B&M stores criticised over ‘pro-anorexia’ weighing bathroom scales

Product features infamous quote 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels'

Emma Henderson
Tuesday 29 March 2016 12:46 BST
Comments
(baona/iStock)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Discount chain B&M Stores has been criticised for stocking bathroom scales bearing a “pro-anorexic” slogan.

One shopper posted a picture online of the scales, which have “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” written on them.

The quote was attributed to model Kate Moss in 2009, who was also accused of promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.

Rachael May Shevlin posted a picture of the scales on Facebook, urging other people to write to B&M Stores complaining about the product.

She wrote: “How lovely to see the phrase I said to my teenage/young adult self that also led to me calling myself a 'fat, disgusting, waste of oxygen', often before self-harming just because I had dinner.

“Would anyone else like to join me in writing to B&M?"

Her post has been liked more than 4,400 times and shared more than 2,000 times.

Other unhappy shoppers shared their thoughts on the scales, which many said sent out the wrong message to young and vulnerable people.

A B&M spokesperson said: “We have asked our supplier to withdraw this particular quotation from this range of novelty £3.99 weighing scales."

Kate Moss was first quoted as using the slogan, after an interviewer at WWD fashion magazine asked her if she had any mottos she lived by, following the release of her TopShop collection.

A spokesman for eating disorder charity Beat said: "Manufacturers and retailers should consider very carefully the messages they are conveying by producing and stocking such a product.

"Irresponsible marketing like this can contribute to and prolong an eating disorder which affects 725,000 men and women of all ages and backgrounds in the UK, costing the economy £15.8billion every year.

"Young people struggling with an eating disorder are fighting a tough enough battle as it is without thoughtless retailing such as this which can make it even harder.”

People worried about eating disorders can contact Beat on 034 5634 1414

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in