Empress Elisabeth of Austria (12/24/1837- 10/12/1898
She was the empress of  Austria and Queen of Hungary. It is speculated that Empress Elizabeth had an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa) and depression. She vigorously ensured that she kept a weight of 50kg for most of her life and engaged in almost complete fasting when she exceeded 50kg, highlighted her slender waist with tight lacing, and was involved in rigorous exercise regimens. She adhered to a diet of milk and eggs and abstained from meat. She substituted meat with the juice of half-raw beefsteaks squeezed into thin soap. She faced various tragedies and challenges in her life. Elizabeth's son, Rudolf, died by suicide. She lost her father, older sister, mother, friend, and younger sister. Strict protocols and political pressures marked her life in her marriage. Her challenges led Empress Elizabeth to withdraw from her court life, incline towards solitude, and engage in extensive traveling and writing.Â
2. Henry VIII (6/28/1491- 01/28/1547)
Henry VIII was the king of England from 4/22/1509 until his death. He was an author and composer. Historians speculate he suffered from a binge eating disorder due to his extravagant buffet and increasing obesity later in life. He suffered from obesity and cardiovascular issues, and experts speculate he had type 2 diabetes due to some symptoms like leg ulcers.Â
3. Mary Stuart (12/8/1542- 02/08/1587)
She was the Queen of Scotland from 1542- 1567. She had an unnamed illness as a teenager, and some now believe it was anorexia nervosa/ chlorosis[1]. Her symptoms were weight loss, uneven appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, pallor, fainting, fits, and breathing difficulties[2]. Historical records and letters describe Mary as increasingly frail and emaciated during her imprisonment. Observers noted her declining physical condition, which some interpret as consistent with severe dietary restrictions. Mary’s reported refusal to eat at times, especially during periods of high stress, could be seen as a sign of anorexia nervosa.
4. Timothy Dwight IV (05/14/1752- 01/11/1817)
A biography of Timothy Dwight IV by a Yale professor describes Timothy Dwight IV's anorexia:
"Dwight considered employment the best antidote to melancholy, and he prided himself on studying fourteen hours a day and sleeping only four hours each night. A couple of years later, he suddenly became concerned that too much food was dulling his mind. He began to reduce his intake to twelve mouthfuls at each meal; after six months of this experiment, he upped the ante, cutting out all meat and eating only vegetables--primarily potatoes. By the summer of 1774, Dwight was down to ninety-five pounds, and his father whisked him home to Northampton, Massachusetts, where he was expected to die. But under the doctor's orders to avoid all study and to drink a bottle of Madeira per day, Dwight slowly regained his health over the next few months"[2].
5. Amy Winehouse (09/14/1983- 07/23/2011)
Amy Winehouse is an American singer and songwriter who has released over 40 tracks. She was nominated for 69 awards and won 26 of them. Amy Winehouse has expressed to have been suffering from self-harm, depression, and eating disorders. A Forensic physician, Dr. Jason Payne-James, has expressed that Winehouse may have been suffering from borderline personality disorder. She dealt with disordered eating from a young age. She used to binge eat and induce vomiting. This is a symptom of Bulimia Nervosa.
References
"Was Mary Queen of Scots anorexic?" Dr. James A McSherry, Scottish Medical Journal, 30 (1985), 243-5. ISSNÂ 0036-9330
Wikipedia contributors. (2024, July 2). History of anorexia nervosa. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_anorexia_nervosa#cite_note-James_A_McSherry_1985-4