Cynthia Lawson Jackson - NEDAW Coordinator 2008 - New Smyrna Beach fl

Academy for Eating Disorders responds to Heath and Human Services Obesity “Prevention” Ads

 

The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), an international organization for eating disorder treatment, research, and education professionals, states its strong opposition to the obesity “prevention” ads developed by the Ad Council on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services. In particular, the AED opposes ads such as “Thunder Thighs,” “Belly,” “Butt,” “Chin,” “Bikini,” “New Guy” etc. which disrespect the human body by dismembering it. Although the “take home message” of the ads is ostensibly to encourage small, healthy changes in behavior, the primary focus of the ads is on appearance and making one more presentable to others, as opposed to focusing on health.

 

More specifically, the AED wants to emphasize that these ads are inconsistent with research investigating both the prevention and treatment of obesity and the prevention of eating disorders (see Levine & Smolak, 2006, for an extensive review). For example,

 

1.                  Instead of helping viewers realize the intrinsic benefits of increased activity (and playing with one’s children, for instance), the ads encourage viewers to see activity as primarily, if not exclusively, a means for dramatic weight loss.

2.                  The ads further normalize the stigmatizing of fat and fat people. Extensive research indicates that stigmatizing fat does not encourage pursuit of a healthy body (see, e.g., Neumark-Sztainer, Paxton, Hannan, Haines, & Story, 2006), which includes vigor and stamina. Rather, it makes fat people feel worse, reinforces irrational fears of fat on a societal level, and fuels an irrational drive for thinness (see, e.g., Brownwell, Puhl, Schwartz, & Rudd, 2005; Eisenberg, Neurmark-Sztainer, & Story, 2003; Kraig & Keel, 2001).

3.                  Recent research also indicates that increased body dissatisfaction, which is encouraged by the ads, predicts unhealthy behaviors and attitudes, NOT motivation to increase healthy behaviors (Neumark-Sztainer et al., 2006).

4.                  The ads falsely support the perception that diet and exercise will result in specific weight reduction in specific body parts that one does not like. Although the relationship between “dieting,” exercise, and weight loss (and weight gain) is a complicated and often controversial one, research shows that targeted weight loss is not a realistic outcome of diet and exercise for the majority of the population.

5.                  Research investigating body dissatisfaction, which is rampant among women and which contributes to the development of eating disorders, indicates that a tendency to treat one’s own body as an “object” from an external perspective and to view one’s body in parts (instead of as a functional whole) is already a problem for many women (see, e.g., Grabe, Hyde, & Lindberg, 2007; Tiggemann & Lynch, 2001). These ads encourage body dismemberment and self-objectification.

6.                  The ads falsely connect reduction in specific body parts and changes in appearance as being a marker for good health. Many individuals who are at a healthy weight and engage in healthy behaviors experience body dissatisfaction and may view themselves as having a “belly” etc. In contrast, some individuals who are very thin may reach this weight by engaging in very unhealthy behaviors, such as those associated with eating disorders. Ads suggesting that the primary goal of health behaviors is weight loss inadvertently discount the importance of these behaviors for everyone, including those who are naturally slim.  Thin people who are sedentary are at risk for adverse health consequences (see, e.g., Stevens, Cal, Evenson, & Thomas, 2002; also Gaesser, 2003 for general review) and research supports the importance of diet quality independent of weight (see, e.g.,Michels & Wolk, 2002).   

7.                  Ads such as these need to highlight the very real physical and mental health benefits (e.g., improved cardiovascular status, decreased depression, improved energy etc.) that increase as a result of replacing a sedentary lifestyle with activity (see, e.g., Hallal, Victora, Azevedo, & Wells, 2006).

 

The AED strongly encourages the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council to remove these ads from circulation, at least until such time as they can be more carefully reviewed for content and reception. The AED also encourages these two important organizations to meet with the AED and partner organizations such as The National Eating Disorders Association (www.nationaleatingdisorders.org) and the Eating Disorders Coalition (www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org) in order to discuss our shared interests in the prevention of obesity and eating disorders, and in the promotion of health and well-being.

