IMAGE is the student organization that hosts IMAGE Week each year. The week’s purpose is to educate students on body image related topics. …But what does that really mean? And why is it important?
I asked the IMAGE advisor and a couple members to find out.
Becky Spires is the Assistant Director of Wellness Programs in Vanderbilt’s Office of Campus Recreation. She also advises IMAGE.
Stephanie Rodgers is currently the IMAGE President.
Feylyn Lewis is the IMAGE Publicity Chair for 2007-08.
Q: The event description states that, "This week is dedicated to promoting awareness and education on body image related topics." What does that mean for the average Vandy student? In a nutshell, what do you want them to learn, and how would it impact their lives?
Stephanie: No one knows the actual percentage of Vanderbilt students suffering from eating disorders or body image problems, but undoubtedly, the number is the same, if not higher, than the national average. As such, IMAGE would like Vanderbilt students to be educated on important issues such as how eating disorders manifest, what the symptoms look like, how to help someone they think might be suffering, and how the media and the culture perpetuate unhealthy ideals.
Q: Body image issues are usually associated with girls/women. Would you encourage men to attend these events? Why or why not?
Stephanie: Men should absolutely attend our events. The incidence of eating disorders in men is a lot lower than it is in women, but the numbers climb every year. And though the symptoms of body image issues may sometimes present differently in men (as an obsession with building muscle rather than being thin, for example), eating disorders are still the mental illness with the highest mortality rate. Further, it's very likely that anyone attending our events, male or female, knows someone who is suffering from an eating disorder, even if they are unaware.
Spires: ABSOLUTELY!!!!!! The studies show that ED's (Eating Disorders) in Men and young men are rising at an incredible rate. Approximately 10% of eating disordered individuals coming to the attention of mental health professionals are male (Wolf, 1991; Fairburn & Beglin, 1990). Tell me what the difference is when a woman obsessively restricts and/or purges to get a particular body type that she 'perceives' is more desirable, from a male who obsessively works out, takes supplements and drastically changes their eating habits trying to get to the 'perceived' muscle size and definition?
Regardless, I bet they know someone who is suffering or has suffered. What better way to let that friend know they care than to show their support by attending an event and wearing one of our buttons?
Q: Do you think that body image related topics are particularly pertinent to Vandy students? Why or why not?
Stephanie: Body image topics are relevant to all college students, particularly those attending competitive colleges where the pressure to excel in all aspects of one's life is extreme. We even have a campus stereotype to exemplify the extreme pressure to conform: the "Vandy Girl".
Feylyn: Yes, I would say that body image related topics are indeed relevant to Vandy students simply because of our age. As young adults, we are just now beginning to adapt to and hopefully learning to love our ever-changing bodies. The media recognizes that feature of our youth and targets the college-age group (and even younger these days) with the ideals of the perfect body. Specifically, the Vanderbilt environment is one that pushes its students to strive to excel in all facets of life, not just academically. This high-stress and high pressure environment seems to demand perfection in the way you look as well.
Q: Why did you decide to become a part of IMAGE?
Stephanie: I decided to become a part of IMAGE my freshman year, because I struggled with bulimia for two years in high school and had a rough recovery. At first, I sought solidarity from the group, because no one I'd known in high school could identify with what I'd gone through. After being involved with IMAGE for a short time, I was imbued with the desire to do something, to reach out and help. IMAGE is, to me, a way to turn an experience that might have killed me into something I can use to help others.
Feylyn: I decided to become a part of IMAGE because I have had friends and loved ones to suffer from an eating disorder. I study ballet and as you may know, eating disorders have a high prevalence in the world of ballet. Growing up, I watched several of my fellow ballet classmates and friends diet and starve their way to their idea of a perfect body image, some even to the point of hospitalization. Once I got older, I knew I wanted to have a part in spreading awareness about eating disorders and IMAGE at Vanderbilt gave me that opportunity.
Q: How long have you been working with IMAGE? If it's been a while, have you observed any gradual or long-term impacts that the group has made at Vandy?
Spires: I have Advised IMAGE form its inception. IMAGE started after I began a faculty and Staff Task Force on campus the summer of 1999. Shortly after programming for National Eating Disorders Awareness Weeks, I was approached by students wanting to help. They became the Student Task Force, which then became the official student Organization IMAGE.
Long term impacts yes. Students are more open to the issues surrounding body image and Eating Disorders (ED's). More open to discussing them, bringing them out into the open and working on preventing them.
Q: What body image issues, good or bad, do you observe among Vandy students? To clarify, as an outsider looking in (since you are not a student yourself), what kinds of behaviors, attitudes, comments, etc. do you notice?
Spires: I hate hearing: I was so bad last night, I ate.....fill in the blank.Or this (fill in blank with name of food item) is so good, or so bad.
Food is an inanimate object! It can not intrinsically be good or bad.....
All food has SOME value to your body. Calories, fat and proteins are all things your body needs. So MY pet peeve is hearing students label food as "bad", it's not like it can commit crimes, its food!
I would say that this student population is very educated about their bodies, but that does not always translate to healthy behaviors. Being able to do the metabolic equations to determine how much cardio you need to do on the elliptical for that candy bar is fascinating, but not realistic!!!! Great algebra skills, but NOT how the body metabolizes that candy bar, chicken, or milkshake. So I see the student population as being VERY intelligent when it comes to their bodies, but using information so it 'fits' what they want it to, not necessarily how it actually works.
Q: Who does the Clothing Drive benefit? How/why did you choose this group/organization?
Stephanie: The purpose of the IMAGE clothing drive fits with the theme of the entire week, which is to promote healthier self-image and raise eating disorders awareness. In the vein, we encourage people to donate clothing that is too small or too large that they have been trying to fit into ("goal clothing" or "skinny pants") and to accept themselves at a comfortable, healthy weight. All clothing collected from the clothing drive will be donated to Goodwill Industries International. This charity is not affiliated with eating disorders and body image in any way, but we view it as a fortuitous circumstance that our promotion of healthier body image on this campus could result in helping the impoverished and underprivileged of the Nashville community.
For more information on IMAGE or to discuss eating disorders or body image related issues, you can email image@vanderbilt.edu or see http://studentorgs.vanderbilt.edu/IMAGE/
The IMAGE officers also hold office hours in Sarratt 353:
Vicky (Secretary): Thursday 12:15-1pm
Feylyn (Publicity Chair): Tuesday 5-6pm
Liz (Vice President): Monday 10-11:30 am
Stephanie (President): Wednesday 12-2pm
