NEDA Joins Protest Against Jenny Craig

NEDA Joins Protest Against Jenny Craig

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is adding its voice to the growing numbers opposed to Jenny Craig CEO, Amy Smith, being named as the keynote speaker choice for the Alliance of Girls’ Schools upcoming conference. The Alliance is a non-profit organization “which aims to promote the education of girls in single sex girls’ schools and increase public awareness that single sex schools provide the optimal learning environment for girls.”
NEDA’s statement:
“Choosing the CEO of Jenny Craig to speak at this event is an inappropriate and seemingly incongruent choice, as the diet industry has played a large part in the crisis of body confidence among young girls and women. As we want to encourage self-esteem among our future young female leaders, this particular choice legitimizes the diet industry despite the fact it continues to promote products that don’t work long term and encourage yo-yo dieting, as we know that 95% of dieters regain the weight in 5 years; and it could promote weight bias among educators that attend. The theme of this year’s conference is “Images of a Girl: Diversity, Dilemmas, and Future Possibilities.” It is then unfortunate that this decision surely presents a lack of support for size diversity, creates a “weight issue” dilemma where there doesn’t need to be one, and sets the stage for frustrating future possibilities.”

To sign the petition on Change.org, please click here.