Jennifer Aniston Body Shaming Essay Sparking Discussion on How We Speak to Young Girls and Boys About Weight

Actress Jennifer Aniston is garnering a lot of support after a recent essay she wrote for the Huffington Post.

The "Friends" actress began by putting pregnancy rumors to rest.

She then went into a deep dialogue about body shaming and positive image for women and young girls.

"The objectification and scrutiny we put women through is absurd and disturbing," Aniston wrote. "The message that girls are not pretty unless they're incredibly thin, that they're not worthy of our attention unless they look like a supermodel or an actress on the cover of a magazine is something we're all willingly buying into. This conditioning is something girls then carry into womanhood."

"Women and girls embrace the thin ideal from early on and it affects women throughout  their life," Dr. Jody Langford of Rogers Memorial Hospital.  "It can be reflected on social media with people's comments about photos they post."

Dr. Langford says the focus should be on wellness rather than weight.

She urges a focus on what words you use and concentrate on achievements rather than physical attributes.

"Parents themselves need to evaluate how they feel about their own body. Because that's often reflected onto their children. Both their sons and daughters. It's not just an issue that affects women. It affects males as well."

She strongly urges against using labels such as fat and skinny.

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