middleton-the-duchess-an-anorexic-role-model-part-ii/
Very astute commenatry! I too have wondered why our dieting duchess has not received the same scrutiny that Diana did when she started to really drop the weight. Diana too always had a fabulous body and then an eating disorder took hold and her weight to an incredible low. Many people I’ve spoken with had anticipated a return of maybe 5-10 pounds after the wedding, but such is not the case. I am a Kate Middleton fan, however, her weight loss is alarming! Apparently when Kate and Will come to Canada, they are going to compete against each other in a Dragon Boat Race – it will be intersting to see if she is still the strong, athletic girl from a year ago or now a skinny waif! Iwish her all the best – she has pressures we can’t imagine and I would not want to be in her shoes! Nice writing!
I have no idea where you get your ideas about British dress sizes from. An American size 8 is a UK size 12 not 28 and an American size 2 is a British 6 not 22! Sizes 22 and 28 are worn by obese people and generally sold in shops that specialise in outsize clothing.
Oh wow, you’re right! *how embarrassing!* Thank you for pointing that out! I’ll correct it ASAP. My apologies :-)
I too am wondering why ever media outlet praises her, yet is hungry to jump on celebrities not nearly as skinny as her. I think like when they changed her name to “Catherine”, there is some sort of media ban in place of not saying anything negative about her for a set period of time, It’s just to surreal the way they all gloss over it or praise it.
If I were her, I would be too nervous/anxious, riled up to get any food down if I knew the whole WORLD was watching me and judging every move I make from every angle. I can barely stand when someone tags me a picture on facebook when I have a fat feeling day. I am her exact same age and I can’t imagine growing up in the media-centric society we did, and not having an effect on her brain as well. I feel terrible for her, it will catch up with her. I know I wouldnt be able to eat anything with the anxiety of the world watching me. When it first dawned on me in High School that people see me and judge me based on a instant of how I appear. I didnt eat for almost a year I was so anxious. I don’t see how any happiness could come from the life she chose, once the “aw” and excitement of it all wears off she is going to be very unhappy.
I agree, and what’s happened to her body seems like a clear sign that she’s mentally distressed. You’re definitely right that other celebrities take a lot of heat for being “pin thin,” which Kate has largely eluded. You may be right about a possible media ban too – From what I understand, the Windsors are heavy into public relations and aren’t above media bribes. What’s most important is that the media isn’t just refraining from criticizing her weight (which, if she has an eating disorder, she may not be in full control of), but, as you mentioned, they’re actually praising her looks. At at time like this, that just sends such a terrible message.
Yesterday, I was looking through photos of her appearances in Canada, and I noticed how overwhelming joyous she appeared. However, thinking of the increased pressures and anxieties in her new lifestyle (as you pointed out) makes me wonder what her ear-to-ear smile could be hiding. I think a part of Kate has always adored being in the limelight, and that she is genuinely happy to be the center of attention at the events she attends; but even when a person likes something, there can always be too much of a “good” thing. Not to mention, we have no idea what goes on behind closed doors with her as a new member of that family. Honestly, I don’t think the Royals have her best interests at heart in the least. I think they look at her as human cattle for breeding purposes, a desperate puppet, and a usable public relations tool.
I too am curious to see what happens once the excitement and newness of her royal life fades. At this point, that may be all that’s igniting her enthusiasm despite the negative aspects. I used to see Kate as on top of the world, but now, her position there may be swiftly reversing. We shall see!
Kate Middleton is anorexic no doubt. I weigh 125 lbs at 5 feet 4 inches. At 5ft 10 inches weighing 130 lbs cannot be normal. She looks emaciated every time I look at her and i am left with the uncomfortable observation that she is way too thin for her height. You are right the media is skirting around the issue. Gone are the days when “experts” in the media spoke for us. We can now use blogs and speak truthfully in this case. No amount of spin-doctoring will convince me of what my eyes is showng me to be obvious-kate middleton is anorexic as they come. The next point is the lengths the media goes to convince us that Pippa Middleton is attractive. I always get a huge laugh out of this one, because media people are still caught in the era, where what they thought and said was what the general public followed. No amount of media whoring will make me think that Pippa is less ugly.
Thanks for your comment! Honestly, most of why I started this blog in the first place was to challenge the “spin-doctoring” of Kate’s image. It’s ridiculous, and we’re not blind.
Regarding the neanderthal *cough* I mean Pippa: It’s funny you say that, because I just published a new post where I hit on some of the same points! I’d love for you to take a look at it and let me know what you think! (And yes, “media whore” is definitely the most appropriate term! *lol*)
Here’s the URL: http://www.enclave24.com/2011/07/05/pippa-middleton-being-hot-is-ugly-media-trickery/
130 is even still considered underweight for that height. It is borderline underweight/healthy.
She looks thinner and thinner every time I see her, especially in the pics from the trip to Canada. It makes me cringe. But it also makes me wonder if she is being given amphetamines…obviously we will never know and I HATE to speculate. But as someone who used to have a problem with Adderall (an ADD medicine here in the use, very similar to Ritalin) I do worry that is what is going on. Adderall and similar ADD meds completely take away your appetite so its incredibly easy to lose a lot of weight in a short period of time. It also (at least in the beginning) gives you lots of energy/stamina and makes you feel very euphoric and on top of the world. Lots of celebrities here in the US use/abuse Adderall. I pray that she hasn’t been given anything like it to help her keep up with the demands of royal life.
