The Body Project

Student Counseling Services, in collaboration with other campus partners, offers ISU students the opportunity to engage in the Body Project, a program developed to help establish and maintain a positive body image for female identified students. Using a variety of fun and engaging media literacy and self-awareness exercises, activities and discussions teach participants to embrace the healthy ideal and their own body image, counter fat-talk in their daily life, promote Body Activism, and embrace non-appearance related characteristics in themselves and in others.

The Body Project is intended for female-identified students influenced by the ultra-thin-yet-curvy cultural appearance ideal. It is the first scientifically supported eating disorder prevention program, though the main focus of the workshop is on body image. Over 80% of college-age women feel pressured to be a certain weight. Exposure to an unrealistic, ultra-thin ideal through the media can have a devastating effect on self-esteem and the body image of yourself and others. The Body Project is effective in challenging students' perspectives on the ultra-thin ideal and creating a more positive image of themselves. These trainings are separated into two workshops that last for two hours each.