EXPERT speakers will attend a week focusing on eating disorders and body image for students at York St John University.
Guests – including journalist and presenter of Supersize vs Superskinny, Emma Woolf, and Stacie Stewart of Food Glorious Food and Masterchef – are due to speak at the university’s Health Body Image Week.
The three separate events will coincide with Eating Disorders Awareness Week next week and have been organised by psychology lecturer Dr Beth Teresa Bell, who said she is aware of an increase in body image problems among students.
She said: “My professional interest is to do with body image and eating behaviour. I decided to do something for the week and it’s something topical for the students.
“Eating concerns are so prevalent and relevant. Rates of eating disorders and body image issues are rising and are so common among the student population.”
On Tuesday, students will have the chance to attend a masterclass led by academics and practitioners currently working in the field of body image and eating disorders, followed by a panel based discussion.
Speakers include Dan Round of The Retreat, Nova Deighton-Smith, whose area of expertise is pregnancy and body dissatisfaction, and Glen Jancowski, an expert on the media and male appearance concerns, both of Leeds Metropolitan University; Liz Sharples of Sheffield Hallam, who has studied the mother’s perspective of eating disorder recovery and John Grey, of York St John University, on male fitness supplements.
The following day, MA performance student Vicky Sharples will perform her award-winning piece, Awkward Annie, which draws on her personal experience of and recovery from anorexia.
On Thursday, public figures will give their personal perspective on body image and eating related issues, including Emma Woolf, author of The Ministry Of Thin, Samantha Culpeck, who appeared in the Channel 4 programme, The Undateables, and Stacie Stewart, star of Food Glorious Food and Masterchef.
Dr Bell is due to begin work with local secondary schools over body image and well being. For more information about this, please email b.bell@yorksj.ac.uk
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