An Open Letter from Elaine Stevenson

This week, we are highlighting an inspiring example of successful media campaigning. Elaine Stevenson, long-time champion of eating disorder prevention in Canada took the members of the Manitoba Executive Council to task for recent body-shaming advertisements. We are happy to report that the ads have now been pulled.

Dear Premier Hon. Oswald, Hon. Rondeau, & Hon. Howard:

I am writing to request that your government remove the advertisement from the airwaves currently being shown in which a series of "protruding stomachs" are emphasized by script saying things like "Couch Potato”, “I Stopped Working Out”, “I Don't Do Stairs", etcetera.

Myself and many others are highly offended and more importantly astounded that this kind of negative media messaging would be ordered by your government and paid for with very scarce health care dollars.

This kind of advertising harshly impacts many Manitobans and Canadians already suffering from low self-esteem, low self-respect, low self-acceptance, disordered eating, eating disorders, depression and bullying.

I am appalled that these ads, which you produced, are based on myths, stereotypes and unsound medical facts. For your information "a protruding stomach" alone is not a qualified indicator in assessing and determining a person’s overall health. We must take into consideration the whole person in assessing health, which must include overall mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

I am wondering if this advertisement was ever even focus tested. I know for sure that it was not run by the Manitoba Health "Provincial Eating Disorder Network" for feedback and approval before being aired.

What is particularly offensive to me is that I complained about this advertisement over a year ago at a Manitoba Health Provincial Eating Disorder Network meeting and again most recently on November 1st at another Manitoba Health meeting. How is it that this advertisement is still on television, causing irreparable damage to many Canadians by instilling and promoting ridicule and bullying, due to ignorance and misled information by your government?

I have one of those protruding stomachs, and I believe it is the result of having five pregnancies, gravity, and the laws of physics, and nothing to do with my overall health.

I have been called many things throughout my life, some not so flattering, but those who really know me would never use the word “lazy” to describe me. As for doing stairs, I have many in my old house in which I "schlep" laundry, groceries, my dog and general junk up and down numerous times a day. As for working out, I am a proud member of the Downtown YWCA and love to work out there. None of this, without the aide of some very expensive and potentially dangerous plastic surgery, will ever get rid of my protruding stomach.

I like my stomach. And while we are referencing peoples’ bodies, I love my whole body, and wish so much that others could feel the same way.

We lost our daughter Alyssa in part to damaging negative media messaging like the kind portrayed in this ad, and also due to living in a world that pursues thinness at all costs, maybe even the cost of life.

Please do the right thing. Pull the ad immediately, find people responsible for the ad, help them to learn from their mistakes, and work more closely with the Manitoba Health Provincial Eating Disorder Network. Before you produce another such ad, make sure it is properly focus tested and will not do any damage to any person.

Mr. Premier, just for your information, I would like to put another myth to rest. My stomach is not due to drinking an overabundance of beer. I don't drink and can't stand the smell of the stuff.

I hope I have your prompt attention to my concern, and more importantly, the negative impact this ad has on so many Manitobans that can't speak for themselves.

Sincerely,
Elaine "I Love My Body The Way It Is" Stevenson

Alyssa Stevenson Eating Disorder Memorial Trust
esteven@mts.net