Body, body, talkin’ ‘bout my body

Body image is something that people refer to as different perceptions of how we see ourselves physically and how we categorize our bodies. More times than not, with the help of mainstream media, people will negatively classify their bodies in a way that creates an unnatural obsession with dieting, exercising, and weight loss.

It’s not an easy topic to discuss. Since we have become so muddled with what is health and what is beauty, we cannot decipher what is natural and what is OK.

Here in our province, an organization is working towards breaking down negative stereotypes and promoting healthy thoughts around physical appearance and positive body image.

The Body Image Network is a group of researchers, health care professionals, social workers, nurses, students, and academics. They provide training sessions, create open spaces for discussion, hold awareness events, and participate in various facets of research.

One of the resources that the Body Image Network has developed is a toolkit for teachers of students in elementary school. This toolkit is being used in grades two and four around the province, and works to promote positive self-esteem and a healthy body image.

So why does this matter to us as university students? Some of us may be parents now, or may be sometime in the future. Or we are working towards becoming educators, health care professionals, social workers, police officers, and so on. Many of our career and life choices will influence younger minds, and thinking about how we portray body image will shape the way our children and future generations think about it.

How many of you right now can honestly say you’ve never had a self-conscious thought about your body? I challenge you to think about why this is, and if anyone’s ever asked you about it before.

Researchers, academics, students and professionals together are working towards creating change, opening dialogue, and working towards a society that does not think in terms of fat, skinny, ugly, beautiful, but in a way that encourages feeling at home, comfortable, and healthy in your body.

What is it that causes us to feel uncomfortable when out for a meal or when we are at a potluck? How come people log their gym hours on their Facebook status? What needs to happen to change the way we think?

For more information on the Body Image Network, for resources and useful links, please check out the website: www.bodyimagenetwork.ca.

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