ACADEMY FOR EATING DISORDERS (AED) PRAISES FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA‘S STATEMENTS ON CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Healthy Behavior, Not Weight, Emphasized

DEERFIELD, Ill. – April 3, 2013 – The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) publicly celebrates the weight-neutral health views expressed by First Lady Michelle Obama in a recent appearance on “Fireside Hangout“ on Google+. During the interview, Mrs. Obama emphasized  the importance of an approach to childhood health and emotional well-being that surrounds youngsters with healthy food choices and fun physical activity, rather than  a focus on weight or physical appearance. The First Lady acknowledged that everyone’s body is different and that concentrating efforts aimed at healthy behaviors, as opposed to weight, is especially important in order to avoid  fueling weight-related stigma or weight obsessions among young people.

The Academy openly praises the First Lady‘s acknowlegdement that children‘s emotional well-being is equally important as physical health. To view the interview, go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05/michelle-obama-daughters-weight_n_2810579.html.

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About AED
The Academy for Eating Disorders is a global and trans-disciplinary professional organization with more than 1,500 members from 47 countries worldwide. AED provides educational resources and platforms for professional dialogue, training, and collaboration through its publications, including the International Journal of Eating Disorders, annual International Conferences on Eating Disorders, clinical teaching days and other programs. Visitwww.aedweb.org for more information.