Parliamentary meeting for the establishment of the National Day against Body Shaming and Eating Disorders

ROME – Today, May 16, an important meeting took place at the meeting room of the Parliamentary Groups of the Chamber of Deputies, promoted by the Parliamentary Intergroup on Body Shaming and Eating Disorders, titled #I_m_perfetto, meeting on the denigration of physical appearance and the consequences this can have on eating disorders”. The event, moderated by journalist Safiria Leccese, was an opportunity to present the draft law proposed by the president of the Intergroup Martina Semenzato, of Noi Moderati, for the establishment of the National Day against Body Shaming.

During the meeting, Martina Semenzato emphasized how Body Shaming is a vile act of bullying and racism that damages the physical and psychological well-being of individuals, and highlighted the importance of starting to address this issue from primary and secondary schools, involving young people in the fight against physical and psychological bullying and raising public awareness about eating disorders.

The Minister for Family, Childbirth and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella, emphasized the importance of starting from shared values in the family and society, and highlighted the role of influencers and athletes in spreading these values. The Body Shaming Day, the minister continued, is a sign of the Government’s attention to these issues, and aims to create an inclusive community that restores values without losing freedom.

President of Cnel Renato Brunetta brought a personal testimony, emphasizing how Body Shaming is a cost for society, producing unhappiness and pain, and leading to inefficiency at work. The internet, Brunetta continued, is an extraordinary tool for democracy, but also for violence, and needs to be controlled and fought against.

The President of Noi Moderati, Maurizio Lupi, highlighted how Parliament is the appropriate place to discuss these issues, and how the actions of politics and institutions should focus on people, accepting them for who they are. Lupi continued, stating that Noi Moderati is working towards the establishment of a basic psychologist paid for by the National Health Service (SSN), which could make an important contribution in helping those in need.

Several personalities from the world of entertainment, politics, and science participated in the meeting, including presenter and content creator Alice de Bortoli, former solo dancer at Teatro alla Scala in Milan Beatrice Carbone, model and author of the book “The Power of Imperfection” Giulia Accardi, midwife, author, and scientific communicator Violeta Benini, president of the National Eating Disorders Coordination Maddalena Patrizia Cappelletto, president of the Consult@noi association Giuseppe Rauso and Laura Dalla Ragione, psychiatrist and psychotherapist, director of the Eating Disorders Network USL1 Umbria and director of the National Green Number SOS Eating Disorders of the Presidency of the Council and the Higher Institute of Health.