French Model Isabelle Caro: Dead at 28 in France

French model Isabelle Caro, 28, who bravely posed for an ad campaign to bring awareness to the dangers of anorexia during fashion week in Italy in 2007, died November 17 in France following a 15-year battle with the disease.

The ad depicted a painfully emaciated Caro who weighed all of 60 pounds looking over her shoulder. The words, "No. Anorexia." across the top of the image.

A photo of the billboard can be found at CBS News.

According to VH1, in 2007 Cara told CBS News she did the ad because if she "can put my years of suffering to good use then it will not have been pointless ... I know it's a shocking photo, and I want it to shock. It's really a warning that it is a serious illness."

Cara was concerned "pro-ana's," as they are called because they are pro-anorexia, would somehow misinterpret the message.

Most fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women.

The affects on the body in those who suffer from anorexia go deeper than just being super thin:

Physically, anorexics will begin to see their hair thinning and becoming dull. Their skin becomes dry, and they will either have irregular menstrual periods or their periods will completely stop. Anorexia causes heart problems that could lead to heart attack and osteoporosis.

Anorexia also causes a psychological toll. Anorexics become withdrawn or isolated, depressed, and suffer from anxiety which increases their risk for suicide.

Approximately 8 million Americans have a form of eating disorder. One in 200 women in this country are anorexic. An estimated 10 - 15 percent of all sufferers of anorexia are male.

Why Anorexia?

Anorexics believe they need to lose weight even when those around them tell them otherwise. They restrict what they eat and are very aware of fat grams and calories.

Signs of Anorexia:

Excessive dieting, compulsive exercising, self-starvation, and the loss of 15 percent of normal body weight characterize anorexia. He or she may say they are "full" when in reality they have eaten very little. They may only eat food like plain salads, cereal, vegetables, or bagels.

Another sign of anorexia is that your loved one may begin wearing multiple layers of clothing in order to stay warm (they are generally colder than others) and to hide their body.

Anorexia Death Rate:

Twenty-percent of those with anorexia will die from complications of their eating disorder. Recovery happens in just 30 to 40 percent of all cases.

The Cost of Treating Anorexia Is Too High for Most to Seek Treatment:

The cost of treating anorexia usually keeps suffers from seeking help and treatment or they are released too soon. Just one in 10 sufferers receive treatment. The average outpatient treatment can total more than $100,000 while inpatient treatment can easily top $30,000 a month with a minimum of a three months stay. Unfortunately, health insurance companies do not generally cover the cost of treating eating disorders.

Isabelle Caro worked as a judge on "France's Next Top Model" and had been featured on the second episode of Jessica Simpson's VH1 reality series, "The Price of Beauty." Simpson was moved to tears as Caro described how, at just 13, she was told she needed to lose weight even though she weighed just 89 pounds. It was at this time she became anorexic.

Sources:
Eating Disorder Survivor
Isabelle Caro, Anorexic French Model, is Dead at 28 - Celebrity Circuit - CBS News
Anorexic French Model Isabelle Caro Dead | News | VH1.com
Eating Disorder Statistics: Statistics relating to Anorexia Nervosa, Bullima Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder - Columbus Park Collaborative