Fat Talk Free Week – Take 3: Changing body image by changing behavior.

This week marks Tri Delta's  3rd annual Fat Talk Free Week. " This week was in an effort to call attention to the prevalence of eating disorders and widespread body image disturbances.

This trademarked week sheds light to a giant annoyance and asks people to remove "Fat Talk" from everyday conversations. Tri Delta describes Fat Talk as "all of the statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women's dissatisfaction with their bodies. Examples of fat talk may include: "I'm so fat," "Do I look fat in this?" "I need to lose 10 pounds" and "She's too fat to be wearing that swimsuit."

Both women and men do one another an enormous disservice by validating this pointless and self-defeating behavior.  I don't care to hear you whine about how fat you think you are and more importantly, if you are a parent, I am worried you will pass this type of behavior to your children.  They don't deserve it.  Body image disturbances are widespread, contagious, and toxic and often begin in the home. Our society has already bombarded, normalized, and justified thousands of reasons for youth to feel like they don't measure up.   They don't need their parents to do the same.   Keep in mind, I don't think parents wake up and think, "I wonder how many ways I can screw my child up today."  This is why this week is so important.  It brings awareness to provoke change.

Sitting around a table talking about how fat you think you are is pointless.  I can think of 1,000 better things to talk about.  "I shouldn't be eating this, I can barley squeeze into my jeans" or "do I look fat in this" is a futile attempt to fill a void.  I ask you, what is that void and why do you need someone else to fill it?   Think about it.  And then fill it without putting yourself down along the way.

Last year we kicked off the week at Apex High School by showing the "Fat Talk" video to the entire school, almost 2300 students.  Using suggestions from Tri-Delta, we had a different theme each day, including a day titled, Body Image, not Just a Girl Thing. Some students got it, others didn't.  Some teachers took the time to discuss the video with their students, others didn't.  We are doing it again this year.  I don't care how many people I annoy with my relentless Fat Talk badgering, if it has a positive effect on one person, my job is done.

In addition to Apex High, we are also celebrating the week at the Cary Family YMCA.  We have a giant Fat Talk Trash Can, positive sayings strategically placed on mirrors and the scales, Fat Talk Free pledge sheets, and a giant bulletin board with heart post-it notes so members can write what they love about their bodies.

I challenge everyone reading to not only remove fat talk during this week, but forever. I challenge you to watch the video with someone you love and send it to everyone you love.  And lastly, I challenge you to treat yourself like you would treat your best friend.  I would hope you wouldn't take away her dessert and say, "You really shouldn't eat that, it's going to go straight to your thighs."  Or you probably wouldn't tell her, "You would look so much better if you lost 10 pounds."  This is easier said than done, I know.  I also know small steps = big change, and that change begins with you.

Julia V. Taylor