Women and Girls really need to STOP BUYING THE BULLSHIT

[Rage Inc.]

I've had custody of my niece Stefanie for eight years now, my sister and brother-in-law having died in a car accident.

She's 15 now, and, today, she comes to me all excited about this new pill that's being advertised. Apparently, it makes you "feel fuller," so that you don't eat as much at your next meal.

Excuse me, but exactly how fucked UP is this??? The goddamn thing doesn't NOURISH you, it doesn't provide ANYTHING that's usable by the human body. It simply lowers your desire to commit the horrible sin of EATING!

To what end does this lovely, intelligent girl aspire? To go to bed underfed every night? For what purpose? That a New York fashion photographer or a Hollywood producer might deem her "acceptable," doubtless after numerous sexual assignations?

Look, everyone gets programmed by our society: Us guys are taught to be tough, while the gals are advised (read: coerced) to be attractive. But we all know that, in the past couple of decades, things have devolved FAR beyond those basic premises. Boys are actively encouraged by our corporate media (film, TV, advertising, video/online games) to be super-macho, violent, stone-cold SOBs, while girls are being told that slutty sexuality must be achieved as early as possible, preferably before they even hit puberty!

What's next? A drug that induces adolescence at age five??? And exactly how the hell am I supposed to protect Stefanie from all this PERVERSION of natural human development?????

[Warpy]

1. Tell her a whole grain snack after school will do the same thing

It will as the bran absorbs water and swells in her stomach, giving her a feeling of fullness. It will also nourish her with some important B vitamins, a few minerals, and a little energy.

Introduce her to soups, just make sure they're nice, chunky ones with lots of veg. Introduce her to better strategies for nourishing herself without gaining unwanted weight. Show her that learning how to cook is the best way of all to control how much junk she puts into her body.

Those are the things that will last a lifetime, good eating habits and staying away from junk foods that don't nourish, increase body fat, and leave people feeling tired all the time.

I'm afraid you're not going to be able to undo the cultural pressure that's being brought to bear against a teenaged girl. However, working with that pressure as a way to teach her healthy habits can be done if it's approached as long term weight control.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I must say how appropriate is your username...

Now, easy does it...

Talk to your niece. Find out where she's coming from. And then be calm, and rational...

Point out to her just what you've said here, minus the outrage...

She is vulnerable to her peer pressures, of course. But after having been brought up by you for all these years, she should at least have some idea about what you think.

She's trying to become an adult, and this involves making mistakes.

Help her find her way, and she will do it.

I expect she will respond appropriately...

Good luck!


And yes. That pill is extremely fucked up.

[Betty Karlson]

3. The mistake is not the niece's.

These days, models have, on average, 25 % less BMI than the average woman. A generation ago, that percentage was 12 %.

The mistake is with the media, who encourage super-slim "ideals" for women, and distort the image of what would be a healthy woman.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. True.

But his niece is the one who is dealing with the message.

He can't affect the media...

He can only hope to affect her.

[Codeine]

5. A question.

Assuming your figures are correct, are you saying models a generation ago had 12% of the BMI of the average woman THEN or the average woman NOW? Considering people have gotten wayyyy fatter in the interim the distinction matters. Do you have a link?

[Betty Karlson]

6. The BMI of the average woman has hardly changed in that time

Because the increase of obesity is more or less matched by an increase of "I need to look like a supermodel" women, gym-fanatics, etc... Remember, only one in three women is obese. The other two are not. And the chave that one of them has anorexia is increasing as well. Aspecially when they are young. The growing concern is for the 11/ 12 year old girls, who start packing weight at the ascent of puberty, and suddenly feel that they should eat less all of a sudden. This is damaging to their growth, and to their scholastic achievement.

There is a link, only it is in Dutch. You still want it?