Topic Tuesday // Body Image and Eating Disorders // Tues 28th September, 7:00-8:30PM AEST

"I started to have body image and eating issues during puberty, and linked acceptance and being liked/loved with being thin"

I relate to this too @frog , it can be so hard when we are bombarded with these messages from a young age. How are you managing with your food and body worries in lockdown?

What does this year’s theme for Body Image and Eating Disorder awareness week, respecting all bodies, mean to you?

I really love the theme of respecting all bodies, it is something that is incredibly important to be, especially as I live in a larger body and have felt that I have been disrespected and discriminated against because of my weight.

Weight stigma is very prevalent in today’s society and has been for a long time. There is this narrative that one body size is better than another. People who live in larger bodies are often discriminated against, especially in medical settings.

I would love to see respect for all bodies everywhere. We all have a part to play in this regardless of our shape or size. The way you talk about your own body matters, you never know who is listening (and also, your body deserves kindness too!).

You are most welcome @BPDSurvivor - great to have you here with us tonight 🌷

Very true @SarahBee .

That is such an important message. Often, people don't realise that what they say can have a huge impact on others.

I remember adults commenting on my weight when I was a child. They would give me nicknames along the lines of 'Tubby' or 'Li'l Fatty'. It may have been funny to them at the time, but I know for a fact it damaged me inside.

I also remember I had a new teacher who wrote notes next to each child's name so she could remember the student's names. Next to my name was 'chubby'.... Here, the adults do these things innocently and without the intention of hurting anyone. But rest assured, those words stabbed my inner soul.

As adults, I believe we should always be mindful of how we speak and work towards respecting all bodies.

Idk what it is about lockdown @cloudcore ... maybe the stress and isolation in part ... I also find myself overstocking with food - bit of a seige mentality.

I'm trying to be balanced about making sensible choices, and not being hard on myself when I'm not coping, or using coping strategies that leave me feeling worse very soon after. I find when I can walk I get into a better headspace. Our outside time is about to be doubled, so maybe more walking!

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@SarahBee wrote:

What does this year’s theme for Body Image and Eating Disorder awareness week, respecting all bodies, mean to you?

I really love the theme of respecting all bodies, it is something that is incredibly important to be, especially as I live in a larger body and have felt that I have been disrespected and discriminated against because of my weight.

Weight stigma is very prevalent in today’s society and has been for a long time. There is this narrative that one body size is better than another. People who live in larger bodies are often discriminated against, especially in medical settings.

I would love to see respect for all bodies everywhere. We all have a part to play in this regardless of our shape or size. The way you talk about your own body matters, you never know who is listening (and also, your body deserves kindness too!).

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This is such an important message and could not agree more around the prevalence of weight stigma. It is continually perpetuated within social media, and that's where messages around respecting all bodies is so essential to challenging stigma and social constructs of weight. "The way you talk about your own body matters, you never know who is listening (and also, your body deserves kindness too!)."

I love that last quote about the way you talk about yourself matters It really does! As a step parent, something I am really mindful about how I talk about my body in front of my step son as I know that he will hear and repeat the way we talk about ourselves

@Erica5

Unfortunately there are so many misconceptions about bingeeating disorder and eating disorders in general 😞 you're absolutely right that it can look different for everyone