BIEDAW party.

BIEDAW 2010
Body Image Eating Disorder Awareness Week
Sunday 5th—Saturday 11th September 2010

What are Eating Disorders?

Eating Disorders:
Are complex and serious psychological and physical illnesses.
Develop due to lots of different reasons—Biological, Psychological, Environmental and Socio-Cultural
Are illnesses that affect males and females, of all ages, from various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds
Are illnesses that you cannot always see
Are not about food. Sufferers experience intensely low self esteem and experience high levels of emotional pain. These feelings are expressed via difficulties with food and eating.
Are not lifestyle choices
Are life threatening and all require professional treatment
Can be overcome... Recovery is possible!

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Warning signs in the school environment

Students may present with some, all or a combination of these warning signs. If you are concerned about a student please contact The Butterfly Foundation for support on how to intervene.

The earlier intervention occurs, the more likely a full recovery is achieved.

Withdrawn, looking overly sad or quiet, mood changes

Preoccupation with Food, Weight, Image, Dieting, Exercise

Dramatic Weight Change (decreases, increases or significant fluctuations)

Avoidant behaviour around eating at recess and/or lunchtime

Compulsive Exercise

Frequent Trips to the bathroom during class times

Notable change in „performance‟

Difficulty in concentrating, jittery and agitated

Over layering (in particular during warmer months) —more so than their peers

Risky behaviours (sexual, drugs, alcohol, self harm)

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Self Esteem & Body Image

Low self esteem and negative body image are significant factors in the development of an eating disorder (combined with other contributing factors). If a young person is struggling with the feelings they have about themselves and their bodies they are at greater risk of developing disordered eating and mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety or an Eating Disorder. The Butterfly Foundation is dedicated to working with young people and empowering them to value their unique self and bodies by providing positive tools, strategies and awareness about these issues.
We‟d love all Australians to understand that health and beauty is not just one shape, size or look—and that their weight or size does not determine their worth as a human being.
We would like to encourage your school or organisation to help us raise awareness about the importance of self esteem and positive body image in your school or community group during BIEDAW 2010. If these dates do not work with your calendar, you are of course, welcome to enjoy an activity... any day of the year!

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BIEDAW 2010—Suggested Activity Ideas

If you would like to make this activity a fundraising opportunity, attaching a „gold coin‟ donation for participating would be appreciated by The Butterfly Foundation.
Wear your favourite, colour or hat day! Embrace diversity
Themed day—’Embrace YOU’ ‘Butterfly Blue Day’ ‘Dress Like a Butterfly’, ‘Empowerment Day’ ‘Just As I Am’
Cup Cake or Butterfly Cake stall—
Fun Run or Walkathon—focusing on what the body can DO in a HEALTHY way!
You (or students/SRC) are most welcome to develop an activity that you feel promotes positive self esteem and body image! Please note we will need to approve all activities suggested to ensure they are inline with the Butterfly message.

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Body Image Booster Tips

Have fun with the way you look—fashion, hair, make up... Taking pride and having fun with your appearance is a great way to feel good about your whole self.

Be mindful of the language you use to describe your self and your body. Avoid toxic talk and labelling (e.g.“I‟m a loser”)

Avoid Body Bullying—if you call your body parts names and bully them (“My thighs are fat and disgusting”, “My arms are like pencils”) they won‟t feel good! Find things you like about your appearance and try to only comment in the positive about your amazing and unique body as often as possible.

Avoid talking about other people and their bodies in a negative way.

Beauty comes in many different shapes and sizes. There is no such thing as being „wrong‟ when it comes to the way we look. It is great that we are all different. Diversity is a wonderful thing.
Be active and move your body regularly for health benefits—your body is the only one you‟re ever going to get. Move it and nourish it so you have a strong and healthy vehicle to travel through life in.

When having a „bad body image day‟ work on focusing on what your body can do. Your legs help you walk, your arms carry things, your nose can smell things. Appreciate the wonders of the human body.

Try not to compare yourself to the images that you see of people in the media—or anyone else for that matter. Acknowledge and admire the beauty in others, but also look deeper to see the beauty that lies beneath the skin.

Be media savvy—what we see in the media isn‟t always real
Ask for help if it is all getting too much—sometimes despite our best efforts we still don‟t feel good about who we are and our body. Seeking help from others can help you work through your concerns and help you to move to a much more positive place.

Everyone deserves to and can FEEL good about themselves and their body.