What I wanted most was to give girls what I never got myself

Dr. Marcy Forta started Atzmi, an organization that teaches Jewish girls how to create a healthier body image, build self-compassion, and develop their unique and incredible selves

IT was a typical scene — one I had witnessed dozens of times as owner of a women’s clothing boutique. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how fat I look in this dress. I’m embarrassed to even look at myself in the mirror. Why can’t I get my act together and lose weight so I can finally look good?”

Another day; another woman feeling uncomfortable in her body.

These types of remarks always upset me, but I’d usually just think, it is what it is, society isn’t changing.

This time, however, was different. Her body-bashing remark hit me hard. Perhaps because I was once just like her: As a teenager, I struggled with an eating disorder. Perhaps because I am a mother of a daughter myself. What is wrong with us, I thought, that we can’t appreciate the natural size, shape, and structure of our bodies?

I realized with startling clarity that nothing would ever change if someone didn’t address our community’s body-image issues. But I couldn’t point fingers and expect someone else to tackle the problem. If I wanted something to be different, I’d have to step up to the plate myself.

As hard as it was, I shut down my clothing store and went back to school. I received my doctorate in education, specializing in eating disorder risk factors for Jewish teenage girls. What I wanted most was to give girls what I never got myself.