Eating disorders kill more people every year than any other mental illness including addiction and depression related suicide yet too often they are not treated as serious mental conditions. Only one in ten people with an eating disorder receive treatment and even then the rate of a patient to relapse could be up to 50%. Reasons for lack of treatment vary from limited access to extreme price (most treatment can cost up to $100,000 or more that health insurance companies refuse to cover) to flat out refusal. Eating disorders have gained increased concern and curiosity in the recent media. Research on the topic has gained popularity and there is more information on eating disorders than ever. However, the social stigma surrounding them has not seemed to change. Statistics are important and can help us rationalize this enormous issue and cut it into a bite sized concept that can appear neat and simple to understand.
But I am sick of listening to statistics.
The Love Every Inch project is a body positive blog dedicated to recovery and the better understanding of eating disorders and body image. I hope to give a personal, inside look into the world of eating disorders and the struggle towards recovery. Love Every Inch takes real stories from real people and finally puts a face to the well publicized yet unrelatable statistics that you see around you every day. But more importantly, I hope that this project sparks change in the community. We must become more empathetic and supportive of our peers who are struggling through these illnesses. When we work together to end hate, judgment, and body shaming around us, we become a stronger society. This all starts with you. The censorship of body shaming thoughts and words and the elimination of negative self-talk about your body is a powerful thing that can lead to larger impact. This project only becomes successful when you take action. One person has the power in influence the change of hundreds.
But I am sick of listening to statistics.
The Love Every Inch project is a body positive blog dedicated to recovery and the better understanding of eating disorders and body image. I hope to give a personal, inside look into the world of eating disorders and the struggle towards recovery. Love Every Inch takes real stories from real people and finally puts a face to the well publicized yet unrelatable statistics that you see around you every day. But more importantly, I hope that this project sparks change in the community. We must become more empathetic and supportive of our peers who are struggling through these illnesses. When we work together to end hate, judgment, and body shaming around us, we become a stronger society. This all starts with you. The censorship of body shaming thoughts and words and the elimination of negative self-talk about your body is a powerful thing that can lead to larger impact. This project only becomes successful when you take action. One person has the power in influence the change of hundreds.
Love Every Inch is a Gold Award project. The Gold Award is the highest award any Girl Scout can earn. It is an 80+ hour service project dedicated to benefiting the girl's community beyond Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of all girls eligible successfully earn the Gold Award.
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