#yourwordsmatter

We are clinical psychologists, mental health clinicians, trainers and educators in the body image and eating disorders space. We are passionate about reducing harm to body image and promoting safer spaces for all bodies to thrive. 

In our many roles, we often hear stories of words said to people about their bodies that have stayed with them for decades, shaped how they see themselves, and changed how safe they feel in their own skin.

If you are feeling pretty vulnerable or if your body image is suffering so much that you think reading critical body focused comments might be triggering right now, please don’t read ahead. Go gently with yourself and be sure to reach out for support if you need it.

You’re welcome to anonymously share any comment someone has made about your body  here.  Here is what others are saying… 

We hope it is a reminder to everyone that #yourwordsmatter

1. Thunder Thighs
2. “You’re a bit fat” (through a quiet grimace by school nurse employed by [redacted] department of education during the then year 7 medical checks at school in the 80’s- age11 )
3. You’re pear shaped (said by a grade 7 teacher)
4. You’re wasting away, you’re disappearing, you need to eat something
5. It's not a dream body if it's a nightmare to maintain
6. "for someone who goes to the gym so much, she sure has put on a lot of weight" (in the midst of an eating disorder and puberty).
7. “Hi Fatty” (nickname)
8. She'll be a looker when she grows up (made me feel like the way I looked was really important to other people)
9. My grandmother at the dinner table: "You're 12 now. You should lose weight so boys will like you."
10. Baby elephant
11. In year 8 I was asking a class mate to help me up off the ground. He ‘joked’ “one man can’t lift a beached whale”. I was probably size 8 or 10 😡 20 years on and I still remember it like it was yesterday 
12. My dad: Don’t ever get fat. It looks awful on women.