Overcoming ED, My Biggest Bully
For all of my childhood, I was considered “overweight.” Whether it was my food choices or just genetics I’m not sure, but I was okay with it. I was a happy kid and I enjoyed life and everything it had to offer. As I started to get older, people like family friends, coaches, and peers […]
Fitbit’s New Device for Kids is Extremely Problematic—Here’s Why
Citing rising “childhood obesity rates,” Fitbit is set to launch the Fitbit Ace this spring, a device meant for children. The $100 device will allow kids eight and older to track their steps, along with “an occasional reminder to get off the couch.” Parents will be allowed to create family accounts to keep tabs on […]
Dear KJ: How Can I Get My Trainer at the Gym to Stop Making Body-Shaming Comments?
“Dear KJ” is a monthly 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 […]
7 Volunteers Share the Powerful Impact of Our NEDAwareness Building Lighting Initiative
This past National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness), more than 90 iconic landmarks in dozens of cities were lit in the signature blue and green colors of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to put a spotlight on the seriousness of eating disorders. Don’t miss our Facebook album of building lighting photographs! Plus, check out […]
Feeling at Home in My Body: My Personal Revolution
Resolutions aren’t really my thing. I am all for “clean slates” and “fresh starts” and any other similar optimistic metaphors that apply that help put us in a positive frame of mind where we feel motivated and can make meaningful progress toward achieving a goal. The issue I have, rather, is the word that lies […]
An Instagram Influencer’s Tips for Boosting Self-Confidence (Without Changing Who You Are!)
“I know I’m beautiful/should feel confident, but I don’t feel beautiful/confident” is the disconnect between logic and emotion many people feel. Sometimes your emotions and body have to catch up with your mind, especially after experiencing trauma. For every quality (or lack thereof) that you’re insecure about, there is someone who is absolutely confident with […]
5 Important Takeaways from Our Marginalized Voices #NEDAwareness Chat
Last Tuesday, we hosted a #NEDAwareness Twitter chat to hear from marginalized members of the body positive and pro-recovery community. The goal of the chat was to gain insight into how food, exercise, and body image issues impact different people in different ways and emphasize the necessity of creating inclusive communities. Here are some of […]
18 Inspiring NEDAwareness Messages of Hope and Recovery from Our Community
This past National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAwareness) was centered on raising awareness and showing that eating disorders can affect anyone, anywhere. Last week, NEDA asked people to speak out about eating disorders and show that community exists and is a powerful force. Don’t miss these 18 inspiring quotes from warriors who bravely shared messages […]
What Does Intuitive Eating Mean?
Intuitive eating tends to bring up a lot of feelings with folks as they move through different stages of recovery from eating disorders. In my work, I find that it is a topic that can lead to some difficult conversations around food and bodies. Intuitive eating is often misunderstood on many different levels and so […]
Weight Stigma and Dieting Almost Killed Me: A Story From My Childhood
For many people, dieting begins with a promise of a new life with better health and a feeling of euphoric lightness. We learn implicitly and explicitly that we are more desirable when thin and that our lifestyle should be directed toward keeping the body within a very narrow definition of an acceptable and healthy-sized body. […]
