It wasn’t meant to be entirely surprising? Just to contrast the apparent effects of decreased caloric intake vs binge/purge behaviors.
Extreme skinniness is a result of long-term and consistent anorexic behavior. However, if a larger person starts acting anorexic (ie significantly and intentionally undereating), they may encounter health problems from malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, etc before becoming clinically underweight.
It wasn’t meant to be entirely surprising? Just to contrast the apparent effects of decreased caloric intake vs binge/purge behaviors.
Extreme skinniness is a result of long-term and consistent anorexic behavior. However, if a larger person starts acting anorexic (ie significantly and intentionally undereating), they may encounter health problems from malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, etc before becoming clinically underweight.
You can even have clinically significant symptoms of starvation while obese.
http://web.archive.org/web/20230131185217/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/18/magazine/anorexia-obesity-eating-disorder.html