Justin Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, tackles eating disorders
Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau has come public about her own struggle with bulimia. She hopes that by speaking out, she can affect change and raise awareness for better treatment and prevention projects.
She says, "There is a cure. I am the proof of that. But we can also learn to prevent it."
She believes that the media plays a large role in feeding the obsession with size that our culture covets. She dreams of a world where there are no glossy fashion magazines, video games, internet or an unhealthy idolization of celebrities.
"More kids would be playing outside, more kids would be reading, and that would change their souls and that would change our country. I am not a mother yet, but I don't want to raise my children in a home where there are fashion magazines. It's empty, it's not enriching the children."
She has band together with the Canadian eating disorder organization, The Looking Glass Foundation. During last week’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Sophie spoke at their fundraising dinner in support of their initiative to raise money for a Vancouver-based treatment center for adolescents.
Mrs. Trudeau struggled with bulimia in college, growing up trying to please her wealthy parents. As an only child, she strove for perfection by getting high grades in school, playing sports and having a steady boyfriend.
But after years of binging and purging several times a day, she sat in her bedroom and knew she needed help. Hospitalization was necessary twice, as was individual and group therapy.
Her aim is to make parents aware of how much they affect their children’s behavior. Their messages are felt by their kids when they diet or think they’re fat.
"Maybe as a mother you give your child the best food every day. But you are dieting all the time. Or you are a father who watches television and sees Jessica Simpson or Paris Hilton and says to his daughter or son: 'Oh she's hot.'
"Parents need to be aware of the messages we send and our actions need to be coherent with what we say."
You can donate to the cause by visiting: www.lookingglassbc.com
