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25 Jaunary 2007
The EDFV sent an official complaint about the US sit-com "Starved" that was re-run on Channel 7 during January 2007.
This is the letter:
RE: Starved, Jan 29 11.45pm – 12.14am
I am writing to you on behalf of the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria volunteers and members, as well as on behalf of the many people who have an eating disorder in Australia.
We were recently made aware that you have decided to re-run the pilot and a further three episodes of the axed American sit-com “Starved”. The sit-com is about a group of friends who suffer from various eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
When the series was originally shown in the United States, it received widespread criticism because of the dark humour of its content. It was axed after three episodes.
Eating disorders are not a laughing matter. It is a potentially fatal mental illness that can destroy lives, relationships and families. A sit-com about schizophrenia or AIDS would not be accepted by the general public. Why eating disorders?
While we realise that “Starved” is showing late at night during the non-ratings period, the show has still caused distress and anger with some viewers who originally watched the show in an effort to better understand their own eating disorders.
As Victoria’s peak body for support, education and advocacy for eating disorders, we ask that:
- “Starved” be discontinued for the remainder of its series on Channel 7.
- The pilot and three episodes not be re-run on Channel 7 again.
Eating disorders affect one in twenty women and at any given time seven per cent of Australians, including males, are suffering from a disorder. I hope you understand the distress this series can cause a lot of Australians.
We look forward to your positive reaction to our request, Sue MorganInterim Executive OfficerEating Disorders Foundation of Victoria
3 December 2006
The Sunday Age wrote an article on the slimming crisis that is hitting pre-teens. The EDFV was interviewed and quoted in detail. We also had a volunteer speaker, Kellie Raymond, profiled.
"Part of the problem is the huge emphasis we have one dieting and what children perceive they should look like," said the foundation's Frances Sanders.
Kellie Raymond said, "I tell them (sufferers) never give up, no matter how hard it seems. Eating disorders, no matter what they are, take a lot of energy and effort and if you have the energy to starve yourself and exercise for hours at a time, then you have the energy to get better, and it's worth it."
21 November 2006
Who Weekly covered the new chatroom and message board in their regular health section of the magazine.
2 September 2006
The Australian published a letter from the EDFV in response to an artilce on the new "size 0" fashion fad from LA, expected to hit Australia soon. The letter included our Hotline phone number. The letter read:
We have an invitation for LA stylist Rachel Zoe to further explore her obsession with creating stick thin girls.
If Kate Spicer's claim that California's new "size 0" body shape is coming to our
shores is accurate, we'll be needing extra volunteers for our Helpline.
We suspect however that the emotional pain and suffering experienced by
people with an eating disorder and their families, as well as the
devastating physical consequences, may be a trifle hard to sell.
Eating disorders are not about fashion or looking beautiful. They are a
complex and serious mental health issue and not a lifestyle choice.
1 September 2006
The Age quoted the EDFV after our media release for BIEDAW provided statistics that the number of children being hospitalised in Melbourne with eating disorders has risen threefold in two years.
Late August - Early September 2006
As part of BIEDAW, a number of our speakers were interviewed by their local newspapers about their recovery, BIEDAW and their work with the EDFV.
The newspapers, so far, have included Knox Leader, Preston Leader and the Melbourne Leader.
Mid August 2006
The EDFV was quoted in Famous Magazine about the effect of eating disorders. The article was a feature on celebrity Nicole Richie's "dramatic weight loss".
20 August 2006
The Matt & Jo Show on FOX FM featured a half hour of talk back on eating disorders.
One of our speakers, Natalie, spoke on the show about her experiences. Natalie spoke confidently and managed to get our Helpline on air.
The very next day we received several calls, including one call from a worried boyfried of a girl with an ED who didn't know who to call before hearing Natalie's interview.
5 August
The Age Good Weekend Magazine published a letter from the EDFV in response to an article about the childhood obesity problem and the once skinny kids that featured in school photographs. It read:
'We know many kids who still have bony knees, flat stomachs and visible ribs. However, they are not all glowing with health. Many are part of the current increase in the incidence of eating disorders affecting younger children. We need to ensure that self-esteem is protected when approaching weight issues. Let's ponder this when we pinch-test their "roly-poly stomachs".
