Movie/TV Show Being Reviewed:
Kate's Secret

Reviewer:
Sara Simpson and Jane Myers

Genre:
Drama

Movies/TV Shows:
Movie

Suggested Age Range:
Parental Guidance

Age Range Explained:
Appropriate for adolescents and adults, but all content may not be appropriate for children

Subject Headings:
Body image, Eating disorders, Female lifespan development, Family dynamics

Review:
This film portrays a young wife’s struggle with bulimia nervosa. Married to a successful lawyer, Kate appears to have an "ideal" life. Her compulsion to binge and purge multiple times a week has been kept secret from her family, along with her unhealthy use of exercise to address her compulsive desire to be thin. She begins to question her lifestyle when her daughter starts to watch her calories and exercise excessively. When Kate's health fails and she is admitted into an Eating Disorders inpatient unit, her family learns the truth about her illness and Kate begins the process of healing.

Both young adult or adult clients who are struggling with eating disorders, particularly Bulimia Nervosa, would benefit from viewing this movie to gain a better understanding of how the disorder develops and the impact of societal messages to be thin. They could identify with Kate's shame and embarrassment, her struggle to keep her disorder a secret from others, her fear of asking for help, her ambivalence about receiving treatment, and the challenge of letting go of her illness. Prominent issues include body image, perfectionism, pleasing others, asking for help, dealing with pain, and struggles with identity. Both clients and counselors could view this film to gain a better understanding of the development, progression, and treatment of eating disorders, and the potential for healthy recovery. The film may be especially useful with groups of clients dealing with eating disorders. Clients who are in denial or who have not begun the healing process should have a counselor available to discuss their reactions.