What you can do as sufferers, carers, family and the general public to make changes!
There are many ways in which you can help to alter the media perception of eating distress. There are also ways in which you can help to combat negative messages conveyed to the public that fuel the obsession with image in our culture.

We live in a body obsessed world and the media know it. To gain readership and to sell products the media will use societies obsession for their own profit often disregarding the damage that setting standards of physical "perfection" can do to many of us. Most advertisers and media aggressively promote weight-loss and the diet industry and use very thin models to sell products. The media need to realise that genuine human beauty lies in our differences, not our similarities.

The media continue to bombard us with ads and articles that tell us you have to be a certain shape to fit into society, you have to wear certain clothes to be trendy, you have to be a successful mother, daughter, son, father, work colleague, student.......the list goes on. The media rarely tells you that you are perfect just the way you are, WHY? because if it did then diet products would never be sold (which is a highly profitable industry), magazines and newspapers would not roll in as much profit as they do now for advertising these products, clothes would not be sold at the rate they presently are, cosmetic surgeries would close, industries would be affected and become bankrupt. Every time you read that article that tells you, you have to change to be happy and to fit in just remember that for the most part the people behind that advertisement or article are often thinking of profits and not your mental health or happiness. Be aware of their techniques, be aware that YOU HAVE A CHOICE.You can believe what they say as truth and continue to pursue a goal that may never bring happiness or you can challenge their messages and stand up for your rights to be the valuable person you already are, to be the shape you naturally are. Learn to be critical about what you read.

Not all articles on eating distress are written with the aim to spread awareness. Often magazines or newspapers sensationalise eating distress to gain readership. Ask yourself when you read an article is this article written to help sufferers, family and friends or written to sensationalise eating distress. Be aware that many journalists who write articles on eating distress may not have much knowledge on the subject and may not have spoken to reliable sources. They may quote sufferers who are still in the condition and who do not harbour a belief of full recovery. They may have a close deadline for finishing the article and therefore do not put a lot of thought into the content of the article or the consequences for readers of the article.

Often there are tell tale signs to indicate that the article has been written to sensationalise eating distress. Look out for the use of famous people's names on the title or in the introduction. Eating distress does not affect solely those people under the spotlight, most sufferers keep their secret very much to themselves too ashamed to let others know about it. It is not about appearance but about the persons' negative perception of themselves and the world. Articles that sensationalise the condition often do not have the sufferer in mind. Many do not give any contact number where help can be sought. An article written to spread awareness should allow the sufferer to identify with the article and be given information that will allow them to receive adequate help and support for their journey to full recovery.

The media often stereotype sufferers. The typical sufferer is usually young, female and underweight. Often people feel that they must fit into the stereotype set by the media before they receive help. The reality is that the number of people who fit into the criteria set by media industries are only a small percentage of eating distress sufferers. Male and females can suffer from eating distress, they can be of any age, race or shape. Don't ever feel that you aren't thin enough or sick enough to receive help, this is a misconception often spread by the media.

The media often write articles or show documentaries that are very triggering to sufferers. Triggering articles use numbers such as weights, number of binges, laxatives etc. They often have photos of sufferers at very low weights. These numbers and photos often fuel sufferers' behaviour and again result in stereotyping sufferers. They feed into the negative condition telling sufferers they should be that weight or look that way before they really have an eating distress and therefore are deserving of help. THIS IS WRONG, you can be of any shape to have eating distress and are deserving of help at any stage.

Frequently articles and documentaries are centred on one sufferer's story. They often detail behaviours of the sufferers', that act as triggers to other sufferers. A lot of the time these sufferers are still in their condition. Be aware that they may feel negative and that the message portrayed by the article is one of hopelessness. Articles like these often convey eating distress as being an illness where full recovery is not possible. The sufferers because they are in the condition don't always see a way out of the condition. The fact it FULL RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE. When in the condition it is hard to believe that this is true but put your trust in those who believe it is as they are right.

Be aware of articles that centre on food behaviours. These are only symptoms of the condition. These articles are not helping to spread awareness about what eating distress really is. They help to misinform the general public that eating distress is about food and not the person.

Don't always believe what "experts" say. Many articles back up what they say by quoting "experts". Be wary of experts who say that recovery is not possible and that the condition is something sufferers will have to live with for the rest of their lives (especially in times of stress). This is not true, full recovery is possible. Question who the media consult with for articles.

As you can see the media spread many misconceptions about eating distress. However, the media is a valuable tool that can be used to spread awareness. We can help change it and help educate media sources on eating distress. Please help us do this. Join our letter campaign whether you're a sufferer, family, friend or the general public. Write to magazines, newspapers, TV and radio if you find that they are helping to spread misconceptions about the illness. If you find articles or advertisements offensive write to the board of advertisements and the newspaper or magazine in question. Voice your opinion, tell them how their article has upset you, give them advice on how they can change it. Respond to positive articles, praise them for their awareness. Acknowledge their efforts to spread positive messages. Take responsibility for what you read and speak up against it if you feel it is misinformed or feeds into the destruction of others.

You can help us with our letter campaign!
At the moment we are trying to let as many media sources as possible know about out existence. If you want to get involved in the writing and sending of introductory letters,protest letters,letters of praise contact us at edmediagroup@hotmail.com

Email us!

What do I look for in positive articles/ads?
The following is a list of some elements you can watch for in articles/ads.


(1)Articles that convey that full recovery is possible.

(2)Articles that give constructive advice on how to find help for your eating distress or information on what helped other sufferers.

(3)Articles that emphasise that weight,food,behaviour are only symptoms of a more complex life-threatening condition.

(4)Ads that show people of a variety of sizes and body shapes. Ads that promote diversity.