Eating disorders are getting much needed public awareness these days. We know much more about the disease thanks to celebrities and models speaking out on their body abuse issues. And great organizations like the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) are pushing local and national Government to provide funding for more research and help to young women struggling.
NEDA, the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), and others are joining forces with the Greek organization Tri Delta in an international 5-day body activism campaign aimed to draw attention to body image issues and the impact of a society that puts increasing pressure on women to be thin. During this 2nd annual event, which is currently running until the 23rd of this week, ‘Fat Talk Free’ week encourages women to take the word ‘fat’ out of their vocabulary. Phrases such as, ‘I can’t wear that, it makes me look fat’ or ‘I feel fat today’ are off limits! (The organization also leads Reflections, a body image education and eating disorders prevention)
If you think that kind of talk is harmless, you are mistaken! Research has shown that fat talk for a mere 3-5 minutes substantially increases body dissatisfaction. With media images and size four models being told they need to lose weight, we need all the positive reinforcement we can get.
I’m quite happy to see that this issue is getting the attention it needs. With more than 10 million women battling an eating disorder (that’s four times the number of women suffering from breast cancer), events such as these should be setting up shop everywhere!
Check out this video of our intern Amber Bela Muse talking with ABC news briefly about overcoming anorexia as a minority.
