I tuned out most of the information. The effects of cigarette smoking didn't bother me- I didn't smoke. I already knew about AIDS. I had no interest in the life-expectancy of my generation, and I did not care to know about the intricacies of broken bones.
The only thing I cared about was losing weight.
So, naturally, when the lessons on healthy eating and eating disorders emerged from the rubble of all other health inquiries, I listened. I took mental notes and convinced myself that I needed to be healthier. Unaware that my behavior already classified as anorexia nervosa, I embarked on a quest to be thinner, healthier, and happier.
All thanks to the multiple videos and chapters from the otherwise uninteresting health class.
I think there is a fine line when educating the public about eating disorders and "healthy" living. Yes, we should be aware of eating disorders, but how much information do kids in high school really need? Do elementary school kids need to be exposed to the black and white thinking many health classes teach? To be perfectly honest, I think most of our culture has a disordered way of eating and health classes tend to reinforce those ideals. We have to be careful to teach about true health, not health for the sake of pushing our appearance-driven standards onto children.
There is a line.
Yes, eating disorders are a result of many, many factors, but as a community we still have a responsibility to eliminate the factors we can. Instead of focusing on weight, we can focus on the overall health of the individual. Instead of presenting extremes, we can teach kids moderation. Instead of labeling food as "good" and "bad", we can call it what it is: food. I think we, as a culture, need to relearn the true definition of healthy living before we can pass it on to the next generation. Otherwise, we will only reinforce disordered and unhealthy behavior.
There is a lot of talk in the "eating disorder world" about Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity, and- unlike most people- I support her efforts.
To an extent.
It's all about that line. If we stay on the health side of the line, we as a nation will be better off. If, however, we reinforce the beliefs most people today view as "health", we are only setting ourselves up for failure. Pushing people toward eating disorders on the opposite scale will not benefit our country; it will just be a different problem.
How about meeting somewhere in the middle and accepting everyone for who they are as they find their way to health? Moderation will be the key to this campaign's success- moderation in thought and behavior. Anything more or less will only keep us in the unhealthy state we currently reside.
What are your thoughts? How will this initiative affect those with eating disorders? Do you think it will prevent them, fuel them, or have no effect?
