Honoring Weight Stigma Awareness Week

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The Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) has deemed this week Weight Stigma Awareness Week to help create a “world where people are supported in living happy, healthy lives, free of judgment about the size of their bodies.”

To honor this very special week, we have chosen to mention some courageous people whom we feel have boldly publicized their own weight struggles and eating disorders to raise awareness and give others hope. Of course, we can’t mention everyone whom we admire, but here are a few standouts.

Amanda Beard, US Olympic gold-medal swimmer openly discussed her battle with eating disorders, which started after winning her first gold medal at age 14.

Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC’s talk show “Morning Joe” discussed her disordered eating struggles on “Katie” and in her book “Obsessed: America’s Food Addiction-and My Own.”

Brian Cuban, segment host for “Brian Cuban’s Legal Briefs,” and brother of infamous Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban, publicly shared about his 27-year eating disorder in several interviews and in his recently published book “Shattered Image.”

Nina Davuluri, the 2013 Miss New York and Miss America has spoken about her struggle with Bulimia during her college years; and is now a passionate activist for healthy eating and “realistic beauty standards.”

Ashley Hamilton, the 38-year-old son of George Hamilton and star of Iron Man 3, told People Magazine that he’s struggled with an eating disorder since he was a teenager and sought treatment for it earlier this year.

Mariel Hemingway, granddaughter of Ernest, publicly talked about her turbulent life including her severe eating  disorder, which is detailed in her book “Finding My Balance: a Memoir with Yoga.”

Carre Otis, a top fashion model and actress admittedly “starved” herself for 17 years trying to conform to model standards and nearly died in her quest for thinness. Today, she is healthy and trying to educate other women about the fatal dangers of eating disorders.

Contact MBHA today at info@mbhany.com or (914) 723-6242 x505 to find out about our various treatment groups, individual therapy, Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and hypnosis for weight loss (GBH).

Go to beda.com to learn more about Weight Stigma Awareness Week and to see how you can participate by blogging, becoming a member or sharing your story.