Wellness Heroes: McCall Dempsey

What do an Ironman triathlete, a lettuce-loving garden expert, a competitive college co-ed and an advocate for healthy body image have in common? All are doing their part to improve the lives of individuals and families in the Baton Rouge area—and beyond. We talked to each of these inspiring leaders to learn more about what motivates them to get people moving, eating healthy and embracing their inner beauty.

The pressure to be thin took its toll on McCall Dempsey, who battled an eating disorder for years before finding the help she needed at the Carolina House, a residential treatment facility in Durham, N.C. Now her mission is to help other young women, and her unique approach has caused the organization she founded to quickly grow. At the Southern Smash events that Dempsey puts on at college campuses around the country, girls are invited to literally crush bathroom scales with sledgehammers—taking the power back from that cold and unforgiving piece of metal. Dempsey’s Smash TALKS include panel discussions with body image and eating disorder experts, all in the hopes that each young woman can start the process of improving her self-image.

225: Tell us a little about your own struggle with an eating disorder and how you overcame it.
MD: My eating disorder began around the age of 15, but I can remember have disordered thoughts and an unhealthy relationship with food and my body at an early age. What began as cutting back here and there snowballed into a long battle, bouncing between symptoms of anorexia and bulimia. On the outside, I had it all: the life, grades, sorority, career, husband, everything, but inside I was killing myself to find perfection. A week after my 29th birthday, I entered the Carolina House, a residential treatment facility in Durham, N.C. It was the most painful and beautiful experience of my life.

225: When and why did your focus expand from your own battle to wanting to help others?
MD: In August 2011, I decided to start a blog—anonymously—as a way to seek support in an online forum. In July 2012, I shared my blog with my best friend, who ultimately shared it on Facebook. The outpouring of support was overwhelming, but more so was the people I did not even know writing and thanking me for sharing my struggles so openly. My eyes were suddenly opened to how beautiful vulnerability and authenticity is. The blog took off and led to a request from a group at LSU to come speak. Southern Smash was born on Nov. 16, 2012, and we haven’t looked back since.

225: What sets Southern Smash apart from other awareness organizations?
MD: Our community severely lacks eating disorder professionals and resources. Southern Smash fills the void in providing information and education and pointing people to available resources. People are so hesitant and scared to talk about eating disorders and mental health in general. We put it out there and shed light on the subject in a relatable and real and, quite frankly, fun way.

225: How did the idea for smashing scales come about?
MD: Scale smashing is nothing new in the eating disorder world. The first time I heard about it was at the Carolina House, but I never got to smash a scale there. So the idea was always in the back of my head. After being a scale addict, I needed revenge on that hunk of metal. The young women’s response to smashing is loud and clear: they need to SMASH! And they are ready to SMASH! They are ready to let go of all of those pressures that we have to be perfect, think perfect, look perfect, act perfect.

225: What would you say to a person who’s battling an eating disorder and doesn’t know where to begin to get help?
MD: First, recovery is possible. Never give up on hope and the strength within. I want them to know that they have more strength inside than they realize and that they did not choose to have an eating disorder, but they can certainly choose recovery! The first step is finding a treatment team who specializes in eating disorders: a therapist, nutritionist, psychiatrist and general practitioner. Eating disorders go far beyond food and weight, which is why it is vital to work with a team.

225: How has Southern Smash grown? And what are your future plans?
MD: We get emails every day from new schools and organizations requesting Smash to come to their university or town. It is so exciting that people want to utilize the power and fun of Southern Smash to start the conversation in their community. This year, we launched SmashKITS, which include everything one needs to host a full-on Southern Smash event. Future plans include setting up Smash Communities at universities across the country, as well as support groups.

For more information on volunteering as a Smash Ambassador or hosting a Smash event, see southernsmash.org.