Photo courtesy of www.magazine.uc.edu

In today’s blog, The Center for Eating Disorders wraps up a three-part Q & A discussion with Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund.  We asked her to share her own thoughts on the role of the media and suggestions on how we can all get involved in promoting awareness and change.  If you missed Part I or II you can check them out below!

Q & A: PART III of III

You do not disclose your weight as a way to avoid setting standards for youths obsessed with weight. What role do you think the media plays in encouraging youths to be weight obsessed?

The media and diet industry doesn’t necessarily market its message to young people, but kids, who watch the most television, see those same weight-loss commercials, blaring obesity news specials, and Victoria’s Secret commercials that middle-aged adults do.  They’re hearing the same thing. Fat is bad, skinny is good, everyone needs to lose weight in order to be happy, at last.  The best thing we can do is get away from this idea of “OH no we’re all going to get FAT and die,” and move to, “How can we as a society move toward whole foods that give us energy and fuel, let’s enjoy food as life sustaining, respect it, respect ourselves… lets live healthy lifestyles, get active and love ourselves.”  There is much too much negativity in the media pertaining to our bodies.  Self-loathing never led to anything productive.

What do you do daily to maintain your recovery?

My number one defense against ED is God.  I read a devotional every morning, read the word and pray.  Prayer is essential.  I can’t shoulder the entire burden of recovery.  God carries me.

How can the community get involved and help spread awareness about eating disorders?

Be a shining example of loving and respecting your body yourself.  It can be as simple as monitoring the way that you speak in public about your body, and others’ bodies.  Even if it is simply eliminating speech like “ughh I’ll need to burn this off later,” or, “I feel so fat” or, “I need to go on a diet.”  So many people simply say these things for conversation filler or because everyone talks this way.  Just don’t say it.  Don’t fill your speech with negativity.  Speak in a way that lifts your spirit and that of those around you.  We’re all in this together.  The way that you feel about your body projects to those around you, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE.  Similarly, be on guard to those young people around you.  Encourage them to love those things about themselves that don’t necessarily have to do with appearance.  Build people up, always.

If you have children in school, make sure coaches/teachers/counselors are educated about Eating Disorders and how to recognize them.  Ask to see “nutrition” curriculum, and encourage other parents as well to make sure that schools address wellness in a balanced way, encouraging a healthy lifestyle; programs in school that focus on obesity, fat, and negativity related to food and diet are HUGE triggers for Eating Disorders.  If you are a parent whose child has struggled with an Eating Disorder, see what parent support groups the local treatment centers/hospitals offer. [*see info about CED's support group below].  If they don’t have one, start one.  It could save a child’s life.  Parents often don’t get their children help because they feel isolated, alone, and insignificant.

The Center for Eating Disorders would like to thank Kirsten Haglund for taking the time to share her personal experiences and a message of hope.  Her accomplishments in promoting eating disorder awareness will be felt long after she completes her year of service as Miss America this month, and we wish her continued success in all that she pursues! 

*CED SUPPORT GROUP INFO: The Center for Eating Disorders offers a free support group every Wednesday evening in Towson, MD.  This group is open to individuals with eating disorders as well as parents, family members and friends of those with eating disorders.  Download the flier for more details. 

The Center will also be hosting several events in honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week beginning February 22, 2009.  Visit our Events page at http://www.eatingdisorder.org/events.php for the details.  All events are FREE and open to the public so they will fill up quickly. Register soon!