Karen Carpenter, an American musician, was one of the all time great musical sensations of the 70s. On the stage she was glamorous, famous and loved by the crowd. But amidst all this fame and fortune, Karen Carpenter was suffering from an eating disorder not uncommon among the American population. Though the disorder was not rare, it was rarely talked about and most people at that time had never heard of the term Anorexia Nervosa. The death of Karen Carpenter in 1983 was an eye opener, to millions of people the world over, to this life threatening disease.

Karen was "a chubby teenager" and genetically, she wasn't meant to be skinny. Sadly, for this singer, the only body that she would stand to have was a thin one. The dieting began in 1967 when Karen's doctor put her on a water diet, bringing her weight down from 140 lbs to 120, and further down to 80 lbs in 1975. She used to take dozens of thyroid pills a day, and throwing up the little food that she ate. Karen's body was so weak that she was forced to lie down between shows, and the audience was gasping at her body as she walked on stage. One day in Las Vegas, Karen collapsed on stage while singing "Top of the World". The audience and her family were taken by surprise. In the hospital, it was reported that Karen was 35 lbs underweight. Then only did Karen Carpenter realize that she had a serious problem. After that, Karen consulted with medical professionals and therapists, and eventually began to believe that she was normal. But, in reality, her body was still suffering from the lack of food, the over dosages of laxatives, the lack of sleep, and the anxiety. And when she finally died in 1983, it was a shock to many people who believed that she had been cured.

It’s already over 25 years since the death of Karen Carpenter, but many more are still suffering from this devastating disease. Karen Carpenter can be seen as the great surge of awareness to the millions of people who suffer from this life threatening disease of anorexia. Her struggle with anorexia has opened the eyes of many to the danger of eating disorders.