So many of us struggle with negative body images and issues with food. Girls and teens are especially susceptible; eating disorders and body image issues (including self-harm) are on the rise. Now there's something that will make this worse–many states are now sending "weight grades" and BMI scores home on students' report cards. Can you imagine the affect that will have?

I can. As a sexual abuse survivor, I hated my body. HATED it. I wore baggy clothes, trying to hide from anyone seeing me; I used food in binge episodes to try to suppress my pain; and I cut myself up–a lot. There were many other reasons I cut–mostly to escape the pain of the abuse, to get through another minute, to punish myself, sometimes to keep from killing myself–but hatred for my body was in the mix.

And at home, I had my abusers telling me I was a fat cow when they'd rape me. I had forced impregnations–god, how I dissociated from my body, wanted to be anywhere but in my own flesh.

If I had had BMI and weight grades on my report cards, my abusers would have used it as another form of emotional abuse. I would have used it to beat myself up more. I know I would have been cutting more, and I would probably also have gotten a lot more messed up with food than I already was. And I am sure that the bullying I experienced, especially by other girls, would have increased.

I could barely get through some of those days as a teen. I wince to think how much worse they would have been with my BMI on my report cards.

We know girls are pressured to be thin. We know eating disorders and negative body issues are on the rise.

We know that:

• Anorexia has the highest mortality rate among all psychological disorders.

• 10% of all eating disorders cases are children under the age of 10.

• The most common behavior that will lead to an eating disorder is dieting.

• 4 out of 10 Americans have either suffered or have known someone who has suffered from an eating disorder.

• One-half of 4th grade girls are on a diet.

• Among high school students, 44% of the females and 15% of the males are attempting to lose weight.

• Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents.

That is scary enough. Putting "weight grades" and BMI on report cards is only going to make it worse. When I read a newspaper article on this, I knew I had to do something. Together, author Sarah Darer Littman and I wrote and created a petition to help stop the spread of this dangerous practice. I really believe that we can make a difference if enough voices are heard.

Please, please–sign the petition, let your friends know about the petition, and help us make a change for the better.

I care about this so much that I'll do another giveaway. Let me know that you've signed the petition in the comments, or let others know about it, and you are entered to win one of two signed copies of Scars. These are first edition, hardcover copies. Sound good? Please go sign the petition and help spread the word!