Challenge the Status Quo and Be Comfortable in Your Genes!
Scarlett Pomers Shares Her Story

	Scarlett Pomers, 17, from the CW network sitcom, "Reba"

We asked Scarlett Pomers, actress and National Eating Disorders Association Teen Ambassador to National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDAW) about how girls can take action in their communities and help prevent eating disorders. She had a lot to say!

Scarlett's Say

I first announced I was receiving treatment for anorexia in November 2005. I was afraid of how the public would react to the mention of this secretive and stigmatized illness.

After I shared my story, however, I received thousands of e-mails from young women who understood my struggle. It confirmed my impulse to speak about it publicly. It made me realize that the illness is more widespread than most people think, and it is highly misunderstood. My experience inspired me to reach out and help others struggling with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

You Can Do Something!

Every girl has the power—and the right—to feel "comfortable in her genes." So whether you take a little time to discover your own concerns and fears, connect with a friend or adult, or take action in your community, here are some ideas for getting involved. You can make a difference!

• Be Comfortable in Your Genes
  Learn more about positive body image, the dangers of dieting, and how to be a critical viewer of the media. Identify ways in which our culture is obsessed with "the perfect body" so that you can be armed against unrealistic expectations about beauty.
  
  Did you know? Half of girls between the ages of 12 and 14 say they are unhappy because they feel fat. The average fashion model is thinner than 98% of women in the United States. The average person sees 5,000 ads in one day and one-third of these ads speak directly to beauty and appearance, giving us ideas and expectations about how we should look. Americans spend more than $40 billion each year on diet-related products. Most doctors and therapists report that the people they are treating for eating disorders were on a diet at the time the eating disorder began.

• Change your View
  Make it a point to look at the people around you rather than the images the media creates. Consciously choose to not let narrow images define and determine how you feel about yourself—about how much you should weigh, what clothes to wear, or what car to drive. Talk with your family and friends about images they see and how these images make them feel. Together talk about what images you choose to accept or reject.

• Express Your Concern
  It may seem difficult to know when to tell someone else about your concerns. But if you are worried about your friend's eating behaviors or attitudes, it is important to express your concerns in a loving and supportive way. Addressing body image or eating problems in their beginning stages offers your friend the best chance for working through these issues and becoming healthy again. Don't wait. Your friend needs as much support and understanding as possible.

• Reach Out
  Because your friend's health, or even her life, may be in danger, it is important not to keep this a secret. Talk to someone you trust even if you fear making your friend angry or getting her in trouble. Other people need to know so that they can encourage her to acknowledge the problem and get help. If your friend is under 18, her parents need to know immediately. You can ask a trusted adult—teacher, coach, counselor or Girl Scout advisor—for help.
  
  If you are struggling with an eating disorder, ask for help. It's not an easy thing to tackle alone. Share your concerns with a family member, a doctor or a trusted adult. And be patient. The healing process can take a long time, but the reward will be a more healthy relationship with yourself, with others and with food.

Get more information on uniquely ME! resources and tips for building self esteem.

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uniquely ME! THE GIRL SCOUT/DOVE SELF-ESTEEM PROGRAM was established in the fall of 2001 to boost self-esteem among girls ages 8 to 17. The uniquely ME! resources are available for all girls.