VANCOUVER -- In the past, the focus has pretty much been on the treatment of these very serious disorders, but now there's a group intent on bringing the prevention message to parents. The move is backed by research which shows girls look more to their fathers and other male figures during their adolescent years and teenaged boys to their mothers for their sense of self.
Morgan Murray had an eating disorder. She says she wanted what was in the media. She wanted to be perfect and skinny.
At 15, Morgan Murray began dieting, but it soon developed into something more.
MORGAN SAYS, "I WOULD STARVE MYSELF AND THEN IF I DID EAT, I WOULD GET RID OF IT ANYWAY I COULD."
CLYDE MURRAY IS MORGAN'S FATHER. HE COMMENTS, "I MADE MISTAKES LIKE TRYING TO FEED HER. I MADE MISTAKES LIKE TRYING TO PUT HER IN FRONT OF A MIRROR AND SHOW HER WHERE ALL HER RIBS WERE SHOWING AND THAT TYPE OF THING, WHICH IS ALL SO WRONG."
To help prevent eating disorders from developing, outreach workers are bringing this body image kit to parents in BC.
PATRICIA O'HAGAN, CANADIANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF DISORDERED EATING SOCIETY, SAYS, "THIS IS NOT YOUR USUAL WEIGHT SCALE. THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SCALE OF FORTUNE."
Colours instead of numbers come up when you stand on the scale, and each one is tied to a positive message: like I will trust the wisdom inside of me. Tools like these help change the way we think, so messages about self-esteem aren't tied to body image.
O'HAGAN SAYS, "IF YOU'RE HEARING THAT MOM'S ALWAYS FAT OR DAD DOESN'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT BODY, OR WE'RE MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY GOOD AND WHAT'S GOOD ENOUGH, WE INTERNALIZE THOSE MESSAGES. WE'RE BIGGER THAN THAT WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO UNDERSTAND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE LOOK LIKE, IT'S OUR MINDS ARE WHAT MATTERS, IT'S THE THOUGHTS OF OURSELF."
So far, O'Hagan has got a lot of positive response from parents who don't realize the messages their sending.
SHE COMMENTS, "I'M SURE THAT A GOOD NUMBER OF MEN AND WOMEN HAVE SOME CLOTHES IN THEIR CLOSET THAT THEY'RE HOPING ONE DAY TO GET INTO AND THAT'S BASICALLY EATING AT YOUR SELF ESTEEM AND SAYING YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH."
MORGAN SAYS, "YOU KNOW, YOU TO NEED TO LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU ARE."
Morgan's now on back on track after going thru a treatment program. Her father is now a firm believer in getting the prevention message across. Clyde Murray says, "the only reason why I volunteer my time is to prevent this from happening to another family."
This program also teaches parents to recognize signs of eating disorders and what to do when problems arise. But provincial health funding for this program unfortunately runs out this spring, so organizers are looking for new sponsors to carry on.
Monday February 13, 2006
