"The True Campaign" Seeks to End the Crisis of Poor Self Image by Challenging Cultural Ideals about Identity and Beauty

Contact: Mary Anne Morrow, 602-332-9026, prmaryanne@earthlink.net

PHOENIX, April 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders, the nation's leading and largest inpatient treatment center for women and girls suffering from eating disorders and FINDINGbalance, a Tennessee-based health and wellness organization, have partnered to launch The True Campaign.  The True Campaign seeks to end the crisis of poor self-image among women by challenging cultural ideals about identity and beauty.

"Image issues are serious," said Travis Stewart, a therapist at Remuda who serves as west coast director for the campaign. "More young women die from eating disorders each year than from any other mental disorder, or even suicide. We're committed to seeing these women set free."

The True Campaign is the first national campaign to address eating and body image issues from a Christian perspective.  It aims to bring these issues to the forefront of popular discussion, particularly within evangelical circles.

"We know that if women can embrace their true God given identity, it will change their perspectives on beauty," said Constance Rhodes, east coast director for the campaign and founder of FINDINGbalance. "This will alter the way they live their lives, and the kind of impact they make in the world."

Other goals of The True Campaign include:
• A decrease in eating disorders
• A decrease in the number of girls and women seeking non-essential cosmetic surgery procedures
• A reduction in the number of anti-depressants prescribed in the US
• A decrease in self-injury
• An increase of awareness among fathers of the critical role they play in their daughter's self-worth
• Increased awareness among mothers of how their own views of identity and beauty are impacting their daughters
• An increased sense of health, well-being and purpose among girls and women

Over the years, Remuda and FINDINGbalance have noted common themes among disordered eaters – whether they are overweight, underweight or in between.  They include:
• Food and weight obsessions
• Social isolation
• Body hatred
• Self-injury
• Broken and dysfunctional relationships
• Low self worth
• Depression
• Anxiety

The True Campaign seeks to reach the millions of girls and women struggling in these areas, freeing them to live richer, more fulfilling lives.

"This campaign is about pulling people together and starting a movement aimed at changing the culture," adds Stewart. "It requires time, talent and treasure, pooled together by everyday people who want to be a part of something bigger than themselves."

The campaign's Web site, www.truecampaign.org, features videos of real women, not actors, getting honest about their struggles with eating and body image.  Additional resources, activities and information about how to be a part of the campaign can be found there as well.

"Together, we can make a difference," said Rhodes. "We know that amazing things can happen when silent pain becomes public in a positive, healing way.  This campaign dreams of that silence being broken."

About Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders
Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders offers Christian inpatient and residential treatment for women and girls of all faiths suffering from an eating disorder.  Each patient is treated by a multi-disciplinary team including a Psychiatric and a Primary Care Provider, Registered Dietitian, Masters Level therapist, Psychologist and Registered Nurse. The professional staff equips each patient with the right tools to live a healthy, productive life.  For more information, call 1-800-445-1900 or visit www.remudaranch.com.

About FINDINGbalance
FINDINGbalance is a faith-based health and wellness organization with an emphasis on eating and body image issues. With a unique focus on EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified), which includes 'less-extreme' forms of disordered eating such as chronic dieting, compulsive exercising, and emotional eating, FINDINGbalance is dedicated to the creation and distribution of practical resources that help all disordered eaters pursue wellness and freedom. For more information, call (615) 599-6948 or visit www.findingbalance.com.