Gold Medalist Raisman, Walden Behavioral Care Share Message: “This Valentine’s Day, Love Your Body”

WALTHAM, Mass., Feb. 11, 2013 – This Valentine’s Day, Walden Behavioral Care and two-time gold medalist Aly Raisman are combating eating disorders by encouraging people to “Love Your Body.”

Raisman and Cheryl Kerrigan, a former Walden patient and author of the book, “Telling Ed No!” will meet with Walden patients on Valentine’s Day, Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 to encourage them to embrace the message, “This Valentine’s Day, Love Your Body.”  They also want to bring their message to the public.

“The message ‘Love Your Body’ is a strong one that we embrace at Walden Behavioral Care,” said President and CEO Stuart Koman.  “People who have eating disorders have difficulty accepting themselves the way they are and try to change their bodies by under eating, purging or binge eating.  Acceptance is an important step toward recovery.”

Raisman was recently named spokesperson for Walden Behavioral Care and the Walden Center for Eating Disorder Education and Research in Waltham.  She was captain of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 2012, and won the United States’ first-ever gold medal in the floor exercise and also earned a bronze medal on the balance beam.  The Needham native also appeared on “Dancing with the Stars,” making it to the finals of season 16.

Raisman was chosen as spokesperson because of her positive perspective on self-esteem and body image, emphasis on living a healthy and active lifestyle and her passion for encouraging people to be confident and comfortable with their bodies.

“As a successful gymnast, Aly can discuss body image issues in a manner that will reach and inspire our patients, while also serving as a role model,” Koman said.

Walden Behavioral Care is one of the nation’s leading hospitals for treating eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder.  The Walden Center for Education and Research is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by Walden to discover effective treatments for eating disorders, decrease the stigma around mental illness, provide subsidized patient care to save lives and decrease the number of people who suffer from eating disorders.

About Walden Behavioral Care

Walden Behavioral Care, LLC of Waltham, Mass., a private psychiatric hospital, treats eating disorders and psychiatric disorders.  It is the only facility in New England that provides inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for patients with eating disorders.  It is also the only facility in New England that provides dedicated inpatient care for mood disorders.  By treating mental and physical conditions concurrently, Walden helps achieve lasting results for those who seek a meaningful recovery.  Walden has satellite locations in Braintree, Worcester and Northampton, Mass., and South Windsor, Conn.  Walden created The Walden Center for Education and Research as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to educate the public about eating disorders and research treatment.  Additional information is available on Walden's website at www.WaldenBehavioralCare.com.

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