'With the current fear of obesity pervading, a sensible balance between healthy lifestyle and protecting our children appears to be taking second place. Let's put both mental and physical wellbeing on the agenda.'
27 July 2006
CHANNEL 7 SOAPIE HOME AND AWAY recently featured regular character Maddy Hunter's (Indiana Evans) continuing battle with bulimia. This resulted in an increase in calls to our help line from young people battling the disease.
In a letter to THE AGE GREEN GUIDE, the EDFV wrote that while some sufferers felt the scenes were too graphic, leading them to re-consider engaging in risk behaviours, the issue of Maddy's eating disorders seems to have hit home with viewers.
Journalist Bridget McManus picked up on the letter and wrote a feature article on page three of THE GREEN GUIDE. Frances was interviewed.
Frances had some concerns about bulimia being dealt with on a teen soap. “Particularly with bulimia, there’s a stage where (bingeing and purging) seems like an easy way to resolve issues. So someone who might be at risk might actually try it if you show it,” she said.
“The nature of eating disorders is such that sufferers are highly competitive. So, for example, if you show someone with anorexia or you talk about what they’re eating or their (kilojoule) intake, people at risk will say, ’I’m having more than that, I better cut down.’ I spoke to one carer who said that the episode had been quite a step back, that the sufferer was saying they felt that they wanted to go and do the behaviour in response.”
However, Frances agreed that exposure of the disorder will benefit some.
“I think that it’s good that Home and Away is actually addressing and raising the issue, because although it may distress people, you’ve also got those people who think, ‘I’ve got that, maybe I should go and get some help.’ That’s why the resolution of Mattie’s problem is going to be so important.”
18 July 2006
After a media tip from a supporter and a number of calls to the help line from viewers of Home and Away, we sent a letter to The Age Green Guide about scenes with a character suffering from bulimia in the Channel 7 soapie. The letter read:
Maddy Hunter's (Indiana Evans) continuing battle with bulimia on Home & Away has resulted in an increase in calls to our Help Line from young people battling the disease.
While some sufferers felt the scenes were too graphic, leading them to re-consider engaging in risk behaviours, the issue of Maddy's eating disorders seems to have hit home with viewers.
With the best prognosis coming with early intervention, we hope that Maddy takes a proactive approach, like many of our callers have, by seeking help early.
17 July 2006
Executive Officer Frances Sanders was interviewed by a Canberra radio station about an article that appeared in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph. It reported on "pro-ana" anorexic websites. Frances talked about anorexia as a serious psychological illness and steered away from the web sites, which, helped by sensationalistic articles in the media, glamorises eating disorders.
11 July 2006
The Stonnington Leader wrote a feature article on our call for volunteers living in the Stonnington area to become part of our volunteer base. The article featured a photo and interview with EDFV worker Marilyn Amendola.
We immediately received five phone calls of enquiry the next day!
6 June 2006
9AM with David and Kim
Frances Saunders, Executive Officer of the EDFV, was joined by Aggie Giofsidis, also from the EDFV on Channel 10's 9AM with David and Kim. They spoke about body image issues and the negative impact that ultra-thin store mannequins have on young girls. There was an immediate impact from the public, with an increase of calls to our help line the very next day.
21 May 2006
Sunday Herald Sun
Frances was quoted in the Sunday Herald Sun on an article about Mannequins making lousy models.
Frances believes not only the mannequins, but the retail industry, contribute to negative body image among women.
"There is a lot of dialogue about clothing size and the impact of retail on body image in general," France said. "Many stories present the image of anorexia in their mannequins, in particular the 'lollipop' head on the tiny body, reminiscent of teenage role models like Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan."
Did you know the average Australian woman is size 14, while the average size mannequin is size 6? You can read more by uploading the EDFV Shop Store Mannequin Fact Sheet
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