Eating Disorders Association of NJ
Emaciated celebrities, fad diets splashed on the cover of every magazine and in television commercials-- these are the images that bombard our children every day, setting a dangerous standard of beauty that young women and girls are literally dying to achieve. While Marilyn Monroe may have been a celebrated size-12, girls and young women today are too often driven by a size-zero mentality.
42% of first, second and third grade girls say they would like to be thinner, while 80% of all children have been on a diet before they reach the fourth grade. By adulthood, these alarming statistics rise even higher, with an astounding one in five women estimated to suffer from an eating disorder.
Eating disorders can include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. All disorders share feelings of shame, loss of control, and low self-esteem that is based on a perceived negative body image.
Body image is a complex notion that involves mental, emotional and physical perceptions of one's self and appearance. It can be described as the way you perceive yourself when you look in the mirror, how you picture yourself in your mind, what you believe about your appearance, how you feel about your weight and shape, or how you feel moving in your body. Body image begins to form early in life and is influenced by life experiences, such as the media or behaviors and body attitudes of those around you.
Body dissatisfaction has become pervasive throughout today's society, affecting both children and adults, and is fueled by the unrelenting obsession for thinness that offers false hopes for success, power, self-control, health and happiness. Although negative body image is more prevalent in females than males, men are becoming more vulnerable to developing body image issues.
Developing and nurturing a positive body image and a healthy attitude is crucial to self-esteem, identity, happiness and well-being throughout life. Those with good body esteem celebrate and appreciate their natural size and shape, resulting in feelings of comfort and confidence. With positive body image, one can also accept and respect diversity of body sizes and shapes among people and understand that there is no "perfect body."
Emaciated celebrities, fad diets splashed on the cover of every magazine and in television commercials-- these are the images that bombard our children every day, setting a dangerous standard of beauty that young women and girls are literally dying to achieve. While Marilyn Monroe may have been a celebrated size-12, girls and young women today are too often driven by a size-zero mentality.
42% of first, second and third grade girls say they would like to be thinner, while 80% of all children have been on a diet before they reach the fourth grade. By adulthood, these alarming statistics rise even higher, with an astounding one in five women estimated to suffer from an eating disorder.
Eating disorders can include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. All disorders share feelings of shame, loss of control, and low self-esteem that is based on a perceived negative body image.
Body image is a complex notion that involves mental, emotional and physical perceptions of one's self and appearance. It can be described as the way you perceive yourself when you look in the mirror, how you picture yourself in your mind, what you believe about your appearance, how you feel about your weight and shape, or how you feel moving in your body. Body image begins to form early in life and is influenced by life experiences, such as the media or behaviors and body attitudes of those around you.
Body dissatisfaction has become pervasive throughout today's society, affecting both children and adults, and is fueled by the unrelenting obsession for thinness that offers false hopes for success, power, self-control, health and happiness. Although negative body image is more prevalent in females than males, men are becoming more vulnerable to developing body image issues.
Developing and nurturing a positive body image and a healthy attitude is crucial to self-esteem, identity, happiness and well-being throughout life. Those with good body esteem celebrate and appreciate their natural size and shape, resulting in feelings of comfort and confidence. With positive body image, one can also accept and respect diversity of body sizes and shapes among people and understand that there is no "perfect body."
It is possible to be at peace with your body!
Here is what your gift can do:
$50 supports our toll-free hotline and referral services
$75 helps maintain support groups led by experienced mental health professionals and recovered persons
$100 helps to cover the costs of printing advocacy packets
$250 sponsors staff and volunteer development through professional and educational conferences
$500 helps sponsor prevention programs for schools and community groups
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