Sizing up after Recovery

Erin Drischler’s Project Garment, in this week Post-Gazette, is one of the first projects to help curb real issues with eating disorders, and I think more policy and reform should be available on subject matter such as this. With Eating Disorders plaguing three in every 100 women with bulimia and one in every 200 women with anorexia, it can be considered a detrimental illness with expensive recovery (Bauknecht, 2017). To help those recovering from having relapses due to their surroundings the pair has helped provide new clothing for those recovering and in addition removing any sizing tag to help reduce stigma around the perfect size (Bauknecht, 2017). Per Torres-McGehee (2012) and some factors precipitating an eating disorder is “females desired to be smaller than their perceived body image per clothing type”. There needs to policy to standardize clothing size, so when woman shop they know exactly what size clothing they need without the added pressure of societies image of the perfect size.

As a nurse and a young woman who has struggled with eating disorder and body image issues, more needs to be done to prevent body image problems, as well improve outcomes of those in recovery. If a policy is made to enforce clothing manufacturers to have a standard for not only men’s clothing but also women, then there can be less focus on what size you wear and more on feeling comfortable in the clothing that fits you.

Christine Solt, Registered Nurse

References

Bauknecht, S. (2017, March 26). Garment Project provides women recovering from eating disorders with sizeless clothing. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 27, 2017, from http://www.post-gazette.com/life/fashion/2017/03/26/Pittsburgh-Garment-Project-women-recovering-from-eating-disorders-size-less-clothing-Erin-Drischler-Jordan-Tomb/stories/201703260025

Torres-McGehee, T. M., Monsma, E. V., Dompier, T. P., & Washburn, S. A. (2012). Eating Disorder Risk and the Role of Clothing in Collegiate Cheerleaders' Body Images. Journal Of Athletic Training (Allen Press), 47(5), 541-548. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.5.03