BYU Womens Services and Resources empowers women through The Body Project

Brigham Young University's Womens Services and Resources office (WSR) provides students with tools and support to promote self-worth and positive body image through a campus program known as The Body Project.

The Body Project is a research-based intervention designed to help women who struggle with body image concerns and eating disorders.

The program consists of two free, two-hour sessions where participants meet in small groups to discuss societal expectations, eating habits and self-perception. The goal is to reduce body dissatisfaction while practicing self-acceptance.

Psychology majors can become involved through research roles with WSR, allowing them to earn research hours while gaining hands-on experience working with participants.

We are looking at people who have gone through the sessions and collecting data on what their experiences were like through eating disorders and body image, Lena Suckow, a research assistant for the Body Project, said. We look at how they feel and talk about past experiences and how to move forward.

Ciera Durney became involved after seeing a flyer and attending the sessions herself.

Even though wed only known each other for two hours, I felt a big connection with everybody there, Durney said.

Suckow talked about how the program resonated with her on a personal level.

After going to a session, it got me thinking so much about how some people are so affected by little things about their body, especially women, Suckow said. I really struggled with it myself for years, and it kept me from being really myself in high school.

She said her involvement strengthened her desire to help others develop confidence and self-acceptance.

I want other people to embrace themselves and not let those things hold them back, Suckow said.

Hanna Brugger, a psychology major, got involved after seeing a flyer for the project.

The group gets together once a week for two weeks and has conversations and different practices that help women specifically to combat social norms in regards to how we should look and what we should eat, Brugger said.

The goal is to bring not only satisfaction, but love for the bodies we have, Brugger said. To become more accepting of our own bodies and what we look like.

Durney liked how the sessions emphasized reframing how the participants think about their bodies and food.

Our body is something that deserves care and love, Durney said. It isnt to be compared to some appearance ideal that doesnt exist.

Brugger noticed the broader impact of the programs message.

The language that we use and our thought processes impact more than ourselves, Brugger said. We can cultivate a more accepting community for everybody.

Durney loves that the project focuses on changing internal thought patterns.

It is to help you retrain how your brain approaches food, Durney said.

Durney explained how she is grateful for the opportunity to study eating disorder prevention and invite others to participate.

Id encourage everybody to attend if they want to find other ways to care for themselves and for others, Durney said.