Deseret News | Stop dissing your body, BYU speaker says

Reader comments
Stop dissing your body, BYU speaker says

Anon. | 7:01 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Thank you for sharing your message. Eating disorders are very prevalent, and the issues around them do extend beyond the food. Food issues are the way other thought processes manifest themselves in certain individuals. I struggled with an eating disorder for years, and the pressure to be thin, thin, thin is huge. We need to be healthy and accepting of our bodies and treat them with the respect they deserve. Thank you again.

Think again... | 7:17 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

The article does state it, and no photograph exists to support it, yet it sounds like a feel-good story by a fat woman to justify obesity as a healthy body image.

People should be concerned about their appearance. People should be concerned about their health. Taking the advise of a fat person that "looks" and/or "health" aren't that important is a poor direction to take. Some people have lower metabolisms than others. Some may have thyroid conditions that play a large part in their body weight [no pun intended]. But using that as an excuse, and justifying that it's okay to be obese may make you feel better in the short-term, but your long-term consequences will lead to loneliness and low self-esteem.

Think before you Speak out | 8:47 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

Dear Think Again, just google this speaker and you will see a very healthy gorgeous young woman who definitely is not "a fat woman". There are photos of her ice climbing, hiking and having fun at a very normal healthy weight. How strange that you would assume that she was justifying obesity when in fact she was promoting good physical and mental health. Please think again, before you jump to erroneous conclusions.

Comments continue below

KC | 9:49 p.m. Oct. 21, 2009

There's nothing wrong with labeling foods "good" or "bad". The fact is, some foods are far worse for you than others. And eating well is certainly in keeping with the Word of Wisdom, right?

Ignoramuses | 1:50 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

I knew that ignorance is a problem in Utah, and these replies - except for Think before you Speak out's - just reinforce that belief. Get a clue, people. Look at your own eating habits.

Not one size fits all | 8:42 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

The problem is that America is struggling with a problem with obesity and weight issues. While it is true that people with eating disorders do need to learn to accept themselves and eat a normal diet, for most of us, that is not the problem. Most of us need to learn to think about what we are eating and make the choice to cut out empty calories and exercise to stay fit and healthy. For people who do not have an eating disorder, worrying a little MORE about our diets and body image seems to be justified.

David | 9:18 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Sure and the "overweight" 4 month old need's to go on a diet. Too much milk right? We are fat phobic. Read some other studies. People that are classified as overweight by bmi are more likely to live longer and healthy than those that are underweight and normal weight combined! We are not talking about the morbidly obeses people here, we are talking about normal sized people 180-220 for men in the 5'8 to 6'2 range. Guess what? That's overweight! BMI is bogus! A woman 5'10" weight 120 is overweight by ralph lauren standerds, what kind of message are we sending here?

In the Church too!! | 10:06 a.m. Oct. 22, 2009

My daughter has an eating disorder that she has fought for two years now. Although a very good high school athlete she has also had to battle a bigger foe with Anorexia. The culture among high school girls is tough - everything is based on pants size. However, to our disappointment the culture within the Young Women's Program in the Church is almost as bad. My daughter would attend Young Women's only to be bombarded with talk of dieting and fashion etc... and much of this coming from her Young Women leaders!!!! Some of the leaders had surgical enhancements to their bodies and they placed HIGH value on "the skinny model" look. After speaking with our bishop and leaders the environment still didn't change. My daughter finally stopped going to young women. Interestingly enough it was some of the young men in the ward ward who were the most understanding and supportive. By the way my daughter was 5'6 115 lbs at the time she was hearing all this talk of dieting. People need to read Elder Hollands talk a year ago to the women of the church and FOLLOW IT!!!

JAYEG | 12:29 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

Re: Dave

She does have a life, Dave...and she is devoting that life in working very hard to help others who are suffering just as she has suffered.

What have you done with YOUR life, Dave?

JAYEG | 5:21 p.m. Oct. 22, 2009

There is a DVD I would recommend to anyone who struggles with negative self image.

"What the Bleep Do We Know?"

This documentary addresses in part, how human beings can actually become addicted to various thoughts and emotions, and the brain actually rewires to create more receptors for the chemicals released by these emotions.

The Lord said...'As a man thinketh, so he is'...would seem to be in line with the gist of this documentary.

How many can honestly look into a mirror and say...'I love you', 'You're beautiful', 'You're a good person and you deserve to be loved' to their own reflection?

Interesting stuff.

Jackie Teagann | 9:11 a.m. Oct. 23, 2009

My daughter is now 19 and has suffered with this dreadful disease for 6 years. She is an impatient and doing very well. I would just like to say that my daughter's illness stemmed back to MY past. I was in a very hostile relationship and my daughter became very scared and the only thing in her life she could control was her food. It is so very hard not to blame myself for her suffering but I wish I could swap places with her and give her life back. She is so talented and beautiful. She had high hopes of reaching the olympics but obviously that is not going to happen. She even took her exams in hospital and got the grades for Uni but she has gone down hill once again and that is not happening now.

Anonymous | 9:46 a.m. Oct. 23, 2009

If you were really over your ED, then you would not work every day in the field of eating disorders..I beleive you may be recovered from the symptoms and that you are not unhealthy in your eating habits any more..but you are so engrossed in the whole field of eating disorders, that you are not absent from ED at all..you have to live in the recovery everyday by helping others so therefore you can stay healthy your self..and that, that is the reality as I know all to well..please be honest Jenni..thank you..

JAYEG | 1:49 p.m. Oct. 23, 2009

IMPO...I have always admired those who, having dealt with eating disorders, or any other disorder for that matter, have devoted their life and their efforts in assisting others who are dealing with the same issues.

Kudos to this woman, and to others like her.

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