Thanks for your sharing your insight! Of course, blaming an eating disorder is the most common/natural reaction to seeing someone who looks like Kate; But you’re right to bring up drugs as a possibility. Someone I used to be close with abused Adderall at one time, so I know exactly what you’re talking about. Speaking of stimulant drugs and celebrities, I’d also like to point out how common the use of cocaine is. It too can cause dramatic appetite and weight loss. As you said, we’ll never know; but I don’t doubt for a second that the Windsor clan isn’t as straight-laced behind closed doors as their public image suggests – Kate included.
If she’s trying to conceive, I don’t know what’s worse: an eating disorder, or drug abuse! Regardless, hopefully she smartens up soon and gets some professional help before she irreversibly harms herself – or even worse, an unborn child. I’ve seen the pics from Canada too, and it’s obvious she’s not made any improvement as I think most hoped she would once the wedding stress was over :-/
I don’t even need a BMI calculator to know that 100 lbs at 5’10″ is unhealthy for anyone. It will just be matter of time then the media will praise her for overcoming this disease.
Yes, but unfortunately, there are some people who do! Can you believe the people who think her height-weight ratio is something admirable? You’re probably right about the media… Or it will be something like calling her “Curvy Kate” when she hits 110 lbs. *facepalm* Thanks for commenting! :-D
I think it should be mentioned that muscle weighs more than fat and because Kate is so toned and with no seeming body fat she should weigh more than a non-athletic woman of her height.
Saddened that she is beginning her married life and political job with this additional burden. We are well reminded that people of high station are just that, people. Being under a spotlight and now part of such a dysfunctional family cannot be healthy for any person. I wish her well.
That’s an excellent point, and I hadn’t thought of the athletic vs. non-athletic issue. Yes, hopefully she is able to bounce back, finish adjusting, and get herself to a healthier state again.
Thanks for writing that. It is obvious that Kate is under a lot of pressure, and I agree with you and the post commenters who say that the media’s responses are not only too praiseful, but are also sending the wrong message to readers who see Cathrine as a role model. It doesn’t have to be anorexia or an eating disorder, though: it could be a digestive disorder, such as IBS. Extremely common psycho-somatic disease (one caused by a mixture of psychological and physical reasons), is aggravated by anxiousness, stress, and drastic changes in the life-style which she has no doubt experienced in the last months; and leads not only to weight loss or inability to conceive, but to much worse long term, seemingly disparate problems all over the body and mind. With IBS in particular, one doesn’t have to have a problem with food: no matter how much you eat, the food just doesn’t get to the destination. Or it could be a hormonal problem, or an absorbtion problem (all these are connected).
Actually, I personally don’t think this should be the media’s business or even fans’ business. Yet I know that I was looking for information about Kate when I came across your blog, precisely because I am a fan and I’m concerned about her. I can just hope that she gets support from her family and friends, and that she can rely on good doctors and personal trainers who are working on helping her regain mental and physical balance before long. If the royals don’t know how, or haven’t got the means, to surround themselves with the best doctors and live healthy lives, I don’t know who can!
Wow. Nastiest article ever. Sounds like someone is jealous of Kate!
I don’t agree with you. There are some people who just don’t buy into this media blitz surrounding Kate. She’s a public figure now, a celebrity – and with that comes commentary.
I was reading a biography on Prince Charles and in the book it stated that Camilla’s mother died of osteoporosis and that this was a cause/charity that Camilla is now involved in. One would hope that Camilla will help Kate, because her current weight could cause problems for her in the future (bone health amongst other things). Even Gwyneth Paltrow has had to address that herself when a bone scan revealed she had/has the bones of an elderly woman. This could be scary stuff and not something that weight-bearing exercise can resolve. Being very thin like this can have long-term ramifications.
Thank you, I don’t get it – either! :-) -And well said.
HI, i amvery fascinated by this article b/c i was/am an anorexic my self i weighed at about 80lbs. 5f.3i. and that was extremly low! now at 100lbs. and 5f. 3i. is still notgood enough! Why isn’t anyone actually trying to help her!
I just looked at the photos of Zara’s wedding. The Duchess of Cambridge looks even skinnier. She’s not thin, she looks like someone fresh out of a concentration camp. Her head looks out of proportion to her bony body. And frankly being that underweight does nothing for her facial features and makes her look older. So the dresses look good, and her hair but the rest looks terrible. She looked fabulous before. 130lb is an ideal weight for her. Long legged, slim and athletic with a little curve. She would look much less like a coat hanger carrying a beautiful dress.
Zara on the other hand is heavier but carries it well with her athleticism. Catherine is probably doing a lot of cardio and little “sport”. Her only true job is to produce an “hier and a spare”. She’s 30 years old she better put her normal weight back on and get on with it.
middleton may have a problem, but not as severe as you think. being 5’9 and 100 lbs, i can easily look at her and know for a fact she weighs more than me. id put her at 115ish, and disordered eating rather than a full blown eating disorder.
well Kachi clearly you yourself is living in the concentration camp and needs to get out for a burger , some deep fried chicken, anything to make you less emaciated. Unless I have it all wrong and the fact is you are suffering from some depraved and deprived disease that actually causes you to lose or keep off that massive amount of weight, then its not really your fault. Go ask your doctor to put you on something to correct that.