Healthy Body Image Week at York St John

York St John University hosted Healthy Body Image Week to help students and staff reflect on how they look after their bodies.

Held this week, to coincide with National Eating Disorders Week, it has involved a Body Image & Eating Disorders Master Class, information stalls, a theatre performance and culminated in a celebrity speaker evening with the three guests providing personal perspectives on body image and eating-related issues.

The week was a collaboration between groups from the university including Student Services, YSJ Active, the Students’ Union and the Faculty of Health & Life Sciences.

Dr Beth Bell, lecturer in developmental psychology at York St John University, said: “This week has provided students with an opportunity to engage in a diverse range of perspectives about body image including research, practitioner and personal perspectives.”

The Master Class featured presentations by academics including Nova Deighton-Smith and Glen Jancowski from Leeds Metropolitan University, who talked about pregnancy, body dissatisfaction, the media and male concerns about appearance.

The interactive information stalls included a ‘no fat talk’ pledge board and a ‘know what size zero is’ awareness display while York St John student Vicky Sharples performed in Awkward Annie, a personal account of her recovery form anorexia.

Guest speakers were Emma Woolf, Times journalist and presenter of Channel 4’s Supersize vs Superskinny, Samantha Culpeck, who has appeared on Channel 4’s Undateables, and Stacie Stewart from Food Glorious Food and Masterchef.

Nic Streatfield, Deputy Director of Student Services at York St John University, said: “Eating disorders and poor body image are a prevalent but hidden part of many students’ lives. This is why we wanted to raise these issues through our Healthy Body Image Week to coincide with national eating disorder awareness week.

“The whole project has been a real collaborative effort and having students as co-creators in the development of the week as really enriched the activities we have been able to put on. The volunteers, staff and speakers have been amazing and people have had a lot of fun while raising thought-provoking points about the way we view our bodies.”

The events also form part of on-going research by Dr Bell and Sarah Hawley, YSJ Active Development Officer, which aims to develop and evaluate school-based body image interventions. The research has been funded by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Any schools wanting more information can contact Dr Bell by E: b.bell@yorksj.ac.uk