May 6 was International No Diet Day
As obesity becomes an increasing concern among the world's population, attention is once again being given to eating disorders. It sounds odd that eating disorders would be thrust into the spotlight when the focus is actually the opposite problem, obesity. And yet, the lose weight at all cost philosophy has become the state quo among many groups of people.
As society bombards us with images of rail-thin women, many are driven to starve themselves or purge regularly in order to lose weight.
International No Diet Day is the brainchild of Mary Evans Young, an author and director of the British anti-diet campaign. First celebrated in 1992, May 6 continues to be the day that the world takes pause and reflects on an even larger issue: healthy eating and a positive self-image.
Despite the messages that the media would have us believe, there is no connection between body weight and fitness level. Likewise, there is no correlation between body weight and personal value. A person is special and of great worth regardless of how much they weigh. Period.
Let us take this moment to reflect on who we are and how we see ourselves. The reality is people are dying trying to live up to the unrealistic and unhealthy expectations society has set forth. Weight is just a number. The real determination of how healthy we are should be based on the food we are putting into our bodies, the amount of it and how active we are.
As society bombards us with images of rail-thin women, many are driven to starve themselves or purge regularly in order to lose weight.
International No Diet Day is the brainchild of Mary Evans Young, an author and director of the British anti-diet campaign. First celebrated in 1992, May 6 continues to be the day that the world takes pause and reflects on an even larger issue: healthy eating and a positive self-image.
Despite the messages that the media would have us believe, there is no connection between body weight and fitness level. Likewise, there is no correlation between body weight and personal value. A person is special and of great worth regardless of how much they weigh. Period.
Let us take this moment to reflect on who we are and how we see ourselves. The reality is people are dying trying to live up to the unrealistic and unhealthy expectations society has set forth. Weight is just a number. The real determination of how healthy we are should be based on the food we are putting into our bodies, the amount of it and how active we are.