NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION and STOP Obesity Alliance

Hosted by: NYC Campus of Pace University

Friday April 2, 2010

One Pace Plaza, New York, NY

Multipurpose Room on the B level (Enter the building on 3 Spruce Street, between Nassau and Gold Streets

8:30 am Registration/breakfast

9:00-11:00am Panel discussion

FREE to public, all are welcome. Please register, space is limited: www.myneda.org, or click Weighty Matters Flyer, found above in upper right corner.

How should we be talking about weight, size and health? Are we missing the mark?

Join our impressive panelists, a unique mixture of leaders from the media, communications, eating disorder and obesity fields. Increasing public concern about the rise in obesity has led to societal confusion about what’s healthy and has created an unrealistic pressure to be thin. Coming together for the first time, this panel will make recommendations on how to effectively and responsibly communicate the connection between health and weight to the public. This roundtable will also address current perception, dialogue and images in media and entertainment which may be resulting in an increase of body image issues, eating disordered behaviors and obesity. Moderated by Diana Williams, WABC-TV

Susanna Schrobsdorff Executive Director, Newsweek Education

Dr. Max Gomez Medical Reporter, WCBS-TV

Emme Model and Activist, NEDA Ambassador

Ovidio Bermudez, MD Past President, NEDA, also representing AED, IAEDP, BEDA

Wendy Naugle Deputy Health Editor, Glamour Magazine

Donna Ryan, MD President, The Obesity Society

Joseph Nadglowski, Jr. President, Obesity
Action Coalition

Jen Drexler Partner, Just Ask A Woman

I also feel compelled to thank Mo'nique's husband Sidney Hicks, for encouraging her to take on this role because it was an important role to play despite not being the most popular choice at the time.

Article Date: 08 Feb 2010 - 0:00 PST

Preschool children exposed to three household routines -- regularly eating family meals, getting adequate sleep, and limiting screen-viewing time -- had a roughly 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than those exposed to none of these routines. The study, "Household Routines and Obesity in U.S. Preschool-Aged Children," published in the March issue of Pediatrics (appearing online Feb. 8), involved a cross-sectional analysis of 8,550 4-year-old U.S. children in which researchers examined the association between childhood obesity and three household routines. Eighteen percent of all the children in the study were obese.

Among those exposed to all three household routines, the prevalence of obesity was 14.3 percent, compared with 24.5 percent among those exposed to none of the routines. Each routine by itself was associated with lower risk of obesity, and the more routines children had the lower was their risk for obesity.

The association between having these routines and a lower risk of obesity was seen in both higher and lower income households and for children with and without an obese mother. Study authors suggest that these household routines offer a promising approach to preventing childhood obesity and the routines may also benefit other parts of children's development.

Source American Academy of Pediatrics

Thank you Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (www.yaleruddcenter.org) for highlighting this article in your newsletter!

Thin Threads®: Real Stories of Life Changing Moments, a book series published by Kiwi Publishing, is looking for true life stories written by teens and young adults.

If you’re a young writer between the ages of 13 and 21 and have a life changing mo- ment to share with our readers, we want to hear from you.

Martha Handler, co-author of this upcoming edition, is currently collecting Thin Threads stories that embrace the best of the human spirit – the heart and instinct that exists in each of us and leads us toward becoming who we were meant to be.

We are especially interested in personal essays that capture a moment, event, or decision that redirected a young life for the better, a connection that has positively transformed a teen or young adult in preparation for a fulfilling life.

Submission Guidelines:

•Personal essays should be written in first person.

•Word count 800-1200; please double space submissions.

•Include a brief bio with your submission.

•Submit on-line. Visit: www.thinthreads.com

Deadline for submissions: May 23, 2010

Story Writing Contest Prizes: • First Prize: $500 to author, $500 to his/her selected charity

• Second Prize: One American Airline ticket anywhere in the US (certain restrictions apply, see website )

• Third Prize $100 Gift Certificate A $100 permission fee will be paid for all stories selected for publication.

For further information, please visit www.thinthreads.com, or contact

Martha at: martha@thinthreads.com

www.kiwipublishing.com

To love oneself exactly as is, is no easy task — especially if you make your living in the critical public eye of the entertainment and fashion worlds. But celebrated full-figure model Emme makes no apologies about living by that sentiment. Since her ground-breaking arrival to the fashion world in 1990, supermodel, author, mother, designer and advocate for healthy body image and self-esteem, brings refreshing perspective to everything she approaches. Her enthusiasm for acceptance of one's physical appearance, is surmounted only by her passion "to awaken the inner magnificence inherent in each of us."

Emme's lifelong battle with food, body-image and self-esteem informs her advocacy work. Her struggles and triumphs qualify and empower her in a special way to help other women move toward self-love and acceptance. In 1993 she became affiliated with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), and was named Chair Ambassador in 1997. She describes the organization as "the US clearing house for all issues that deal with eating disorders." NEDA provides education, support and treatment to individuals and their families living with the disease. Twice named People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People of the Year," Emme also supports Ophelia's Place as an adjunct to NEDA. "I went to Syracuse, so I picked a little place — the little engine that could. It's a halfway house for people to go after they get out of treatment," she says. Founded by Mary Ellen and Dan Clausen, the once small operation is now a globally recognized resource center.

