18-year-old Mary-Kate Olsen was discharged from a health-care facility on Friday after undergoing six weeks of treatment for an undisclosed illness. Though not confirmed, it is rumored that she suffers from anorexia. Ms. Olsen, who, with her sister Ashley, has achieved fame and fortune as the 'wilder' of the two Olsen twins, was reported to have gained a bit of weight during her stay at the unnamed facility. Prior to her confinement, and, despite have lost a considerable amount of weight, Ms. Olsen denied the allegations that she had a problem; even going as far as mocking herself during a sketch on Satruday Night Live in May.

The twins, who are planning to attend New York University in the fall, have been performing since they were babies. They grew up on TV, first appearing on Full House in 1987 at 9 months. The girls have been on a fast track ever since, appearing on numerous TV specials, magazine covers and a number of feature films including this spring’s box office flop, “New York Minute.” Prior to her hospitalization, Mary-Kate and Ashley were scheduled to travel to Europe to promote this film, the DVD version of which is due out in August. The trip has been cancelled. Their 'Got Milk?' campaign was also temporarily shelved.

Mary-Kate and Ashley have also spawned a huge industry, with sales of assorted twin-related merchandise projected to sell $1 billion this year alone.

According to some estimates, one percent of females in the U.S. will develop anorexia. And, although it is more common among women, men can also be afflicted. This disease, formally known as Anorexia Nervosa, is characterized by self-starvation that leads to extreme weight loss. A typical sufferer feels that, no matter how thin he or she becomes, they are still overweight. Anorexics often combine starvation with excessive exercise in order to lose what they perceive to be excess weight. The patient must learn to rethink his or her self-image.

This disease can lead to death as evidenced in the case of Karen Carpenter, a popular singer who died in 1983. Permanent physical damage can also occur, including infertility and bone density loss. Treatment involves intense psychological counseling as well as a gradual increase in caloric intake geared toward slowing increasing the patient’s weight.

Specialists in the field have expressed hope that all the publicity surrounding Mary-Kate’s treatment will bring this disease to the attention of the general public. Teenage girls are especially prone to eating disorders and parents must be aware of early signs when treatment can be most successful.