NPR: Jill Sobule Sings: 'Lucy at the Gym'

Jill Sobule Sings: 'Lucy at the Gym'

Filed under: Music, Video

A new study on eating disorders from the University of Minnesota suggests that a message of moderation may be the key to controlling eating disorders in teens. The study of over 2,500 teens lasted five years and showed that 44 percent of girls and 20 percent of boys had significant weight problems or symptoms of disordered eating. One-fourth of overweight girls reported using extreme measures such as purging, abusing laxatives, diet pills or diuretics.

The study also shows that teasing and pressuring teens about their weight can exacerbate eating problems, contributing to poor self-esteem and body dissatisfaction.

"Lucy at the Gym", a sad but beautiful song by Jill Sobule, tells the story of a woman suffering from exercise anorexia. Sobule performed it in the studio for us last week, and you can watch it here:

Win Rosenfeld

8:19 AM ET | 10-15-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I have found out that the song has been included on many pro-anorexic sites (they exist!) and they think of the song as "thinspiration". Amazing.

Is it conceited (a word from my 7th grade)to comment on your own performance?

Sent by jill sobule | 3:35 PM ET | 10-15-2007

I think that it's totally awesome that you commented on your own performance -- it was pretty awesome, so it's so okay to be a little conceited!

Sent by Matt Martinez | 7:00 PM ET | 10-15-2007

This song really gets to me. When Lucy gets to heaven, I swear I get tears in my eyes every time I hear the song...and I've heard it many, many times. Jill is so talented and smart she can be as conceited as she wants and I'll still love her.

Sent by Richard Rivera | 9:47 PM ET | 10-31-2007

As someone posting who suffers from an eating disorder I would like to say that it is a very touching piece of work. It isn't that often that someone can pin-point something about an eating disorder so perfectly like this song as done.

Sent by lisa | 2:55 AM ET | 11-29-2007

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