Today I checked one of my favorite pro-body image sites, Mamavision.com and I found this great list of initiatives that were taken this year to help fight eating disorders and negative body image. Here are some of the great things that happened in 2010: *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      * Thanks to Heidi Dalzell of Philadelphia Examiner for this informative list! We are making progress! Too often the news contains stories that glorify eating disorders or involve the latest celeb struggling with anorexia or bulimia. But 2010 contained many positive stories about eating disorders —successes, advocacy and advancements in the field — both in the Philadelphia area and beyond. Here is a recap of those stories, in chronological order: 1. Local group advocates for eating disorders. A Chance to Heal based in Montgomery County, Pa. continues its efforts in advocacy and prevention. Key among these are helping Senator Daylin Leach promote Pa. Bill 1138, which, if passed, would extend insurance coverage for the treatment of eating disorders in Pennsylvania. 2. Israel’s new Photoshop legislation is helping to fight unrealistic images of models, actresses and those pictured in the media and will provide a model for other countries. The legislation calls for disclosure to be included on photographs that have been digitally enhanced. In Israel, it is now readily apparent that a photo has been altered in some way. 3. Retailer take notice of outraged comments. Urban Outfitters was forced to pull a Pro-Ana tee. The “Eat Less” T-shirt seen by many as an endorsement of the Pro-Anorexia movement was pulled from their website. In NYC, the same sentiments forced skinny pretzels off NYC streets. 4. Overeater’s Anonymous turned 50 in October. OA is a 12-step fellowship that has numerous groups in the Philadelphia area. OA provides support in a caring environment and help reduce feelings of shame around use of symptoms. Happy 50th anniversary! 5. Celebs speak out in a positive way. Mary Kate Olsen broke the long silence surrounding her anorexia in an interview with Marie Clare this summer. Lady Gaga also discussed her past struggles with bulimia, decreasing stigma around this illness that is often seen as the ugly step-sister to anorexia. 6. First of its kind anorexia bullying lawsuit settled. A federal judge has approved a settlement of $55,000 in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit by a woman who claimed her daughter was bullied into anorexia. Mary V. filed the lawsuit against the Pittsburgh, Pa. Schools last August due to harassment against her daughter and taunting about being “fat.” This settlement increases understanding about the negative impact of bullying. 7. A personal favorite — Operation Beautiful. Caitlyn Boyle’s ission is to end “fat talk” one post-it note at a time, which encourages people to post positive notes that increase self-esteem. Caitlyn comments “My favorite notes are the ones that say, ‘Scales measure weight, not worth.’” 8. Some positive developments in the fashion world. 2010 New York Fashion Week included a plus-size stage featuring voluptuous vixens such as Lizzie Miller and Toccara Jones strutting down the runways dressed in the latest for the spring season. Another important step for the fashion industry the 3-year old Council of Fashion Designers 2007 Health Initiative. The initiative states that designers share a responsibility to protect women, and young girls in particular, sending the message that beauty is health. Finally in recent news, model Allie Crandell was dropped by Resolve Fashion due to her disturbing thinness and told to get healthier. 9. Family-Based Therapy continues to be a winner. James Lock and Daniel LeGrange, key proponents of Family-Based Therapy for anorexia concluded a large-scale study again proving its efficacy. Dr. Ellen Davis, cofounder of FBT center  Woodland Forge in Phoenixville, Pa., agrees “It’s an amazing approach,” she says. 10. Gene linked to anorexia. Researchers at Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia completed a large-scale study of 1,003 patients with anorexia in an attempt to study whether the disease has a genetic component. Researchers identified several rare genetic variations that occurred only in people with anorexia and not in a control group. 11. More research findings point to lesser-known populations affected by eating disorders. Researchers at Pepperdine University looked at thin-ideal idealization in pre-schoolers — the extent to which individuals embrace the cultural ideal of a slender body as their personal standard. They found that the preference for thinness is evident even at this young age. Another new study published in Pediatrics finds that among younger patients with eating disorders, about half of the patients are boys. Dr. David Rosen and his colleagues are urging physicians to screen boys for eating disorders. 12. Go Gloria. Gloria is still going strong at 76, and capativated attendees at Renfrew Philadelphia’s annual conference sharing her views on eating disorders, women and power. Gloria’s advice for women who develop eating disorders in their quest for perfection. “Perfect is boring —I’m talking majorly boring. Look at a flower. The imperfections are what makes it interesting.” 13. Combating poor body image in Black-American youth. Reverend Andrea Cornett-Scott of Mary Baldwin College is tired of watching young girls devalue themselves. She is fighting back by collecting and distributing Black baby dolls to children in order to provide them with a more realistic image of what is beautiful. Here’s to a 2011 just as rich with positive news and stories. Article by Mamavision

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