I wrote a similar article a while back. This is something I care deeply about, so I will keep writing about it.
I have a family-friend that had shared something with me on facebook, and I asked permission to use it in this article. She has an 11 year old daughter who is healthy and active. Yet she's wearing a ladies large in pant size.
Think about this for a second. A young girl who is PHYSICALLY ACTIVE is wearing a ladies large. Does that seem right to you? I didn't think so.
The thing is, it seems like fashion designers are running the womens clothes smaller and smaller as well as making it more expensive to get into the plus sizes. But wait a second. If these clothes are running smaller and smaller, then a normal and healthy size would eventually be considered a "plus" size? Makes absolutely no sense.
According to nationaleatingdisorders.org:
New cases of eating disorders have increased (and continue to increase) since the 1950s.
There has been a rise in anorexia in women between the ages of 15 and 19 every decade since the 1930s.
Cases of bullimia between 10 and 39 year olds has TRIPLED between 1988 and 1993.
So what has caused eating disorder stats to rise? I'll give you a few ideas.
1. Fashion designers. As I previously mentioned, clothing stores and fashion designers are starting to run their clothes smaller and smaller. I'd be lying if I said I've never cried in the dressing room or snapped at my mom because of my size numbers. I'm not a big person. Maybe a little bit of a muffin top. I used to be a size 11. My weight hasn't really changed much and now I'm wearing a size 13. I used to be able to wear a Medium-Large shirt, but now I have to wear an XL.
2. The fact that the media is portraying unrealistic expectations for women. Sure, it seems like Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian have the "perfect" body. However, chances are, 90% of the photographs you see are photoshopped in some sort of way.
3. Bullying. Yes, this also plays a factor. Kids can be so cruel. If you tell a girl (or boy) that she/he is fat, or make derogatory remarks about her/his weight, she/he will think she/he isn't good enough. She/He will start exercising and start eating less and less or binge eat just to throw it all up later.
Eating disorders are not as common in males, but they do happen.
Eating disorders are one of the physical and psychological diseases that aren't recognized. Just like mental illnesses. Actually, an eating disorder is a mental illness. People can die from an eating disorder.
So to the fashion designers and the media: start making sizes more accurate. Stop running them smaller and stop making the plus sizes more expensive.
To the bullies: You're obviously insecure with your own self, so that's something you need to work on. Stop making other people feel bad about themselves to satisfy your ego. There's better things to do with your time.
We need to educate our children more thoroughly about how serious eating disorders are. We also need to lift each other up and make each other feel good instead of putting each other down.
If you're reading this and you're struggling with how you see yourself and your body image. Then stop. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you are beautiful. Because you are. A number doesn't define you or who you are. Don't let that number define who you are. You are so much more than a size on a piece of clothing that will run out of style in the next few years. You want that cheeseburger? Eat it. You want a chocolate milkshake? Drink it. Live a life where you'll look back in 20 some years and say "Damn, I had a lot of fun." If you live your life struggling with yourself, you'll look back on it and you will regret it. People love you just for who you are. If they don't, then there's something wrong with them. Not you.
They don't know your worth, and they don't deserve you. I promise you, if you're reading this, and you feel better, than I know that I accompolished my goal. I don't know you but I already think you're absolutely perfect. Nothing in the world can change that.
