Week stresses positive image

By Jaryd Wilson

Published Feb. 2, 2007

At MU, the Wellness Resource Center with the help of the Student Health Center, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center, the Counseling Center and the Women's Center are promoting Love Your Body Week, Feb. 5-9.

The week is devoted to improving body image and preventing eating disorders.

The week is planned by the Eating Disorders Task Force, which is made up of representatives from the different organizations sponsoring the week. Student Health Center Health Educator Kim Webb is the task force's chairwoman.

"The task force is a multidisciplinary group devoted to raising awareness of issues involved with eating disorders, increasing resources to individuals and families and assisting individuals in becoming more media literate," Webb said. "The goal is to provide people with a better understanding of the role that most media plays in the promotion of negative body image."

Webb said the Student Health Center is very involved in the process.

"We will have at least two speakers from the Student Health Center," Webb said. "We are always a resource to individuals and families. We offer individual counseling and groups for students, as well as literature, consulting and support for families."

Mary Hildenbrand, a psychological intern at the Counseling Center, has been involved with the planning committee.

"The goal of Love Your Body Week is to promote healthy body image and to bring awareness to common myths and struggles associated with body image and eating disorders," Hildenbrand said. "Several Counseling Center staff are involved with the Eating Disorders Task Force on campus, which has been planning many of the events for Love Your Body Week."

Anne Meyer, a licensed psychologist at the Counseling Center, said eating disorders and body image concerns are a growing problem.

"Counseling Center staff is involved with several of the presentations that occur during the week," Meyer said. "Our goal is to raise awareness about eating disorders and body images concerns because this is a growing problem on campuses nationwide."

Webb said the Student Health Center offers an Eating Mindfully program as well as individual counseling through mental health and health promotion.

LGBT Coordinator John Faughn said students are enthusiastic about the program.

"Everyone I've talked to seems very interested, and we're hoping to generate a lot of interest," Faughn said. "Not everyone who shows up will be directly affected, but we're hoping they tell others about what they have learned from the events so we can build some awareness."

Michael Adams, a licensed psychologist at the Counseling Center, is conducting a presentation titled "It Can't Happen to Me: Myths about Men and Body Image/Eating Disorders."

He said people think eating disorders and body image concerns only affect women, but his goal is to help break down myths associated with what is a growing issue for men.

Adams said men might typically be more concerned about "bulking up," but in some populations, including athletics, men might face unique pressures to be thin. He said gay men often face similar concerns.

Faughn said he agrees with this perspective.

"People, usually men, compensate by over-exercising and trying to be more masculine," he said in reference to the gay community. "They are trying to change their appearance, but they don't realize that it's very unhealthy."