Thin Documentary Where Are They Now? Latest Updates
by Janani | Updated Apr 06, 2023
Thin Documentary
Thin is a documentary film released in 2006, directed by Lauren Greenfield and distributed by HBO. It was shot at The Renfrew Center of Florida, which is a residential treatment center with 40 beds catering to women with eating disorders and is renowned as one of the leading inpatient eating disorder centers in the United States. The documentary focuses on the struggles of four women suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other eating disorders, as they try to overcome their illnesses and achieve recovery. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and later became available to the general public on November 14, 2006, on HBO.
Thin Documentary Where Are They Now?
1) Alisa Williams
Alisa Williams, a 30-year-old mother of two who went through a divorce, attributes her eating disorder to being put on a diet by a pediatrician at the age of 7. She had severe issues with binge/purge sessions, which led to dehydration and hospitalizations due to the excessive use of diuretics, hydrochlorothiazide, laxatives, enemas, and ipecac. Prior to joining Renfrew, Alisa's calorie intake was restricted to under 200 calories a day, and she had been admitted to the hospital five times in three months.
Alisa initially responds well to Renfrew, and toward the end of her stay, she expresses a desire to recover. However, after being discharged, she struggles to eat a meal with her children and Shelly at a restaurant, and later is shown purging repeatedly in her bathroom, agitated and pacing around her home. The epilogue reveals that she lost 20 pounds, attempted suicide, and returned to Renfrew for treatment, eventually maintaining a healthy weight.
2) Brittany Robinson
Brittany Robinson, then a 15-year-old student, was admitted to Renfrew due to liver damage, hair loss, and low heart rate. She had lost 88 pounds in less than a year and weighed only 97 pounds. Brittany had a history of compulsive overeating since the age of 8, leading to anorexia and compulsive dieting from the age of 12. She attributes her motivation to lose weight to a "bad body image" and a desire for acceptance among her peers.
3) Shelly Guillory
Shelly Guillory, a psychiatric nurse appears at the beginning of the film with a PEG feeding tube inserted in her stomach. She had been hospitalized ten times before seeking treatment at Renfrew. Upon arrival, Shelly's weight is 84.3 pounds, having struggled with anorexia for six years, and relying on tube feeding for five of those years. Interestingly, Shelly has an identical twin sister named Kelly, who does not suffer from an eating disorder.
According to the addendum, Shelly lost an additional 17 pounds after her discharge and underwent electroconvulsive therapy to treat her depression. Shelly shares her dependence on different mood stabilizers and tranquilizers, leading to volatile mood swings throughout the film. When falsely accused of purging and pulse deficits, which are linked to stolen food, Shelly becomes very angry and aggressive.
4) Polly Ann Williams
Polly Ann Williams, also known as Pollack, has been a patient at Renfrew for nine weeks. She checked herself in after attempting suicide over two slices of pizza, citing that while they were not the sole reason, they were the final straw. Polly admits to having struggled with dieting since the age of 11, obsessively counting calories and fat. During her time at Renfrew, she turns 30 and appears to be making progress with her anorexia, although she has difficulty following some of the rules.
However, Polly is eventually expelled from Renfrew after being caught getting a tattoo of the NEDA symbol on her hip while on a day pass from the Center, and for giving mood stabilizers to Shelly. Shelly later informed staff that Polly had given her Neurontin after pills were found in her room during a routine check for contraband. Polly becomes visibly upset upon being given a 24-hour notice to leave and is shown purging on camera. The epilogue reveals that Polly continued to struggle with purging and weight loss after leaving Renfrew. Unfortunately, she ultimately passed away in February 2008 at the age of 33.
Thin Documentary Where Are They Now Brittany
Throughout the film, Brittany shows resistance to recovery, stating that she would like to lose "another forty pounds" and is determined to be thin. Brittany's mother also has an eating disorder, and they would engage in "chew and spit" behavior, chewing candy and spitting it out without swallowing. Brittany's insurance benefits run out, and she is forced to leave treatment early. Before leaving, she relapses into anorexia and is released against medical advice. The epilogue reveals that she began to restrict her food intake after discharge and lost weight rapidly. However, insurance would not pay for further treatment.
Thin Documentary Where Are They Now - FAQs
Thin is a 2006 cinéma vérité documentary film.
Lauren Greenfield directed Thin.
Shelly Guillory, Brittany Robinson, Alisa Williams, and Polly Williams were the main casts of directed Thin.
Thin was released on November 14, 2006.
Thin was released in English.