When Size Affects Income

Size discrimination affects skinny people as well as obese people. One does not have to be anorexic to have an ultra thin frame. One of my aunts is 5’8” tall and wears a size 6. She doesn’t like to talk about weight although she has never been larger. Occasionally, she hears negative comments about her size which makes her angry. These are rude, insensitive comments that she has heard for most of her life. Throughout her twenties and thirties, she was no larger than a size 4. In her adolescent years, she could wear a size zero. She has been … Continue reading

Coming Out and Being Honest

I’ve spent the last 15 years underestimating a problem I have. Rather than confronting it, I believed ignoring it as in issue would make it go way. I struggle with obesity; I have an eating disorder. Unlike many other issues people struggle with, mine stands out obvious to anyone who sees me. It’s not that I’ve denied being overweight, it’s that I refused to make it an issue or define who I am. Instead I’ve tried to overcompensate, hoping to shine what’s inside me, that it might radiate and people wouldn’t notice my weight. I fear I’ve reached a point … Continue reading

Warning Signs of Eating Disorders

The media constantly portrays the perfect woman as a slim and beautiful size 6, yet statistics show that the average woman is between sizes 11 and 14. As a result there is an increase in cases of eating disorders primarily among women. A survey completed by Exeter University in Great Britain reported that over half of the 37,500 teenage girls surveyed reported that their appearance was the biggest concern in their lives. They also found that 59% of girls who suffered from low self-esteem ages twelve to thirteen were dieting. Sadly about three percent of these girls will go to … Continue reading