Lois Capps: “I take this opportunity to acknowledge National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Millions of Americans struggle with an…”

“I take this opportunity to acknowledge National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Millions of Americans struggle with an eating disorder. We must do more to increase public awareness about diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. One critical step we can take is to promote positive body image. As we all know, the media has a significant influence on girls' and young women's perception of the ideal body size and shape. Sixty percent of girls say they compare their bodies to fashion models, and a staggering 90 percent say they feel pressured to be thin from the fashion industry. Just as we witnessed with cigarette advertisements targeted at young women, fashion advertising often portrays a twisted ideal of beauty. I urge my colleagues to take this opportunity during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week to work together to promote positive body image to the girls and women in your lives and in your congressional district. Our support on this issue is vital to ensure the physical, emotional, and social health of all our girls.”