For college students and especially women, body image related issues are on many of our minds everyday. Being surrounded by peers of a similar age and experience makes for an environment where it is almost impossible to not compare yourself to others around you. Not to mention, the amount of stress that comes with being a college student can all contribute to a negative perception of one's body.
After understanding how relevant this issue is for many students on college campuses all over the world, I decided to reach out to Laura Orlich. She works for the University of Arizona Campus Health Center for Counseling and Psychological Services and I discussed with her further what body image actually is, why it is such an issue among our age group, and what we can possibly do to eliminate what ultimately causes or worsens the issue.
Orlich says that in todays society, “men strive for the typical muscle look whereas woman desire the thin ideal, thigh gap, and bikini bridge stereotypes." With these types of “measurements" being engraved in many students' minds, it is important to have resources for those who may be struggling with body related issues.
Orlich offers counseling to students who feel they need guidance in body confidence, eating disorders, as well as any body image issue they may be feeling or are concerned about. She defines body image as “the definition of a person's perception of how their physical appearance is experienced by others."
Orlich explains that there are many triggers students experience everyday that can be attributed to negative body talk or perception. Some may be as simple as not wanting to mature, a comment made by someone or a comparison of ourselves to others. Since this is the time in many students' lives where they are looking for serious romantic relationships, it is undeniable that one's self image is a very natural conscious to have.
The UA participated in the “Healthy Body Study" which is a study performed along with seven other universities. Results from the UA alone were shocking. Statistics showed that 25% of all UA students who participated in the study said that body image, shape, and weight were the most important things in their lives. 76% of females said that in the last month they have had a strong desire to lose weight, and 50% of all students who participated in the study expressed a definite fear they might gain weight.
“We can start looking at ourselves for other characteristics, attributes, and internal qualities that are responded positively by others," said Orlich, “We should not just focus on the way we look."
Orlich says ways we as a community can eliminate this negative stigma is by “withdrawing from fat talk and judging others and to practice empathy for ourselves and for others."
Professionals on campus such as Orlich want students' college experience to be vibrant, full of life, and most of all positive and healthy. Orlich hopes students can “notice all of the miracles your body does without you even knowing it and to take into account all of the wonderful things your body does for you rather than just how it looks."
