PREVENTION

Yes, it would be nice if the standards of the media could change.   People can only take so many traumatic, eating disorder stories about celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Daniel Johns.   The movie, Real Women Have Curves , attempted to reach out to women struggling with body-image, but it was overpowered by the thin-obsessed ideal.   An increasing number of adults suffer with personal dissatisfaction.   Parents need to challenge societal standards, but more importantly, they need to develop their own understanding of health, beauty, and self-esteem if they want their child to properly discern his own normal body standards and develop a healthy perspective of self-esteem--independent from the pressures and standards of the media.

A few things parents can do to help prevent their child from developing an eating disorder are as follows (adapted from the National Eating Disorders Association):

• Do not mention personal body image problems in front of your children.
• Try to have three to four, planned, family meals a day.
• Avoid referring to food as "good" or "bad", but set an example by eating healthily and exercising regularly.
• Avoid using food as a reward or discipline tool.
• Take the time to help you child understand that the media's portrayal of normal body image is not a healthy standard by explaining the natural diversity of the human body.
• Examine your child's behavior and look for warning signs of possible eating disorders such as:
  • Feeling "fat" or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
  • Extreme concern with body weight and shape
  • Frequent dieting
• Encourage your children to be active.

For more information on Eating Disorders, prevention, and symptoms check out:

NEDA	SOMETHING FISHY