These relationships can look different for each person and sometimes, when combined with other biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal, social, and cultural factors like beauty standards and fad diets, can have harmful mental, physical, and social health effects.
Body image can impact our relationships with weight, food, other people, our bodies, and more.
Our Commitment to Body Liberation
As the Center for Health and Wellbeing we believe that all bodies are worthy and that all bodies deserve respect. Period. We define body liberation as the freedom from social and political systems of oppression that designate certain bodies as more worthy, healthy, and desirable than others. We do not believe that bodies that are white, able-bodied, cisgender, thin, or fit are superior, worthier, or inherently healthier than any other bodies.
We use a social justice lens to approach body politics and body liberation. Forms of bias and prejudice that impact health and wellbeing can be structural, systemic, interpersonal, and internalized. Here are some examples:
- Ableism: discrimination and prejudice against people with disabilities that favors people who are able-bodied.
- Fatphobia: discrimination and prejudice against people who are fat, overweight, and obese.
- Healthism: discrimination and prejudice against people who do not prioritize health and fitness above all else
Other examples include racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, xenophobia, and religious discrimination.
We view the concepts and practices of wellness and wellbeing as a mindset and a way of life, not as specific behaviors deemed healthy or unhealthy by a dominant culture. Wellness and wellbeing look different to everyone.
To demonstrate this commitment, the Center for Health and Wellbeing provides physical and mental health services, counseling, health education, and outreach programming to support you in engaging in your own unique journey to wellbeing. Together we explore the ways in which we are impacted by and complicit in systems of oppression so we can move closer to individual and collection wellbeing and liberation.
Outreach and Education Services
Some of our programs have a specific focus on body liberation. These include:
- Anti-Diet Dietitian Office Hours
- Anti-Diet Dietitian Workshops
- Sex Ed Office Hours
- The Good Stuff
Clinical Services
We offer clinical services to address body image, nutrition, and eating disorders in Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychiatry Services. We provide support for students with eating disorders through a collaborative approach that involves providers across the Center.