In similar suit, Emme shares her experience as a cancer-survivor to help and inspire others. One of her favorite organizations is the Comedy Cures Foundation, founded by Saranne Rothberg, who launched the organization in 1999 during her own treatment for stage IV cancer. The national nonprofit aims to "bring joy, laughter and therapeutic humor programs to kids and grown-ups living with illness, depression, trauma and disabilities.

And while Emme supports other causes such as Hearts of Gold, a NYC-based organization that supports underprivileged mothers and children and the Montel Williams MS Foundation (her father had MS), her real focus is on shifting our collective sensibility on beauty.

According to Emme, "there is a statistic that states 80 percent of women are dissatisfied with their bodies." Regardless of age, however, she thinks all women need to stop and ask themselves the questions: "What the hell is wrong with me ... why can't I be beautiful?! Am I really having enough time for silence? Am I eating well? Being really honest and really asking ourselves the questions is a good place to start."

The deconstruction of old ways can start with simple actions like discontinuing the use of a product that doesn't make you feel good, or writing a letter to a magazine that sends disjointed messages. To that end she says, "Sign your name. Be proud." But the real impact she believes comes from the change that happens in your own life first. "If you can stop the negative self-speak, the body bashing, beating yourself up ... good food, bad food, whatever it is that you call bad. Just enjoy whatever you're enjoying. Just be really responsible for yourself and not wait for — a thing or someone or a pill — to do it for you. I need to take the bull by the horns and figure out what makes me happy."

Born, Melissa Miller in Manhattan, the 5' 11 beauty spent much of her childhood in Saudi Arabia, before returning to the US as a teen. Weight was always an issue in their home; the goal: to keep it off. When Emme was only 12, her father, who also struggled with his weight, circled her "trouble" areas with a black magic marker. Such events set into motion years of negative self-talk. Fortunately, a love of sports helped Glamour magazine's 2008 "Woman of the Year" keep fit, and assuaged some of the challenges associated with battling weight. It also earned her a spot on the Syracuse University crew team, for which she received a full scholarship. Emme started her career as a reporter and morning anchor for the NBC affiliate KNAZ-TV.

In 1990, at age 27, Emme entered the less-than-welcoming fashion world. While waiting on the set of her first modeling gig, she overheard the world-renowned photographer refusing to work with a "fatty." The shoot eventually happened. The painful words didn't send Emme running for the door, If anything, they fortified her determination to carry on and be herself.

Highlights

* In 1997 Emme's candid first book True Beauty hits shelves, paving the way for new attitudes about body image. The same year, she spoke before a Congressional committee on eating disorders.
* After battling lymphatic cancer in 2007, Emme goes green and shares about her experiences on iVillage blog Simply Green with Emme.
* First full-figure model to sign with Revlon in 1997.
* 2009 finds Emme in front of the camera as the host of dating show More to Love.
* Plus size fashion collection Me by Emme launches in fall 2009.

What You Can Do

* Find new ways to boost your self-esteem.
* Get educated on eating disorders.
* DoSomething like Emme

Photos by Robert Ascroft/FOX

High-fashion magazine V is celebrating bodies of all shapes and sizes in its latest issue. Host Liane Hansen speaks with the features editor of V, Christopher Bartley, and curvy-model Emme to find out if this is going to become the norm for the fashion industry.

LIANE HANSEN, host:

The shapes in high fashion magazines may be changing. The latest issue of V, for example, is dedicated to models of all sizes. So, curvy figures as well as slim ones are featured in its glossy pages. Joining us from our New York bureau is Christopher Bartley, the features editor of V magazine. Hi, Christopher.

Mr. CHRISTOPHER BARTLEY (Features Editor, V Magazine): Hello. How are you?

HANSEN: And he is joined by plus-size supermodel Emme. Welcome to the program.

EMME (Supermodel): Hi, Liane. I'm so happy to be here.

HANSEN: Oh, it's nice to have you both. And, Christopher, I'd like to start with you, because this issue of V, it's called the size issue. And it features actresses Dakota Fanning and Gabourey Sidibe from the movie "Precious." Now, these two women could physically not be more different.

Mr. BARTLEY: Exactly.

HANSEN: But the one thing they do have in common is the fact that they're both great actresses. But as a features editor, was there something behind in your mind when you juxtaposed these two?

Mr. BARTLEY: Well, Gabby actually inspired the issue in a way, along with Crystal Wren, who we'll touch on later. But we saw the trailer for "Precious" in the office over the summer and we just fell in love with her.

HANSEN: Emme, I want to bring you in because on your blog (www.emmestyle.com) you highlight some points in the debate over this V magazine issue and wrote that some people consider it a bold move on the magazine's part, but others say that full-sized women should be featured in every issue. Where do you stand on that?

