Tracey Gold's Eating Disorder Reality Show Starving Secrets Causing Controversy

Following in the footsteps of other reality recovery programs like Celebrity Rehab, former child star and anorexic Tracey Gold is hosting the Lifetime series Starving Secrets.

The show documents the lives of 10 women between the ages of 19 and 43 as they battle devastating eating disorder's like anorexia and bulimia.

However, the show has only premiered one episode last Friday and is already causing controversy!

The CEO of the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) has slammed the show for "putting people who are ill on television", explaining:

"We do not support putting people who are ill on television. I really don't think it's going to be easy for people to be honest in their treatment, their thoughts, their counseling [while on camera]."

Others are calling the series exploitative, while marketing itself as educational, as one eating disorder advocate explained:

"What is notably missing…is the absence of real information about what causes, and what treats, an eating disorder. This information is what would make this show go from exhibitionism to educational, and it fails."

The host and former Growing Pains star, who very publicly battled her eating disorder, is optimistic about the show and told sources:

"It’s not an easy show to watch, but it’s riveting and it really lets you know what it’s like."

Check out the first episode here and let us know if you think the show is taking advantage of suffering women or utilizing their stories to raise awareness for their disorder.

Tags: anorexia, awareness, bulimia, celebrity rehab, eating disorder, education, lifetime, tracey gold