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Friday, March 29, 2024
The Observer

Week on campus teaches students to 'Love Your Body'

This week, the Gender Relations Center (GRC) is hosting Love Your Body Week (LYBW), a time dedicated to raising awareness about body image and overall health.

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Keri O'Mara


Kristen Loehle, director of Gender Relations, is in charge of the events and said she is excited for all that the Week offers.

“Overall, I have really enjoyed working on Notre Dame’s 'Love Your Body' movement, and I am excited to see all of these empowering events come together,” she said.

Several events, including discussion panels, snacks and films, are planned for each day this week.

Tuesday’s events include a collaboration with the Notre Dames’ “Talk It Out Tuesdays.” They will be discussing hot topics like “Strong is the new Skinny” and “Thinspiration” at 6 p.m. in the LaFortune Student Center. Loehle said the session is intended to encourage conversation about body image.

“Notre Dame’s ‘Talk it Out Tuesday’ session will generate conversations about current body positivity movements and give students a chance to engage in an open dialogue about the cultural focus on body image,” she said.

Also on Tuesday, the GRC will host a discussion called “Whey Too Much: Media, Exercise and Body Image” about the body issue problems men face. This event will be held in DeBartolo Hall at 7 p.m.

The week will continue with three events on Wednesday. At 10 a.m. in DeBartolo Hall, the Healthy Reading Resources will offer free coffee and provide information for finding resources for healthy eating. Later, physical education and wellness instructor Megan Smedley will lead a session of Wellness Wednesdays at 4:30 in LaFortune that will address mindful eating.

Wednesday will conclude with a talk by assistant professional specialist in the department of theology Dr. Katie Cavadini, who will discuss eating disorders with an emphasis on the Catholic belief that we are all made in the image of God. The talk, titled “Created in God’s Image: Faith and Friendship’s Role in an Eating Disorder,” will be held in Ryan Hall at 7 p.m.

Loehle said Wednesday’s events are centrally focused on overcoming eating problems.

“GRC’s event on Wednesday (such as Healthy Reading Resources) will provide students with information about available resources here on campus that they can reach out to in times of need,” she said. “Campus Ministry’s event ('Created in God’s Image') later that evening will tie together the challenges of eating disorders with the values of our Catholic faith.”

On Thursday, “Thankful Boards” will be displayed in North and South Dining Halls during lunch. At 5:30 p.m., healthy foods from local vendors will be served in DeBartolo Hall before the showing of Jean Kilbourne’s film “Killing Us Softly 4: Advertising’s Image of Women.”

Loehle said the film is an “eye-opening experience” about how the media affects body issues, specifically for women.

Love Your Body Week will conclude Friday, beginning with a free yoga session at 3 p.m. in Rockne Memorial, led by Patty Thornton from RecSports at 3 p.m., followed by free frozen yogurt. At 5:30 p.m., there will be a food panel discussion and dinner in Geddes Hall Coffeehouse. Please RSVP for this event at grc.nd.edu.

Loehle said Friday’s events will be further emphasize the philosophy of LYBW.

“The week will end with an relaxing Yoga and Yogurt session to emphasize a healthy lifestyle, and a dinner later that evening by the GRC to reflect on our relationship with food through a discussion panel."

T-Shirts will be distributed by Student Government throughout the week in LaFortune Student Center.