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For Children, Teens, and Young Adults
And for parents, teachers, counselors, and health professionals
— those who
love and work with them
As Radiance: The Magazine for Large Women, enters its
14th year in print... as women of size are feeling better and stronger within themselves, we find ourselves naturally turning
to look at the younger generation and examining their sense of well-being. What we see is that we need to extend support
to young girls and boys around issues of body size, acceptance, and self-esteem.
More than 60% of eight-year-old girls are dieting. Many think they're fat; 90% are not. Affluent
toddlers have shown failure-to-thrive because their parents, fearing fat offspring, underfeed them. In a Glamour magazine
survey in 1988, more than 80% of the women who responded said they fear getting fat more than they fear dying. And in studies
of first graders, fat kids are still chosen last as friends and teammates, and are still called on less by teachers. Last
year, a young boy shot and killed a fellow student who had continually harrassed him because he was fat. And in the past
two years, two young boys shot and killed themselves after being teased about their weight once too often.
Chubby kids continue to struggle with issues of self-worth, body image, and self-esteem.
They continue to suffer from peer rejection because of their body size and shape. Teachers don't know what to do; nor do
parents. Supportive information on how to help large children lead happy, healthy lives at whatever size they are meant
to be must be communicated to parents, caregivers, teachers, youth workers, and health professionals. In future issues of
Radiance, not only will we expand to include the voices of our younger generation, but
we will also provide information to those who care for our children.
These issues must be addressed NOW. If you'd like to help, or have ideas or suggestions,
please
Alice Ansfield,
Publisher, Editor, Founder
Please share your stories.
Your voices should be heard.
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