How to Stop the Media Attack on Your Body

I do not know about you, but I am tired of the constant message that the natural, crooked body, with which I was born, is unacceptable. I am tired of hearing about five-year-old girls already criticizing their bodies and thinking that they should lose weight. I'm tired of the media forcing their version of a limited beauty, which is out of reach for us. Today’s underweight beauty ideal is the complete invention of the media machine. Nature was not intended to make women look like young boys with big breasts, but the relentless media exposure of this type of body strongly describes it as the ultimate beauty. Without starvation and plastic surgery, it is not possible for 99% of women to achieve this. So we learn not to like our natural bodies and try very hard to change them. The messages of toxic bodies that we are flooded with every day cause eating disorders and widespread unhappiness. 53% of 13-year-old girls and 80% of older women spend daily disliking their bodies. It should not be this way. By nature humans have a broad range of body shapes and sizes. We do not have to allow the media to continue to portray one kind of beauty as legitimate. We do not have to allow them to continue to ruin countless lives in their quest for extra profit. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Media Watchdog program is working to change the message of toxic news. You can help by joining a free program and monitoring magazines, television, and radio. Keep a record of what you see and submit the findings of good and bad to NEDA. Every quarter they write at least one letter of praise or protest to companies on behalf of Watchdogs and post the results on the NEDA Media Watchdog website. Since the program's inception in 1997, more than half of its opponents have been banned. It is time to stop the media attacks on our bodies. The Watchdog program gives us a powerful voice for change. What you can look for: Protest: · Advertising with a message or image intended to make people feel bad about their body shape or size. · Promoting weight loss as the only acceptable body size. · Shows or advertisements that make people laugh or that mean they are inferior or unacceptable. · To make people see it is better to starve or starve themselves. · People who are shown using food to gain comfort, relief from stress, or friendship. · Thin models or actors who are portrayed as the beauty or star of the show. · Promoting fitness and exercise as a way to lose weight is a way to stay healthy, feel good, and be happy. Praise: · Ads with people of all sizes and shapes displayed in beautiful ways. · People who eat healthy, delicious foods, including desserts. · Celebrate the diverse environment and enjoy life. If you want to promote a campaign, write your own letter of praise or protest to the advertiser or the media. Apply a few feathers and let them know that attacks on our bodies will not be tolerated and that good diversity is appreciated. Tell them you will not buy their products because of the aggressive advertising. Make sure you thank companies for constructive messages, too. Every little movement that leads to healthy body diversity is fine. Thank them for being part of a culture that enjoys life and all kinds of beauty. Click here to join the Watchdog program and be a part of bringing about positive changes in the world.