Hi. Can anyone give me some ideas on good opening sentences on a speech on Effects of Eating Disorders?

I can't think of anything that sounds intersting and powerful, I want a sentence that would grab the listener's attention and want them to continue listening to the rest of my speech. Thanks

In todays world, a new trend is becoming more prominent everyday. Eating disorders have become an increasing issue amongst young teens and young adults due to self concious thoughts brought upon by the need to be thin in todays culture.

How 'bout something along the lines of : "When John Jones went outside, it took 12 men, 2 ambulances, a wrecker, and four crowbars to get him there." John Jones would be one of the poor souls we have seen on tv that weighed 600 - 800 pounds. Now you have your audience's attention.

Eating disorders are so common in America that 1 or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with one.

I don't want to give you an opening sentence because you'll probably think it's "naff" and won't be in your style of writing. But you could try and add some statistics into the beginning such as "Eating disorders affect <number> a year" or something along those lines. I always find that statistics add a powerful edge to speeches because they are fact and not just opinions made to look like facts. Just do your best and try using some speech techniques, such as repetition, declaratives and rhetorical questions, to make it sound interesting and powerful. :)

In many undeveloped parts of the world an eating disorder is thought of as starvation. However, in more affluent societies an eating disorder takes on a completely meaning and has become a debilitating disease resulting in severe impairment of health and even death for tens of thousands of people.

I'd go with a derogatory comment. Something like 'Hey fatty'. Sounds rude, but then say somethingg afterwords like. 'So many people are faced with words like this, and yet the speaker has no idea what they go through on a day-today basis'. Sometimes comments like that work, and sometimes they seem immature. Depends how you say it, and how you follow up with it. It will definetly capture attention though.