MEDIA RELEASE
EDEN’S Love Your Body Day - Body Painting Takes to Streets
On 16th October EDEN will celebrate Love Your Body Day with women of varying shapes and sizes taking to the streets ‘a
la body painted’. Love Your Body Day, a global initiative, hopes to help women accept themselves and feel good about
their bodies regardless of size
To show that size doesn’t matter and beauty comes from within, three local women have volunteered to have their bodies
painted by renowned body painters Jane Ellis of Rainbow Rascals, Chris Lajdes (Ruby Jack) and Magdalena O’Connor. Once
the bodies are painted the women will take to the streets around Auckland, with EDEN supporters, to raise awareness of
EDEN (Eating Difficulties Education Network).
“In the current climate where thin is held up as the ideal, there are very few opportunities to celebrate the beauty and
diversity that all people come in. This event will hopefully raise awareness and an appreciation for the diversity of
all body shapes and sizes.
“We are hoping the public will see these women, and understand how important body satisfaction and appreciation are in
building a positive body image and self esteem,” says Theresa Peters, EDEN Acting Agency Manager.
In NZ over 80% of NZ girls and women are dissatisfied with their bodies, and 1 in 5 women struggle with an eating
disorder. Appearance bullying is the highest form of bullying in schools and more and more young people are committing
themselves to a life of dieting, and low self esteem.
According to Peters these figures are alarming and we should all be concerned about society’s idolization of thin.
“It is so important to raise awareness of the dangers of negative body image. Society needs to recognize that we cannot
judge or measure ones health by numbers- such as BMI (Body Mass Index) or weight,” says Peters.
EDEN, an Auckland based charity, provides services to people with eating difficulties and works in the community to
promote body satisfaction and prevent disordered eating. There is currently minimal government funding for disordered
eating prevention.
www.eden.org.nz
ends