Do you engage in "fat talk"?

The majority of us are guilty of it, "fat talk" - whether it is negative comments about someone else, or about ourselves. We hear it in the media and are flooded with images of what beauty should be; it sets impossible standards that especially affect women, leading to low self-esteem and for some, eating disorders.

"Everybody is guilty of being hard on themselves and critical of their appearance," said Catherine Champagne, assistant director of Student Wellness Programs. "Even if you haven't been personally touched or affected by a eating disorder, most people can relate to the broader concept of body image."

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 25 percent of college students have eating disorders. February is Eating Disorders Awareness Month, and departments and groups across campus have joined together to raise awareness about body image issues.

Fat Talk

From 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 in the east multi-purpose room located in the Willard Building in the McDonald East Apartments on campus, the USI Counseling Center will discuss "fat talk." Members of Tri-Delta have created videos, and pledges for students to sign vowing to be "fat talk" free. "It's one of those things that's so prevalent, so subtle and deeply woven into our culture, that it often passes below our awareness," said Dr. Stephanie Cunningham, senior staff psychologist in USI's Counseling Center. "If we were attentive to how much we talked about weight, body image and food, we'd be horrified." This event is open to all USI students.

Film - Killing Us Softly

At 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 17 in the Wright Administration Building, Forum III, a free viewing of the film Killing Us Softly 4 will be shown. This award winning film by author, speaker and filmmaker, Jean Kilbourne, examines the effect gendered media and advertising has on women's body image, linking this exposure to eating disorders, sexism and perpetuating violence against women.

"Because we are so used to seeing these things in isolation, we don't appreciate how consistent this narrative is," said Cunningham. "I hope this film will make the audience see these are not just isolated images, and a woman's value is so tied up in physical attractiveness instead of her achievements."

After the viewing, a group of panelists from the Gender Studies Program and the Counseling Center will discuss the film and take questions from the audience. This event is free and open to the public.

See a four-minute preview of the film.

Screenings

Free, confidential eating disorder screenings will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 18 at the Sweet Spot Table in the University Center West. The screenings consist of filling out a brief questionnaire and meeting privately with a counselor to go over the results. Screenings are open to USI students, staff and faculty.

These events are sponsored by the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center; Counseling Center; Gender Studies Program; Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice Club; and Housing and Residence Life.

For more information contact Catherine Champagne at cchampagne@usi.edu or 812-461-5483, or Dr. Stephanie Cunningham at scunningha@usi.edu or 812-464-1867.