Cast your vote for Love Your Body Day 2008!

MEDIA RELEASE

October 6 2008

Cast your vote for Body Satisfaction: Love Your Body Day 2008!

80% of New Zealand women are dissatisfied with their bodies, and up to 1 in 5 struggle with disordered eating. In our current climate there are very few opportunities to celebrate and appreciate our bodies as they are and to acknowledge the beauty and natural diversity of all body shapes and sizes.

So put your hands up for body satisfaction on Love Your Body Day, Wednesday October 15 2008. In Auckland’s Aotea Square between midday and 2pm, Kiwis will be voting for body satisfaction and creating a colourful petition by placing their signed hand-prints on a huge canvas while enjoying entertainment including songs from Brittany Kusserow, body art, free massages and speakers, in the company of MP Judith Tizard and celebrities including TV broadcaster Alison Mau and radio personality Jay Jay Feeney. The first 100 people to turn up will get free goody bags overflowing with treats including soap, chocolate, muesli, tea, coffee, sunscreen, beach balls, chutneys, nail polish, lip gloss, stickers and other goodies. There’s also the chance to win a pamper hamper worth over $1000: including a Heritage Spa du Vin bathrobe, slippers, two-hour massage voucher, heaps of Comvita products, 10 double movie passes, Ceroc dance class vouchers, Bendon PJs, coffee, and some Green & Blacks chocolate.

On the eve of the election the giant canvas will be a compelling visual statement to those making decisions about service provision for disordered eating in New Zealand. In 2008, the lack of services, including early intervention and education for eating disorders in New Zealand has been widely criticised. Maree Burns, coordinator of the charity Eating Difficulties Education Network (EDEN) and of Love Your Body Day, explains that body dissatisfaction is a key factor in low self esteem and can contribute to the development of eating difficulties. “These figures are alarming. We should all be concerned about society’s idealisation of slenderness and recognise the importance of promoting body satisfaction for everyone.”

But the body celebrations and visual petitions don’t end there. For those aspiring to love their bodies and who want to spread the message, Love Your Body Day T-Shirts in three funky designs are available from the EDEN website from September to December – www.eden.org.nz

EDEN is an Auckland-based charity providing services to people with eating difficulties and working in the community to promote body satisfaction and prevent disordered eating. EDEN currently does not receive any government funding and is reliant on grants from philanthropic trusts, corporate partnerships, and donations from the public to run its services.

ENDS

www.eden.org.nz

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