When I was working at Kaiser Permanente, management launched a campaign to donate a pound of produce to a food bank for every pound an employee lost. “Lose a pound, give a pound,” they called it. I was struck by the campaign messages. Calling out “obesity rates” and encouraging people to lose weight was juxtaposed with the prevalence of poverty and food insecurity in this nation. I had an unsettling feeling as I read this campaign: “How can you be over eating and in a large body when people are suffering from hunger?”
This program wasn’t unique. There’s another one I just heard about called the Million Pound Challenge that “invites employers nationwide to collectively lose one million pounds over the next year.”
Where to begin?
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, you can learn more about various care options here. EDRC provides support groups and maintains a comprehensive directory of specialized treatment providers in the Bay Area. You can also support EDRC’s mission further by making a tax deductible donation.
