If you are feeling anxious about the quickly approaching summer season (AKA swim suit season), here’s an idea for you: toss the scale.
The Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders is organizing a “Scrap Your Scale” event organized on May 10 (from 3 to 5 p.m.) at Gotta Dance, 1778 Ellsworth Industrial Drive NW Atlanta.
Former Miss Georgia Leighton Jordan, who has been open about her efforts to overcome an eating disorder gripping her for several years, adorned her scale with paints and then smashed it with an ax during her journey toward recovery in 2012.
“Our identity is so much more than a number on a piece of plastic, but unfortunately millions of people step on their scale every morning and allow the number to dictate how they will feel about themselves, what they will or will not eat, and how much they will work out. It’s an addiction that feeds low self-esteem and depression,” said Jordan who is participating in the event. “I know my life changed for the better the day I decided to step away from my scale, and on the day I decided to wake up every morning and focus on my identity outside of body image and a number.”
The event, in partnership with The Eating Disorders Information Network (EDIN), invites people to bring their scales to decorate with paints, stickers, markers etc., — and then whack into pieces as part of a cathartic exercise.
Dr. Linda Buchanan, clinical director of the Atlanta Center for Eating Disorders said the event is also designed to dispel myths about eating disorders. (ie., myths include eating disorders are a matter of choice, and that only white girls from the suburbs get eating disorders. Other myths include eating disorders are a matter of vanity or a way to get attention.)
“I work with people every day who feel enslaved by their scales. One of the most courageous acts that these individuals can do is give up daily weighing and learn to trust their bodies again. In our culture, where we are bombarded with the messages about being thin and even the message that people should weigh daily, it is no surprise how difficult it would be to put their scales away. We suggest weighing no more than once a week (unless they have a medical condition that requires daily weigh ins) due to normal fluctuations. These
fluctuations can give false messages about whether weight has been
lost or gained.”
For more information about the event go to www.eatingdisorders.cc
