Tracey Gold Puts Anorexia In The Spotlight

INFDaily.com

Starving Secrets Will Offer Golden Advice

As nerdy Carol Seaver in 1980s hit sitcom Growing Pains, Tracey Gold was sent over the edge by the scripted fat jokes aimed at her 16-year-old character -- and thus began her lifelong battle with anorexia.

She told Daily Beast earlier this month that she blames the show's plot lines, which poked fun at her teenage weight, for her bad body image. "It was really hurting my feelings... If you're making fun of Carol Seaver's body, you're making fun of Tracey's body," she said.

Read: Portia DeGeneres: Being Gay Led To My Anorexia

The star admitted that she was so ill as a young adult -- reaching  a rock bottom weight of just 80lbs -- that the disorder could have killed her. “There was almost like a secret and a shame to it,” Gold said of anorexia on today's Good Morning America.  “It really became obvious that so many people over the years had been coming to me and almost pulling me into a corner and talking to me.”

Now, twenty years removed from the disease, and considering herself what she deems “recovered,” Gold is putting the eating disorder squarely back into focus with Starving Secrets, a controversial new reality show premiering Dec. 2 on Lifestyle.

Read: Michaele Salahi Denies Anorexia Bashes

“I wanted to shine a light on it,” Gold said of why she agreed to host the six-episode show, which follows 10 women, ages 19 to 43, through eight months of treatment.  “I wanted to show people what it’s really like and also deglamorize it.”

To Gold, each time she helps someone, it strengthens her; although she did find some moments in filming to be very emotional. "You have the power," Gold tells a young woman in one clip, as she wipes tears from her face.

Read: 'Drunkorexia' Finds College Women Skipping Food For Booze

The unscripted reality show, makes for raw, hard-hitting viewing, however, as stated by the network, Gold is able "to reach [the women] in ways no one else can." Evetually, Gold hopes to include male sufferers in another series.

Will you tune in to watch this intense program?