When I was a teenager, I was absolutely in love with women’s magazines. I started out reading magazines like Seventeen, with its stories about young celebrities, makeup tips for teens and articles about getting “him” to like you. But I soon graduated to the more mature women’s magazines: Cosmopolitan, Elle and Glamour, to name a few.
While I enjoyed the fun, lightly-presented content and some of the hilarious or heartwarming articles, I have to admit that part of what appealed to me about magazines like these was their promise that with a few simple changes, I would be prettier, sexier and, of course, thinner. At 5’7” and around 155 lbs, I was certainly wasn’t fat. But I was convinced that I was huge and though I didn’t realize it at the time, magazines like the ones I was reading were only making that worse.
Back then, there was no term for the endless ads and articles promoting a thinner, prettier, “better” you. This year, Multi-Grain Cheerios started calling it Dietainment…and went on a mission to educate parents about just how damaging it can be to our children. With my first-hand experience of the destructive power of Dietainment, I couldn’t wait to join in the movement to stop Dietainment messages from reaching our children.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than 16,000 people have signed the petition to stop Dietainment. Multi-Grain Cheerios then took that petition to Canadian media companies and urged them to consider the potential damage caused by dieting messages disguised as entertainment. And already, two popular content producers are taking action! Faze magazine and Divine.ca have committed to keeping their magazines and websites Dietainment-free!
With change already happening, I can’t help but want to do even more to end children’s exposure to harmful dieting messages in the media. And it’s not just my three beautiful nieces that motivate me. I know that boys are exposed to just as many harmful messages about their bodies, from the idolization of super-strong sports heroes to the fake muscles built into their superhero costumes. When looking like a “real” superhero involves fake muscles, what kind of message is that sending to my kids?
I’m very excited that Multi-Grain Cheerios is raising awareness of the damage that can be done by Dietainment, but true change is going to take more than just awareness. Show your support by signing the petition and then start a conversation with your kids about the way the entertainment industry manipulates what they see. Even as an adult, I sometimes forget how much makeup, hair styling and Photoshop talent goes into the average magazine cover. It’s even worse to think that children are looking at those images as reality. And they do…take it from a woman that once did so herself as a child.
Personally, I’m going to be keeping an eye on just how much Dietainment messaging my boys encounter in a day. My oldest is almost ten and I know that the teenage years are just around the corner. I don’t want him entering those years with distorted views, whether they’re of how he should look or of how girls he meets should look. And I’ll also be showing my support for organizations that embrace the message of stopping Dietainment from reaching our children. With parental influence and plenty of positive messaging, all kids will be able to grow into healthy, happy and secure adults!
Jeannie says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that cherrios is behind this campaign. It is really important for us to show our kids that diet is not necessary and that eating in moderation is!
Kathryn says
I totally agree, Jeannie! I was the queen of the crash diet when I was a teen and it contributed to years of negative body image. I can just imagine how much worse it is now with the Internet at a child’s fingertips. So happy this conversation has been started!
Lynda Cook says
It’s great what Cheerios is doing, I signed the petition and more people need to stand against dietaiment!!
kristen visser says
such a great campaign!! i signed the petition
Ashley Sanche says
Having 2 daughters myself this subject is very near and dear to my hear. Great article. Thank you for sharing!
nicolthepickle says
This is such a big things. I have no idea to limit this in our lives, realistically.
Cheryl says
Great message to share with everyone 🙂
Cheryl says
This is a great message! These are so impressionable on our young children
Debbie W says
I’m happy sponsors like Cheerios are taking a stand on this subject.
kathy downey says
I signed the petition
Karla Sceviour says
What a great campaign!!
angela m says
What a great campaign
Stephanie LaPlante says
I absolutely love how this brand cares so much!
Amelia Pond says
Heathly body image is super important for both girls and boys. They also need to be taught to eliminate sugar and other junk from their nutritional intake.
Rosanne Robinson says
It’s very important for children to learn about healthy eating and body image in order to make the right choices.
Judy Thuy Duong says
This is a really good message to send out there.
AD says
I am impressed that a lot of corporations are finally recognizing the detrimental impacts media has had on the emotional, mental and physical well-being of young girls and boys; so much negative imaging, content and its a constant bombardment. And so much of it is focused on girls and women; but it impacts boys and men and their perception and expectations of us. Its horrible! Happy that General Mills is using their Cheerios brand to express that and focus on what is important: healthy attitudes, nutrition, healthy body image…
Judy Cowan says
We all need to take a stand and try to stop this. This is a great campaign and one I fully support!
Silvia D says
such an awesome campaign, glad Cheerios is focusing on such an important issue!
Jamie hall says
Great campaign ! This is so important, I find myself thinking of this often now that I have a daughter
Rebby says
This is a great campaign, I know when I was younger i was influenced my Dietainment and my eating habits and self esteem were not healthy then and they have lasting effects to this day!
Donnas says
I remember being younger and seeing an ad where the girl had beautiful flowing hair and saving money so I could buy the product they were advertising. My hair was (and still is very thick, course and unruly). My mother told me that my hair would never look like hers. I was so disappointed.
Earlier this year, my beautiful niece passed away from complications of an eating disorder (she weighed about 80 lbs). I’m signing the petition right away. It’s too late for Melanie but if it saves at least one life, I’m all for it.
Sherry K says
Love this campaign and it gives your family starting points for the conversation.
Angie Andrews says
I wish more major companies would get on board with this because it is such a great campaign
Wanda Bergman says
I so agree with this post. I’ve been feeling so bad for teenage girls and their self-esteem.
Louise Gilbert says
Awesome campaign, glad to hear Cheerios is doing some thing about. Wish more large companies would do more like this
Wanda Tracey says
I signed the petition and I like what Cheerios is doing for this cause.We have to take this stand.
Doris H says
This is an awesome campaign…powerful message.
Melanie B says
Great campaign!
Fan R says
The images in the magazines make young minds to follow what is not real and healthy at all.
Kiley Downey says
Great Message!
LILLIAN BROWN says
It’s great what Cheerios is doing
Haroon Khan says
Such a great campaign!