Eating Recovery Center Quiets “Fat Talk” During Fat Talk Free Week

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 15, 2009 – Denver, Colorado– When nearly 85 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance and one-half of all fourth grade girls are on a diet, it’s no wonder “fat talk” permeates American society. During Fat Talk Free Week (October 19-23, 2009), individuals are encouraged to ban this form of self-defeating dialogue from their lives. Eating Recovery Center (www.eatingrecoverycenter.com), a behavioral hospital providing comprehensive and sustainable treatment of eating disorders, offers the following four recommendations to help individuals improve their body images and banish “fat talk” from their daily routines.

•   Recommendation #1: Educate Yourself and Others
Increased awareness of eating disorders and body image concerns can help people understand why body image discrepancies arise and how to battle them. The models in the magazines weren’t born that way; airbrushing and photo editing programs promote the unattainable.

•   Recommendation #2: Teach Children Healthy Body Behaviors
Parents and authority figures are the biggest role models in a child’s developing body image. Offer children constructive verbal messages; this can help build their self-esteem and enhance a positive body image.

•   Recommendation #3: Be Aware of Your Thoughts
Replacing negative thinking patterns with more positives ones can help rectify a poor body image. Think about what your body allows you to do, rather than how it looks; this can help redirect your focus toward appreciation of your body.

•   Recommendation #4: Eliminate Self-Destructive Behaviors
Self-destructive behaviors, such as overcritical comments about weight, can negatively impact body image, causing individuals to focus solely on negative aspects. Take a look in the mirror; affirm positives and practice relaxation activities such as yoga or meditation to fully connect with your body.

“Society’s ‘thin ideal’ is strengthened by ‘fat talk,’ statements about weight and size that are frequently made in everyday conversation,” explains Dr. Kenneth L. Weiner, co-founder and medical director of Eating Recovery Center, an eating disorder center in Denver. “These seemingly insignificant comments can reinforce negative body image and can severely damage an individual’s self-esteem and may put into motion a cycle of unproductive behavior that could result in an eating disorder.”

Eating Recovery Center, situated at the foot of the Rockies in beautiful downtown Denver, Colo., provides individuals 17 and older sustainable treatment for eating disorders in a warm, nurturing environment. Recently recognized as a “Champion in Healthcare” by the Denver Business Journal, the Center opens its expertise to the public with a 12-week Body Image Group program. Designed to help participants build positive body beliefs, the program is ongoing and new participants are welcomed at any time.

Experts Available: Renowned eating disorders expert and co-founder of Eating Recovery Center, Dr. Kenneth Weiner, and chief marketing officer and director of certification for the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, Julie Holland, MHS, CEDS, are available for interviews to supplement your Fat Talk Free Week stories. Contact Shannon Fern at 303.433.7020 or sfern@csg-pr.com to arrange an interview.

About Eating Recovery Center
Eating Recovery Center, situated at the foot of the Rockies in beautiful downtown Denver, Colorado, provides individuals 17 and older sustainable treatment for eating disorders in a warm, nurturing environment.  Our comprehensive program offers patients from across the country a continuum of care that includes inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient and outpatient services in a behavioral hospital setting.  Our compassionate team of professionals collaborates with treating professionals and loved ones to cultivate lasting behavioral change.  For more information please call 877-825-8584 or chat with us live and confidentially at www.eatingrecoverycenter.com.

Contact:     
Shannon Fern                                    
(o) 303-433-7020
(c) 303-667-3553
sfern@csg-pr.com