No Weigh! A Declaration of Independence from a Weight-Obsessed

educational purposes only. National Eating Disorders Association must be cited and web address listed.

www.NationalEatingDisorders.org Information and Referral Helpline: 800.931.2237

No Weigh! A Declaration of

Independence from a Weight-Obsessed

World

I, the undersigned, do hereby declare that from this day forward I will choose to live my

life by the following tenets. In so doing, I declare myself free and independent from the

pressures and constraints of a weight-obsessed world.

 I will accept my body in its natural shape and size.

 I will celebrate all that my body can do for me each day.

 I will treat my body with respect, giving it enough rest, fueling it with a variety of foods,

exercising it moderately, and listening to what it needs.

 I will defy our society’s pressures to judge myself and other people on physical characteristics

like body weight, shape, or size. I will respect people based on the qualities of their character

and the impact of their accomplishments.

 I will refuse to deny my body valuable nutrients by dieting or using weight loss products.

 I will avoid categorizing foods as either “good” or “bad.” I will not guilt or shame myself for

eating certain foods. Instead, I will nourish my body with a balanced variety of foods, listening

and responding to what it needs.

 I will not use food to mask my emotional needs.

 I will not avoid participating in activities that I enjoy (e.g., swimming, dancing, enjoying a meal

with friends) simply because I am self-conscious about the way my body looks. I will recognize

that I have the right to enjoy any activities regardless of my body shape or size.

 I will base my self-esteem and identity on that which comes from within!

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Signature Date