In 1993, Diana spoke at a conference about eating disorders in general and discussed the role that societal pressure plays in them. "I have it, on very good authority, that the quest for perfection our society demands can leave the individual gasping for breath at every turn. This pressure inevitably extends into the way we look," she began. She said that eating disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, "show how an individual can turn the nourishment of the body into a painful attack on themselves."
Though she did not speak on her own experiences with an eating disorder, Diana mentioned conversations and observations she'd made while visiting with people who were being treated for them. She called on the audience to listen to youth especially.
"All of us can help prevent the seeds of this disease developing. As parents, teachers, family, and friends, we have an obligation to care for our children . . . in ways which clearly show our children that we value them," Diana said. "They, in their turn, will then learn how to value themselves."
These were, reportedly, her first public comments on eating disorders.
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