People are heavily influenced by societal pressures and the media with how they should look. Unfortunately, these unrealistic media images of thin and lean models can take an emotional toll by making us feel like we don’t measure up. For some people, this can result in unhealthy dieting and weight control behaviors in an attempt to change their bodies. This is important to consider because we know chronic dieting and weight control behaviours are known risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Studies show that anorexia nervosa affects between 0.5% and 4% of people in Canada, bulimia nervosa affects between 1% and 4%, while binge-eating disorder affects 2%.
Thankfully, our program at Jessie’s Legacy Eating Disorders Prevention & Awareness Program aims to prevent and raise awareness around eating disorders. Jessie was a young, North Shore women who took her own life after a long battle with disordered eating. Jessie’s hope upon her own recovery was to help others and prevent the pain and anguish she experienced…and we’re doing this through the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign! PEDAW is a BC Province wide effort to raise awareness around prevention and early intervention of eating disorders, by offering a resiliency-based system of services, workshops, contests, events, education, and support to people of all ages throughout the year!
And this year, on November 17th for Change Day BC, we pledge to giveaway TEN of our sought-after ‘love our bodies, love ourselves’ wristbands to TEN different strangers. This statement, ’love our bodies, love ourselves,’ is so simple, yet it embodies what it truly means to be on the path of preventing, raising awareness, and becoming free from all eating disorders. It allows the person to take this statement with them day to day on their wrist as a constant reminder to accept their body just as it is, and support those who are struggling.
So as society continues a journey engulfed in this weight-obsessed world, our team at Jessie’s Legacy pledges to change the way people view their bodies. To be confident and proud with the body they have.
And we’re doing it, one wristband at a time.
~ “In order for us to love our bodies, we have to first learn to love ourselves.”
- What will you pledge? Join the campaign at changedaybc.ca! Discover all that Change Day BC has to offer online at changedaybc.ca! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @ChangeDayBC and search for the hashtag #ChangeDay!
- Wanting a wristband for yourself? Order your very own today here: jessieslegacy.com/love-our-bodies-love-ourselves/wristband-request-form
