'Eating disorders are NOT choices!' Young bulimia sufferer hits out at The View hosts over their 'insensitive' jokes about which eating disorder was the 'better' one to have

• The co-hosts of the show, including Michelle Collins and Joy Behar made light of eating disorders during their November 19 appearance
• Rebecca Hoffman, 20, a student of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, wrote an open letter to the hosts following the comments
• The Long Island, New York native, who has suffered from bulimia from age 13, singled out each of the hosts for their part in the jokes

By Valerie Siebert For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:13 EST, 22 November 2015 | Updated: 19:00 EST, 22 November 2015

A young woman who is recovering from bulimia has written a scathing letter to the hosts of The View after they controversially joked about eating disorders.  

During an episode of the show on November 19, hosts Joy Behar, Michelle Collins, Paula Faris, Candace Campbell Bure and Whoopi Goldberg were discussing eating habits when they moved onto the subject of eating disorders, debating among themselves whether anorexia or bulimia would be 'better' to have. The hosts apologized later for their comments, but not before incensing a good amount of their viewers, including 20-year-old Rebecca Hoffman from Long Island, New York, who put down her feelings in an open letter for The Mighty. 

'Dear Joy, Michelle, Candace, Paula and Whoopi,' Rebecca, a student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, began her letter. 'I love The View. If you walk into my house at 11, chances are my mom and grandma are watching ABC. In a world where women’s voices are stymied and silenced, it’s wonderful to see intelligent women share their opinions on important topics.'

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Causing offense: The hosts of The View (l-r) Whoopi Goldberg, Michelle Collins, Joy Behar, Candace Campbell Bure and Paula Faris, have come under fire after joking about which is the 'better' eating disorder on the show

Young voice: 20-year-old Rebecca Hoffman wrote an eloquent open letter to the women, lamenting how 'eating disorders are consistently portrayed as vain lifestyle choices, even though they’re not'

However, she added: 'That’s why hearing your jokes about anorexia and bulimia made me so upset.' 

The joke in question began when 34-year-old Michelle made reference to Donald Trump's recent weight loss, noting that the Presidential campaigning has been 'good to him'.

'It's the weight loss. His hair's looking great. But he says that it's all the chatting... Why am I not getting thin? I do this every day and I've not lost a pound,' she joked. 

That conversation led the ladies into discussing their own eating habits, with Joy poking fun at Paula for 'eating all the time' and adding that she is able to do so while staying skinny. 'That's why we hate her!' said Joy.

In defense of herself, Paula said that she is 'thin' and 'not skinny' because, she added, 'there's a difference'.

After debating the health differences between thin and skinny, the women turned to the topic of eating disorders, with Joy telling the audience: 'We were just discussing whether it's better to become bulimic or anorexic backstage. What do you girls think?' 

Bringing it up: The joke began with the women talking about Donald Trump's weight loss before moving on to a debate of 'skinny' versus 'thin' and then talking about eating disorders

Saving face: After Paula and Michelle's debate, Candace piped in to say, 'I don't want to make light of anyone that has [an eating disorder],' but then added, 'I think I can joke about it because I've been there'

'Definitely bulimic,' stated Michelle confidently. 'You get to enjoy the meal.' She then singled out audience members off screen, adding: 'She's nodding. We have two bulimics here. They agree.'

Candace interjected saying that 'while this is in jest, as someone that has dealt with an eating disorder, I don't want to make light of anyone that has it,' but then added: 'I think I can joke about it because I've been there'.

Recovering: Rebecca has struggled with bulimia since she was just 13

As one of the viewers of the show that day, young Rebecca was severely disappointed. She, like Full House alumni Candace and thousands of others, has suffered from bulimia herself since the age of 13, and is even involved with Embody Carolina, a student organization that raises eating disorder awareness on her university's campus. 

'I know you said you were joking and (briefly) mentioned eating disorders are illnesses, and while I commend you for letting the audience know eating disorders are indeed illnesses, joking about them does not reduce the stigma surrounding them,' wrote Rebecca. 

Rebecca also singled out the participating hosts involved in the joke, stating to Joy, who posed the initial question, that: 'Eating disorders are consistently portrayed as vain lifestyle choices, even though they’re not. Let me repeat that: eating disorders are choices. No one “chooses” between anorexia and bulimia.'

To Michelle, who so emphatically claimed she would rather have bulimia, Rebecca explained how bulimia is typified by binge eating which 'is not a “meal,” and it’s absolutely not enjoyable'. 

She added: 'It can be cathartic or anxiolytic but never enjoyable. Eating to the point where you feel like your body is going to explode and feeling as though you physically cannot stop yourself is incredibly scary.'

Then Rebecca moved onto Candace, who has openly spoken of her battles with the eating disorder she developed in her 20s, but who now seemed to be claiming she is allowed to make light of it. 

First, Rebecca wrote that she understands the idea of using humor to deal with the problem, but then added that she realized after joking about her own struggle that: 'I was communicating to other people it was OK for them to joke about it too.'

The student went on to criticize the hosts for putting emphasis on body shapes and for debating over the words 'thin' and 'skinny' when they should realize that: 'there’s no one way to look “healthy”'.

Missed the mark: To 73-year-old Joy who claimed that she would rather have bulimia, Rebecca emphasized, that 'no one “chooses” between anorexia and bulimia'

Not immune: Rebecca also wrote that while she understands Cameron's use of humor to talk about her eating disorder, she was 'communicating to other people it was OK for them to joke about it too'

The hosts apologized for the comments soon after they were made, anticipating the backlash that was coming.

'We keep getting into trouble on this show. We upset some people. We understand that bulimia is a serious illness,' said Joy. 'We're just trying to have some fun over here. So, you know…and then I got a text from my accountant saying, "Don't worry, Joy. Your IRA is in tact, Signed, Bernie Madoff." So, there you have it.'

Whoopi added: 'As Candace pointed out, she knows what this is like. We know. We understand. And, of course, we never want to offend anybody.'

Rebecca finished her letter by asking the women to show their viewers that they care by using inclusive language and speaking about disorders 'respectfully and responsibly'.

'I know you never had the intention of hurting people with your words, and I appreciate the apology you all gave,' she said. 'However, having good intentions does not excuse a negative impact.' 

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