"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe
This is how absolutely confusing the diet/fashion world can be: I cracked open the new issue of Teen Vogue, and the Letter from the Editor was called "Heavy Stuff." It was talking about teen obesity, and said that "only about one percent of women in this country are anorexic. . . while obesity looms as perhaps our greatest national health crisis." So basically, she was saying that the real issue that needs to be worried about is teens being too big, not too small. Now, just on the very same page, one of the pictures showed two models described as "born beanpoles" skipping down the beach in swimsuits.
And I just don't think that you can say one of these weighty issues is more important than the other, or really even separate them out. Eating disorders can be harmful, and obesity can be a problem, too. But I think all of this crazy-focus, both on model bodies and on weight gain, can take things a little out of control. It's like we're on a national weight obsession, which can make managing your own changing body like walking through dynamite.
Your body is really your personal property. I think it is so hard to remember that when you turn on the TV or open a magazine, and all the body talk jumps out - Look at her! Eat this and be healthy! Be your best weight! - buy your body is absolutely and completely yours. Always remember that. At the end of the day, nobody can tell you how to look at it dress it, feed it or take care of it - it's all for you.