 

 

References

 

Brownell, K. D., Puhl, R. M., Schwart, M. B., & Rudd, L. (Eds.). 2005). Weight bias: Nature, consequences, and

            remedies. New York: Guilford.

 Eisenberg, M. E., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & Story, M. (2003). Associations of weight-based teasing and emotional

            well-being among adolescents. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, 157, 733-738.

 Gaesser, G. A., (2003). Is it necessary to be thin to be healthy? Harvard Health Policy Review, 4, 40-47.

 Grabe, S., Hyde, J. S., & Lindberg, S. M. (2007). Body objectification and depression in adolescents: The role

            of gender, shame, and rumination. Psychlogy of Women Quarterly, 31, 164-175.

 Hallal, P., Victora, C., Azevedo, M., & Wells, J. (2006). Adolescent physical activity and health: A

            systematic review. Sports Medicine, 36, 1019-1030.

 Kraig, K. A., & Keel, P. K. (2001). Weight-based stigmatization in children. International Journal of Obesity, 25,

            1661-1666.

 Levine, M. P., & Smolak, L. (2007). Prevention of negative body image, disordered eating, and eating disorders:

            An update. In S.Wonderlich, J. Mitchell, M. De Zwaan, & H. Steiger (Eds.), Annual review of eating disorders: Part I – 2007 (pp. 1 – 14).  Oxford: Radclifffe.

 Levine, M. P., & Smolak, L. (2006). The prevention of eating problems and eating   disorders: Theory, research,

            and practice. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

 Michels, K. B., & Wolk, A. (2002). A prospective study of variety of healthy foods and mortality in women. International Journal of Epidemiology, 31, 847-854.

 Neumark-Sztainer, D., Paxton, S. J., Hannan, P. J.,, Haines, J., & Story, M. (2006). Does body satisfaction matter?

            Five-year longitudinal associations between body satisfaction and health behaviors in adolescent females

            and males. Journal of Adolescent Health, 39, 244-251.

 Stevens, J., Cai, J., Evenson, K. R., Thomas, R. (2002). Fitness and fatness as predictors of mortality from all causes and from cardiovascular disease in men and women in the lipid research clinics study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 156, 832-841.

 Tiggemann, M., & Lynch, J. E. (2001). Body image across the life span in adult women: The role of self-

            objectification. Developmental Psychology, 37, 243-253.

 

Why?

Understanding the Deeper Meanings of Anorexia and Bulimia

 Dr. Christine E. Kiesinger, Ph.D.

George Washington University

 Tuesday, February 27

7:00 p.m.

Bush Auditorium

Rollins College - 1000 Holt Ave Winter Park, FL  (407) 646-2000  

 part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

 

 Why? 

Why does she starve herself? 

Why does she binge? Why does she purge? 

Why does she leave the table and spend so much time in the bathroom? 

Why is she lying? 

Why is she hiding? 

Why does she hate herself? 

Why does she hurt herself? 

Why can't she help me understand?

    As a woman who has been studying the lives and experiences of anorexic and bulimic women for over a decade, I find myself often overwhelmed by this question.  Most of the time, the question comes from concerned and well-intentioned friends and family members of anorexic and bulimic women who are deeply hurting. Sometimes the question comes from anorexic and bulimic women themselves--women trying to make sense of a way of being that is complicated, painful and dangerous.

 “Why? Understanding the Deeper Meanings of Anorexia and Bulimia,” reflects my response to the ‘why?’ question. Join me as I take you on a narrative journey into the emotional and relational complexities that often fuel anorexia and bulimia. Join me in an effort to understand. I look forward to being with you!

 Dr. Christine E. Kiesinger has been studying the lives and relationships of anorexic and bulimic women since 1992. Her published work and ongoing research aims to highlight the complexities and ambiguities of disordered eating experiences. She has used her work as a form of public outreach in a variety of contexts since the early nineties. Dr. Kiesinger teaches in the department of communication at the George Washington University.     

 Dr. Kiesinger’s talk is sponsored by the offices of the provost and dean of faculty; the departments of communication, psychology, sociology, and graduate studies in counseling; Greek Affairs; Women’s Studies; and Health Promotions.

 For more information, contact Lisa Tillmann at ltillmann@rollins.edu