New Bulimia Support Resource: NEDA Launches Website Proud2Bme

As reported on the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website, they’ve launched an interactive teen website, Proud2Bme.org, during their annual conference in the fall of 2011.  NEDA provides wonderful bulimia support resources and this new website will prove to be a great option for teens and tweens.

Proud2Bme is dedicated to promoting healthy attitudes about food, weight and body image, targeting teens and young adults. The site was built by 3rd party volunteer efforts and in collaboration with students from the University of Delaware.

The site provides a positive, fun, interactive environment to learn, connect with others and take action for personal and social change—especially the many teens with body image issues or who have (or are at risk of developing) eating disorders. Through engaging content and community features, this unique online space offers news about entertainment, fashion, beauty and other relevant pop culture in a safe, age-appropriate environment. Additionally, there are forums and chat rooms where teens are able to interact and make new friends.

The site was unveiled during NEDA’s inaugural teen summit in 2011, Making Real the New Ideal: Body Image, Self-Esteem & Media. At the summit – with a goal of inspiring teens to learn to be leaders in their communities – attendees, ages 13-17, were asked to help identify top issues impacting them and their peers, relating to teen body image, self-esteem and eating disorders.

Commented Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of NEDA, “It’s high time we seriously listen to the concerns of teens—from issues of body confidence to their views of society and media. At our inaugural teen summit at NEDA’s annual conference [last year], we heard them! They spoke about the profound body image and self-esteem issues that affect them every day. It’s clear now more than ever that engaging teens is a crucial part of our mission. You will see their voices prominently reflected on Proud2Bme.org. We are grateful to  [the sponsors] for their vision and support in making this new site possible.”

Proud2Bme is based on the successful Dutch site launched in May 2009 by Rivierduinen mental health medical center – which provided a free license and use of the domain name and other assets to NEDA, which will now direct the U.S. site. More than 2.5 million visitors from 149 countries have already visited Proud2Bme.nl.

Overseeing the launch and the site’s ongoing editorial content is Claire Mysko, an internationally recognized expert on body image, leadership and media literacy. She is the author of You’re Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self, an award-winning self-esteem manual for girls. Claire has also served as the director of the American Anorexia Bulimia Association and spearheaded the launch of such pioneering online communities at Girls Incorporated and SmartGirl.

This information was a part of a press release from  NEDA’s eating disorder support website in October 2011.