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Karen Carpenter's struggle with anorexia nervosa
Karen Carpenter passed away at age 32 on February 4, 1983. The cause of death was heart failure — reportedly due to her struggle with anorexia nervosa.
Karen Carpenter, like many who have struggled with eating disorders, died far too soon.
Karen’s silky, velvety voice had captured millions around the world. But as time went on, people began to worry that something was wrong.
Sadly, not only did Karen’s friends and family not know how to help her at the time, healthcare professionals didn’t know what would help her either.
Eating disorders in the 1980s
In the early 1980s, there were many individuals struggling with eating disorders but there was little understanding about how to help people recover.
While Karen was struggling, effective treatments for anorexia and other eating disorders did not exist yet. Brilliant, talented, loving people — like Karen — were dying from illnesses that were (and still are) extremely difficult to treat.
Eating disorder treatment today
Today, eating disorder treatment experts understand so much more about eating disorder causes, health risks, symptoms and treatment options.
Innovative treatment like family-based treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are transforming the way therapists and doctors approach this work.
The stigma of what it means to have an eating disorder is far less than it was in the 1970s and 1980s. But, the stigma still exists. In the general public, few people understand why eating disorders develop — or how to get help — which is why it’s so important to raise awareness. Continue to talk about Karen Carpenter and her illness, a life gone far too soon.
Raising eating disorder awareness
Maria Bruce, Mount St. Joseph University alumnus and voice major, held a tribute concert for Karen Carpenter in 2018. She shared,
“I was a double major in both psychology and music. Putting on this concert combined both of my biggest passions.
As a psych major, I learned about eating disorders in one of my classes. I was so shocked to hear that eating disorders are the least funded mental illness — even though eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental illness.
It seems so unfair that it’s such a struggle to get financial funding or assistance for eating disorder treatment. I know people that are able to get assistance to pay for cancer treatment and other physical illnesses. I wanted to find a way to raise money to help people who are struggling.
I have had friends who have struggled with eating disorders — both in high school and in college. They are often not open about their struggles. At times, people don’t even know that their family members are struggling.
When I realized I wanted to do something to help raise awareness for eating disorders, I talked to a psychologist here at the Mount who specializes in eating disorders. She told me about Eating Recovery Center and the Eating Recovery Foundation.
I had known about Karen Carpenter since I was a child. My parents played her music for me and I always loved her voice. In fact, she has really inspired me as a female vocalist. 2018 was both the 50th year anniversary of the Carpenters as a group — and it was the 35th anniversary of her death. I decided that I wanted to do something — like a charity event — to both raise awareness of eating disorders and pay tribute to Karen Carpenter.
I received so much support for this tribute concert. Everyone in the music and psychology departments were amazing. Professional musicians and one professional vocalist volunteered to perform, and everyone performed without receiving any compensation. I sent a letter to her brother Richard Carpenter to tell him about the event and to invite him to attend. He actually emailed me back. Unfortunately, he couldn’t attend but he did tell me that he was so touched and impressed by this.
After graduation, I’d like to be a music therapist. I really would love to work with people with eating disorders, people with disabilities such as autism, the elderly, and possibly veterans, too.”
Karen Carpenter may be the most well-known celebrity to die of an eating disorder in recent decades. Sadly, she will not be the last person to lose her life with a serious eating disorder.
Today, unlike in the 1980s when Karen Carpenter passed away, help for eating disorders is now widely available. And all people should be able to get the treatment they deserve and need.
About the Eating Recovery Foundation
The Eating Recovery Foundation was established in 2012 as a 501(c)(3) with the following mission:
The Eating Recovery Foundation is a catalyst to change how eating disorders are viewed, treated and prevented. We provide education and prevention programs, support research, and provide resources for those afflicted with, or at risk for eating disorders, as well as their families, caregivers and treating professionals.
Since our inception we have positively impacted thousands of lives through our programs that raise levels of awareness, advance research and provide access to care for those in financial need.
We thank Maria Bruce, Mount St. Joseph University alumnus and voice major for inspiring this piece.