February 9, 2012
by Molly
3 Comments
Success.
There’s no other word that quite describes how the EDAW Breakfast went.
For those of you who were unable to attend, here’s a small recap on what happened.
Registration began at 6:30. (Yes…it was an early morning!) However the event truly began at 7:00.
The breakfast began with a bang because of the feast provided. There were lots of options to choose from for example, an egg dish, mini potatoes, yogurt, fruit, bagels, bacon and more. Not only that but there
was a variety of teas and coffee! Let’s just say we were well fed and wide awake before listening to the speakers.
The ad was perfectly created to coordinate the red and blue pepsi logo into the models lips, glasses and the backround. As well, the font (being turned on it's side) reinforces the "skinny" appeal as does the model's sharp features (shoulders, face).
Introduced by CTV’s Tara Overholt, Maureen Shireff, the creative director of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, made many laugh and cry with her videos and speech. Not only did she share the marketing side behind the development of the Dover campaign, she demonstrated to the audience how media impacts self-esteem and body image from people aged 3-100. Featuring advertisements from Pepsi (See right) she deconstructed how billboards can be creatively designed to make people believe skinny is the new thin. She also shared the Pro-Aging campaign to prove that a positive spin can be implemented on anti-aging. After all, we should all embrace our natural beauty. Wrinkles, glasses, freckles, thighs etc. etc. are all beautiful characteristics of our bodies. We shouldn’t be afraid to hide our natural figures and smile. Surprising the audience (Tear-Jerker) with a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUsKIApTewQ), she reinforced the importance of teaching little kids what real bodies look like.
This campaign was posted everywhere from billboards in NYC to advertisements in magazines!
The infamous Vince with his slapchop. Has anyone tried it?
The speakers didn’t end there. Dr. Sharon Roberts, a Sociologist and the VP of Research and Education for the Eating Disorders Foundation of Canada, set straight the contradictions between being thin and happiness. She took a scientific and mathematical approach to explain how advertisements such as the “Slap Chop”
make the audiences feel empowered to eat healthier when in reality, these infomercials are false. She also reinforced statistics to state how Canada is one of the worst countries for self-pride. She also reinstated that eating disorders are very common in gay males, but are still prevalent in straight males. Evidently, females are impacted more than males, but it is irresponsible to disregard how commercials influence males to be sleek and toned.
In the end, from the raffle tickets to the silent auction (Unfortunately I didn’t win anything), to the speakers and the food, the eating disorder awareness breakfast started eating disorder awareness week with a success. It definitely increased awareness of the prevalence and seriousness of disordered eating (Bulimia, Binge Eating, Anorexia and EDNOS), and body dissatisfaction in both males and females.
Approximately 250 people attended the event and many donations were made, including $7500 cheque presented by Bell Canada. All of the money raised went to Hope’s Garden, which is a non-profit organization that supports those effected by eating disorders in the London area.
❤ Molly
If you or anyone that you know has an eating disorder and lives in London they should definitely reach out to Hope’s Garden, a Dietitian and a Personal Counsellor!!
