In his song with Lil Wayne, “Nothing But Trouble,” Charlie Puth sings, “These Instagram models are nothing but trouble.” The song’s about the dangers of judging a book by its cover (i.e. judging someone by their IG pics). It’s about the unhealthy emphasis our generation places on physical appearance. And it’s primarily about women.
"Dear KJ" is an advice column by Dr. Kjerstin "KJ" Gruys, sociologist, author and body image activist. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology with a focus on the politics of appearance and is the author of Mirror Mirror Off the Wall: How I Learned to Love My Body By Not Looking at It for a Year (Avery Press, 2012).
Bailey Webber is a student journalist who takes a stand against bullying and body shaming brought on by the government in her documentary, The Student Body. The film showcases real stories of children of all ages whose bodies fall out of the range of what’s deemed “acceptable” by the government, an issue that is occurring in several states across the nation. Webber takes a stand, showing lawmakers there is no such thing as a “right” or “wrong” body.
If you’ve ever tried to practice self-care, then you’ve probably come across the advice to “listen to your body.” What exactly does that even mean, though? Is it when my fiancé and I listen to each other’s tummies and laugh at the noises of gas bubbles and digestive enzymes? Maybe it’s obeying the voice in my head that says, “Screw work and go to sleep instead; you’re tired.”
Self-love is liberating, but it takes dedication and effort to get to that place. For those recovering from an eating disorder, taking time for self-care is an especially important part of recovery. That’s why we asked three NEDA bloggers for their best tips on how to start your journey to self-love.
College is a time of change, for your mind and body. Being in college has certainly helped me maintain my personal eating disorder recovery in so many ways, but throughout my four years I’ve noticed there are a lot of aspects of college life that can be dangerous to mental health.
Certain ideas and behaviors we see so commonly in a college environment are often overlooked without even being seen as a potential threat to body image, and can turn college campuses into a breeding ground for problematic behavior.
Chase Bannister is the founder, senior vice president and chief strategy & clinical integrity officer for Veritas Collaborative, a specialty hospital system for the treatment of eating disorders in a gender-diverse and inclusive environment. He is credentialed as a certified eating disorder specialist by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals and is a licensed clinical social worker.
From suicide prevention measures to celebrities calling out their body-shamers, this week was full of important stories.
As a new and proud sponsor of NEDA, Graphique de France is dedicated to inspiring young women in their day-to-day routines. With positive and motivational quotes, fun and trendy designs, and high-quality everyday collections we are committed to introducing inspirational messages into the essentials women rely on. After learning about NEDA, we decided to get involved and give back to a community that supports people struggling with eating disorders.
At the National Eating Disorders Association, we believe that self-love is the key to a happy, healthy life and we work every day to make sure that everyone has the tools and support they need to have the healthiest possible relationship with themselves and their bodies.
In order to support and expand our lifesaving services, we’ve joined Revlon’s LOVE IS ON 2016 Million Dollar Challenge. The competition starts today, September 14th, at 12pm ET.