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Body Image
What is Body Image?
- How we perceive our bodies visually
- How we feel about our physical appearance; how we think and talk to ourselves about our bodies
- Our sense of how other people view our bodies
- Our sense of our bodies in physical space (kinesthetic perception)
- Our level of connectedness to our bodies
What is positive Body Image?
- A clear, true perception of your shape--you see the various parts of your body as they really are.
- You celebrate and appreciate your natural body shape and you understand that a person`s physical appearance says very little about their character and value as a person.
- You feel proud and accepting of your unique body and refuse to spend an unreasonable amount of time worrying about food, weight, and calories.
- You feel comfortable and confident in your body.
What is negative Body Image?
- A distorted perception of your shape--you perceive parts of your body unlike they really are.
- You are convinced that only other people are attractive and that your body size or shape is a sign of personal failure.
- You feel ashamed, self-conscious, and anxious about your body.
- You feel uncomfortable and awkward in your body.
Body Image at Skidmore
Eat 26 & Distorted Body Image
o Female students with disordered eating patterns are significantly more likely to believe that they are overweight
50.7% of those with high EAT-26 scores believe that they are overweight
o In reality, 14% are overweight
24.4% of those with low EAT-26 scores believe that they are overweight
o In reality, 20% are overweight
Perception of weight status
- 35% of the underweight students perceive themselves to be underweight
- 74% of the normal weight students perceive themselves to be within a healthy weight range
- 66% of overweight and obese students perceive themselves to be overweight
Students were asked if they think they should gain, lose, or stay the same weight to improve their health. They were also asked if they think they would feel better about themselves if they gained or lost weight.
| Weight Category | Percent of females who believe that it would be good for their health if they lost weight | Percent of females who would feel better about who they are if they lost weight |
| Overweight | 95% | 96% |
| Normal weight | 38% | 73% |
| Underweight | 7% | 20% |
Most Skidmore women fall into a healthy weight range. But, nearly three-quarters of these healthy weight women report that they would experience improvements in self esteem if they were able to lose weight.
Dieting Behaviors at Skidmore
Dieting
47% of students have been on a diet.
- Among these students, 30% were currently on a diet at the time of the survey
Often, the methods that our students rely on to maintain or lose weight have the potential to damage health both in the short and long-term. For example, students often report fasting for extended periods of time, inducing vomiting, taking diet pills or laxatives, or exercising to excess.
Tips for Loving Your Body:
- Realize that you cannot change your body type. Learn to love and respect your body and to work with what you have.
- Invest time and money in yourself, rather than the diet and supplement industry. Spend your extra money on flattering clothes, fitness equipment, haircuts, massages, and other personal indulgences--not on diets.
- Stop weighing yourself. Focus on how your clothes fit and how you feel. If you keep trying to achieve an unrealistically low body weight for you, you're setting yourself up for failure, depression, disordered eating, and decreased quality of life.
- Stop comparing yourself to others.Celebrate your body and the marvelous things it can do when you are fit and well-nourished. So often, we take these things for granted.
- Move and enjoy your body. Go walking, swimming, biking, and dancing. Do yoga, aerobics, and weight training…. not because you have to, but because it makes you feel strong and energized.
- Surround yourself with people who have a healthy relationship with food, weight, and their bodies. It will make a difference in how you feel about yourself. Also, remember to set a good example for others by refraining from "fat talk" when you're with friends and family.
- Stop your negative thoughts and statements about yourself. Focus on what you love about yourself. Compliment yourself. Talk to your body the way you would talk to a good friend.
- Reclaim your own inner strength. Focus on the unique qualities and personality traits that make you a special and successful person.
- Nurture your inner self. Enjoy things you find relaxing (e.g. music, bubble baths, fragrances, candles, massages, reading, writing, napping), be close to nature (e.g. garden, sunsets, beach, stars), and/or seek spiritual connection (e.g. prayer, meditation, inspirational reading, reflection). Feeling good on the inside is key to feeling good on the outside.
- Examine the degree to which your self-esteem depends upon your appearance. Although it may seem natural to wish you looked like a fashion model or a body builder, basing your happiness on this desire may lead to failure. Unrealistic goals can prevent you from exploring ways to enhance your life.
- Broaden your perspective. Talk to people you trust, read books about body image, or write in a journal. These activities may help you to recognize emotionally destructive thoughts and put body image into perspective.
- Recognize that "fat-ism" is a form of discrimination similar to sexism, racism, and classism. Assumptions that body shape determines attractiveness, personality, and success are incorrect and unjust. Combat discrimination when possible. Question assumptions and generalizations which promote the belief that one "type" of person is better than another.
- Check out this site: Love Your Body Day!
Suggestions for how to discourage negative body image: please click here.
Noteworthy Programs:
- Health Promotions works closely with the Skidmore Nutrition Action Council (SNAC) to bring Eating Disorder Awareness Week and National Nutrition Month to campus annually. These events feature renowned speakers and guest lecturers, panel discussions, awareness events, and the dissemination of Skidmore-specific data. To find out more information about health organizations, visit the Student Organizations website at http://cms.skidmore.edu/health/student-organizations.cfm.
- Senior Research – Two students chose to focus their senior thesis on identifying the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors and consequences such as amenorrhea and poor bone health among Skidmore students. This research was presented at Academic Festival, the findings will be submitted for publication, and these findings will be widely discussed on campus next year to promote greater awareness of this very important concern.
Getting Support on Campus
There are several places on campus that can help ensure the transition is a healthy one. At Skidmore, we take a team approach, with Health Services, the campus Nutritionist and the Counseling Center working closely together. If you feel that your child may need assistance with these issues while at Skidmore, feel free to contact the Office of Health Promotions or the Counseling Center before your student arrives on campus so they can get the support they may need.
