|
FEBRUARY 3-9, 2008
The goal of Disordered Eating Awareness Week is to reduce the prevalence of eating and weight disturbance issues such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, compulsive eating and disordered eating through public education campaigns.
During the first week of February each year, we invite you to take part in DEAW by participating in the events planned within your community, and encourage you to create your own.
Objectives for DEAW events include:
* Provide information about eating disorders, dieting and weight preoccupation
* Launching a media campaign designed to heighten awareness of DEAW and make connections between eating disorders and body image problems
* Advocate for size acceptance and to encourage people to get beyond appearance, putting their energy into more empowering activities
* Advocate for social change
* To celebrate the diversity of body sizes and shapes
Suggested Community Activities:
Public forums/panel discussions/speak-outs
* This can be held in conjunction with films, information and resource tables, theatre productions, art exhibits, puppet plays, story time for kids, etc
* If possible, arrange local speakers with varying backgrounds (i.e. Therapists, doctors, dietitians, activists, writers, media personalities, individuals who have struggled with food or weight issues)
* Contact libraries, colleges, community centers, women's centers or schools to provide a space free of charge
* Contact media (radio, TV, newspapers, internet providers, magazines)
Film and videos
* Showing a film is also a good way to get information about food and weight issues across, particularly if you cannot find knowledgeable people to speak at a forum
Information booths
* Booths can be set up in shopping malls, schools, your local city hall, community centers, women's centers etc.
* Flyers and posters can be ordered through organizations in your community who are organizing DEAW events or through provincial service provider
Art Gallery Shows
* Inquire at local galleries about appropriate artists, invite individuals who have struggled with food or weight issues to display their art work, or hold an elementary or high school poster contest (see Jessie's Hope Youth Poster and Video Campaign)
* Organize an art exhibit. Decide on a theme and ask local artists or a university or school art class to create submissions
Media
* Contact local media (papers, radio, TV) to notify them of DEAW and its goals and/or suggest that radio/TV stations with call-in shows focus a program on eating disorders
* Write an article for a local newspaper
* Have your local media air professionally-created public service announcements about the importance of inner beauty
Education
* Show students a relevant film (one that celebrates diversity); follow films with a discussion and a question and answer period
* Schedule a poster contest in art classes; try to solicit prizes from local merchants or clubs
* Sponsor a best/worst advertisement contest
* Hold an inside/out day - students are encouraged to wear clothes inside out as a sign of seeing both the inside of ourselves and the outside of our bodies when we look at ourselves
* Organize a clothing drive - for clothes that no longer fit.
* Hold an "unfashion show" - a nontraditional fashion show that includes people of all shapes and sizes and in all different types of clothing. The individuals who participate can read poetry, make statements about the fashion industry or share personal experiences.
* Celebrate Fearless Friday - A Day without Dieting. A time to consciously refuse to obsess about dieting, weight and body size, and try to be more accepting of yourself. Experience what life might be like when your self-esteem is not weighed on a bathroom scale.
* Positive Statements - Place positive statements on the mirrors in the washrooms, in classrooms, and in the hallways.
* Assemblies - In your weekly assembly, do a skit, read a poem. Remind fellow students that a person's value is not determined by his or her shape or size.
* Film - watch a film regarding eating disorders and positive body image.
* Articles - encourage students to write articles for the local newspapers
All of these activities can be at no charge to the students, or you may consider students being asked to contribute a loonie or a toonie in support of Jessie's Hope efforts to build awareness on eating and weight disturbance issues.
Please contact our office for further information. |
