WARNING:

There is a volatile disease spreading rapidly throughout all cities and states. It has affected people of all ages and genders but has taken a specifically hard hit on young girls. Often it goes ignored until there is no choice but to notice and deal with it. In some cases, it never actually reaches what society seems as 'harmful' so its victims suffer in silence.

At first, this disease does not seem harmful and actually appears as beneficial. Many deny the truth of their diagnosis, as well as try to ignore other’s comments and concerns. Many have been mentally and physically scarred by this disease and it has lingered on throughout the rest of their lives. Too many have died.

Some common symptoms are: Refusal to eat or denial of hunger, immense fear of weight gain, distorted self-image, excessive exercise, irritability, going to the bathroom directly after meals, bloodshot eyes, eating large amounts of food at once and thin appearance. In some cases the sufferer appears at a 'normal' weight, but their behavior is far from normal. Have you heard of this disease?

It’s called an eating disorder.

…Sound familiar?

I wish we could reach every girl in the U.S. about this disgusting disease. I wish we could ask them whether they have ever struggled with eating, body image or self-esteem.  Though I fear a very high percentage would say yes. I don’t fear the reality of their struggle or problem, I fear the damage our society has caused and helped to fester this disease.

We live in a culture where you are encouraged to go to any length necessary to achieve a perfect body. Whether that be dieting, starving, surgery, make up, or treatment. We are pressured to become something we are not in order to be successful, or beautiful or loved. We are fed a message that our worth is directly related to our appearance. THIS IS A LIE. This is a lie that we believe and a lie that we tell, everyday, with our actions.

More than ever this topic of weight has been circulating a lot around us. Whether it's on Facebook-- seeing weight loss pictures/statuses, passing the magazines at the store, reading about celebrities who are in treatment, or my friends who are coming to me admitting that they have a problem and need help. It is so upsetting and unsettling.

Due to the vast increase in awareness of this problem, we both have made a decision to delete the word “weight” from our vocabulary. This may sound silly or extreme but making comments about others weight (whether it is mean or nice) is not necessary. When that comment is the first comment made to someone it sends the all too common message that our weight is the most important aspect of us.

In the past few weeks, I have wanted to compliment different individuals on their weight loss. I thought to myself that no harm could be done because I “knew” they didn’t have a problem and that they were trying very hard to lose the weight. I resisted the urge and complimented them in a different way.  After one incident, I found out that my friend had been struggling with an eating disorder. If I had complimented her on her weight loss- I would have encouraged her unhealthy behaviors and fed into the belief that her weight is in fact the most important thing.

I realize that not everyone’s weight loss is because they have an eating disorder, acknowledging their weight could still be harmful to them and perpetuates the weight focused society we live in. Eating disorders kill- they have the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. They destroy so many lives. And whether you like it or not if you make conversation about weight- you are triggering the disease. Your pride and excitement over weight loss goals could be the downfall of someone else's recovery. It is the unawareness and lack of sensitivity by well meaning women that perpetuates the problem more than anything else.

It is great to take care of your body and be healthy but that is not the same thing as being thin or unhealthy. Media has brainwashed us into thinking that they are one in the same and that. We encourage you to take a stand, not only for yourself, but for the thousands of girls suffering from this disease.

Let's be a living reminder to all girls, young and old that beauty actually has little to do with what society leads us to believe. Let's raise up a generation of girls who are too busy being kind, generous, loving, brave, bold and God-fearing to worry about being merely thin. Let us, as woman band together and lift one another up for their achievements and stop giving any relevance to how much weight someone has lost.

Let's change the path for the girls that come behind us.

We claim the problem is our society but we are the society and we are the problem. Media and society’s view isn’t going to change until we change. It is our job as women to do something and to put a stop to this. Challenge yourself to stop talking about your weight and others’ weight. Just delete that word. Delete it.

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