This Week, Ban the 'Fat Talk'

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Think back to the last time someone paid you a compliment.

How did you respond?

"Thanks, but I've still got a long way to go."

"Thanks, but my butt is gigantic."

"Thanks!"

When you look in the mirror, do you zero in on the flaw or focus on the positives?

Do you lament your hips or admire your strong legs?

Do you curse your flat chest or notice your slim wrists?

Do you fret over a few fine lines or appreciate your bright smile?

Most of us have trouble accepting compliments and silencing the nagging voices inside our heads. How often do you respond with a self-deprecating or humble comment when someone says something flattering to you?

While those comments might seem innocuous, they're not. (Keep reading for some ALARMING statistics!) I'm guilty of it, and just about everyone I know is, too, from time to time.

And this week, we're all going to do something about it.

Today marks the beginning of Fat Talk Free Week, an international, five-day body activism campaign that draws attention to body image issues and the damaging impact of the thin ideal on women in society. This annual public awareness campaign is organized by Delta Delta Delta fraternity. I read about this motivating effort on a few healthy living blogs, and I knew I wanted to share this challenge with you.

Tri Delta shares these stats:

81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat. 51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet.
(Mellin LM, Irwin CE & Scully S, 1992)

Barbie, the best-selling fashion doll in the world, has unattainable and unhealthy body proportions. If she were alive, her waist would be smaller than patients with anorexia nervosa, and she would be unable to menstruate. Research has shown that very young girls (ages 5-7) who are exposed to Barbie have lower body esteem and want a thinner body than they have.
(Dittmar, Halliwell, & Ive, 2006)

More than 2/3 of women ages 18-25 would rather be mean or stupid than be fat and over 50% would rather be hit by a truck.
(Martin, 2007)

1 in 4 women have avoided engaging in a physical activity or sport because they feel badly about the way they look.
(Dove, Beyond Stereotypes: Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty Beliefs)

So what can we do about all this Fat Talk?

Tri Delta offers five ways to cut the Fat Talk.
  1. Choose one friend or family member and discuss one thing you each like about yourself.
  2. Keep a journal of all the good things your body allows you to do (e.g., sleep well and wake up rested, play tennis, etc.).
  3. Pick one friend to make a pact with to avoid Fat Talk. When you catch your friend talking negatively about her (or his) body, remind her of the pact.
  4. Make a pledge to end complaints about your body, such as "I'm so flat-chested" or "I hate my legs." When you catch yourself doing this, make a correction by saying something positive about that body part, such as, "I'm so glad my legs got me through soccer practice today."
  5. The next time someone gives you a compliment, rather than objecting ("No, I'm so fat"), practice taking a deep breath and saying "thank you."
Today, I signed the promise form. No more fat talk for me! I urge you to do the same.

In addition, I challenge you to "pay it forward" and post a note for Operation Beautiful, a wonderful motivational website started by blogger Caitlin Boyle. (Read her interview with the dailySpark.) She lives random messages of kindness and positive self-image in public places, then photographs them and posts them on her website--and encourages others to post messages and email them to her. (She recently got a book deal, too!)

Are you guilty of "Fat Talk"? Will you participate in Fat Talk Free Week? Will you post an Operation Beautiful note?