If we just had some common sense policies and practices these kids and their families wouldn’t have to struggle.
The biggest difference though was that their struggles were all preventable. The more of these kids I spoke with the more I realized how alike we were. Until I spoke with this girl I thought no one could ever relate to my struggles growing up feeling so different from anyone. It was a life-changing moment for me because I was born with one hand and have worn a prosthesis my whole life which also meant there were many ‘pretty clothes’ that I also couldn’t wear. It might sound trivial, but it made her feel isolated and alone. During my first interview with one of the children in our film, she lamented over all the ‘pretty clothes’ she couldn’t wear because of her weight. Soechtig continues, “I went into this film with the same preconceived stereotypes of overweight people (they’re just lazy and lack willpower). When my partners and I started Atlas Films, our goal was to make films that inform and inspire so this was a perfect fit for us,” she says. “Food issues have always been an important part of my life - my parents owned a restaurant growing up and when I read “Diet for a New America” in high school I knew I wanted to become a filmmaker and shed light on the truth behind the food we eat.