EMME: Every issue.

HANSEN: Every issue.

(Soundbite of laughter)

EMME: Yeah. It shouldn't be an issue of size, it should be women. And I think that the media, especially women's magazines, would do themselves a favor if they truly, truly did this because it would reduce so much of the horrible push for the prepubescent image, the drive for thinness, the unrealistic expectations I feel that are just delivered to us day in and day out.

HANSEN: Christopher, you're nodding assent. I can hear you when Emme's talking about having other sized women featured in every issue. But is this a promotional effort, this one, or will V magazine continue to use models of all sizes?

Mr. BARTLEY: We absolutely will continue, but, I mean, I do believe that anything has to start with a revolution of sorts. So, you have to be radical and then conversations start from there.

EMME: Amen. Go, Christopher, go.

Mr. BARTLEY: You know, like...

(Soundbite of laughter)

EMME: And also, Liane, I have to jump in. I know Cindy Levy over at Glamour magazine, she had made a commitment last year to have size 12s and 14s and 10s, and then also booking models that are also size six and size four together in editorial spreads. Now, that is where we're going.

HANSEN: Emme, in the modeling world, what's considered a plus size?

EMME: In the modeling world, some might say 10, but I kind of laugh hysterically at that. Twelve, 14 and then 16 is kind of a fall off for print. So the women that work are 12, 14s and a solid 14.

HANSEN: Do you find the term plus size to be derogatory?

EMME: Degrading? Yes. Because it's obvious that we are fuller and shapely and, you know, have a little bit of sexiness.

HANSEN: Sure.

EMME: (unintelligible) sexiness to us. So...

HANSEN: But plus size doesn't necessarily mean obese or unfit.

EMME: Absolutely. There's this controversy that some people think that we sit back and kick back the milkshakes and the bonbons and all that. But in order to be a model, you have to train, you have to eat well, you have to think well of yourself and you have to be, like, a natural German-Polish big-boned gal who likes to take care. And it's natural. It's a natural shape.

HANSEN: I'm speaking with supermodel Emme and Christopher Bartley, who's the features editor of V magazine about the new size issue, which is on the newsstands now. Christopher, in the size issue you have some pretty skillful Photoshopping to show, you know, a skinny and heavier version of the same model wearing the same clothes.

Mr. BARTLEY: That's actually two different models.

HANSEN: Is it really?

Mr. BARTLEY: Yes.

EMME: Yes. Very much.

Mr. BARTLEY: Two different.

HANSEN: All right. Well, what was the motivation for doing this?

Mr. BARTLEY: Well, that story specifically was to show that the same runway samples, which are a size two, could be worn on a runway model and Crystal Wren. In each spread, there's a model wearing her size two sample. She looks great. Down the right there's Crystal Wren wearing the same exact outfit, and that she looks amazing as well. So...

HANSEN: And we're talking Versace, you know, we're talking Armani.

Mr. BARTLEY: Versace, Proenza Schouler.

HANSEN: Yeah.

EMME: I've had cut clothes up the back to demand the look that is on the runway can look great on a body that's a 14.

HANSEN: It's an interesting conversation to have when there's such a push now against obesity.

EMME: Correct. We definitely have a bipolar problem with our health in this country. One end, horrendous obesity and on the other side that's not talked about - and I'm glad to be able to bring this up - is another epidemic of anorexia, bulimia, associated disorders that are not really talked about. It's messy and it doesn't look great.

That's where the drive to be thin, thin, thin at all costs. And even women who are below a size 12 are the ones that are using more of the diet products than the ones that are above a size 12, you just kind of scratch your head and go, what is going on here? When are we going to shake ourselves?

HANSEN: Christopher Bartley is the features editor of V magazine and Emme is a supermodel and TV personality. They joined us from our New York bureau. And you can find more about V magazine's size issue on our blog. Go to NPR.org/Soapbox. Thanks, both of you.

EMME: Thank you so much.

Mr. BARTLEY: Thank you so much. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. Source: NPR

CBS recently announced it would air an anti-choice ad during the big game, paid for by the notoriously intolerant and divisive Focus on the Family. The decision is a direct contradiction of CBS's own policy of banning advocacy ads. Over the past few years alone it's rejected commercials from organizations such as PETA, United Church of Christ and MoveOn, and even ones that carry only an "implicit" endorsement for a side in a public debate.

CBS executives say, "there is nothing political and controversial about it," but Focus on the Family has a long history of discriminating based on gender, sexual orientation, choice and religion. Therefore, it's up to us to set the record straight.

Tell CBS executives and the NFL to scrap the ad! please cut and paste into your browser: http://notunderthebus.com/

The anti-choice, anti-tolerance message has no place during the Super Bowl.

Best, Jehmu Greene President, Women's Media Center

Thank you Creative Coalition (a nonprofit social and political advocacy organization supporting the arts) for inviting me to be a part of this motivating and poignant panel to discuss the various causes and ideas for change around obesity. I am certain good things will come of it.

Photo: AFP