Days after a controversial proposal by the Australian College of Nursing to weigh students in schools, despite the evidence showing that this practice is ineffective and harmful to the mental and physical health of young people, The Embrace Collective has launched their inaugural parenting magazine today – packed with information for parents wanting to get it right!
The Embrace Magazine has been developed to help parents tackle big issues like body image, with plenty of practical know-how backed by research, and zero shame.
Taryn Brumfitt, 2023 Australian of the Year, co-executive Director of The Embrace Collective and editor-in-chief of the newly launched Embrace magazine, said that they wanted to provide another way to help parents help young people learn to appreciate and be kind to their bodies.
“When parents see things like this latest proposal to weigh kids in schools in the news, it can feel really overwhelming and confusing, and it’s hard to know how you should be approaching these issues with your kids.
“You are inundated with information if you search online, often making it worse. We wanted to cut through the clutter and provide a tool to empower parents to navigate these and other parenting issues with confidence,” Brumfitt said.
The magazine also comes with a side of star power, featuring interviews with comedians Celeste Barber and Nazeem Hussain, as well as para-surfing champion Sam Bloom and Olympic swimmer Libby Trickett.
Barber said that she worries for the littlies now because when she was younger, you could put the magazine down or walk away, but with social media, you can’t really get away from it, so it just seeps in.
“It’s so important for us, and especially for our kids, to know that there’s a multi-million-dollar industry behind it feeding this to us. It’s not something that we can stop dead in its tracks, but it’s definitely something that we can be more aware of, and we have to help our kids be more aware that it’s not real,” said Barber.
Comedian and magazine cover star Hussain shares the highs and lows of parenting, and what he learnt from his own mum.
“My mum was a single mum and had a very fun way of raising us. We all had to work together as a team to make ends meet. And so, she taught us how to laugh through adversity and to never really despair for too long.
“I hope my kids learn to remember to always be kind and have fun. You know, if you can be kind and have fun, simultaneously, you’re living a good life.”
The Embrace magazine features uplifting stories and practical, science-backed advice to help parents support their children and learn to embrace their own bodies, all with a no-shame, no-judgement approach. Articles include:
- Body image myth-busting – unravelling long-held myths about bodies, weight and health
- Bye-bye BMI – breaking down the curriculum changes brought about by The Embrace Collective and Eating Disorder Families Australia’s advocacy campaign earlier this year and what parents can do to help
- Tips for managing social media with your kids
- Language matters – simple language swaps when talking about bodies, food and movement
The magazine is the latest in The Embrace Collective’s suite of resources and programs to combat the epidemic of body hate and help young people learn how to embrace their bodies, including resources for teachers and sports coaches. Parents are a key group for helping young people build better body image, given the influence they have on their kids through their own behaviour and attitudes.
“This is a resource made specifically for the home environment because it has such a significant influence on young people and how they feel about their bodies,” said Dr Zali Yager, international body image expert and co-Executive Director of The Embrace Collective.
“The magazine can live on a coffee table or kitchen bench where it’s accessible for the whole family, and can also be easily shared with other family members who might not be as confident to find information online, such as grandparents.”
Dr Yager said that 91% of adult women are dissatisfied with their bodies, meaning the knock-on effect is enormous with children modelling their parents’ behaviour.
“The epidemic of body hate has become a national health crisis, which continues to cause significant physical and mental health issues among all age groups.
“We have 30 years of studies that show the powerful influence of parents — particularly mothers — on their kids’ body image. Children are like sponges. They soak up all of the things we do and say, even when we don’t want them to. Most parents want their kids to grow up happy and healthy, and feeling comfortable in their skin. The easiest way to achieve that is to model it yourself. And yes, you
can ‘fake it’ until you actually ‘feel it’,” Dr Yager said.
While TEC’s programs and resources take a positive and engaging approach, the issue of body image and eating disorder prevention couldn’t be more serious, with 77% of Australian adolescents indicating that they are in body image distress.
“Young people with body image distress are 24 times more likely to develop anxiety and depression, and rates of eating disorders have more than doubled since 2019. The emotional and mental toll is evident, but the cost of eating disorders on the Australian economy annually is $67 billion,” Dr Yager said.
The Embrace magazine is available to purchase for $12.99, with all proceeds going to The Embrace Collective charity. Head to https://theembracehub.com/embrace-magazine/ to purchase a print or digital copy.
