Thirty million people in the United States will struggle with a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their lives.  Many studies have linked exposure to prevalent “appearance-ideal” in mass media to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Studies have shown that prevention and early intervention efforts aimed to increase body acceptance can reduce disordered eating symptoms and help to create an environment that encourages healthy recovery. 

Kristi Shive, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent in Warren County partnered with Alyssa Cox, 4-H Agent in Rockcastle County to present The Body Talk Series. The series included topics on: 

1. How to Talk to your Child About Body Image  
2. Holiday Eating – Being Kind to Ourselves 
3. Non-Physique Oriented Resolution Tips 
4. National Eating Disorders Awareness Month 

The Body Talk Series was aired on WBKO Television’s Farm and Home Show, reaching 80,000 viewers. The series was then uploaded to Facebook and YouTube reaching an additional 627 viewers.

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, research has shown when individuals talk about the appearance-ideal (sometimes referred to as the thin-ideal, beauty-ideal, or cultural-ideal) portrayed in the mass media, and discuss how to challenge pressures to conform to these pressures, it makes them feel better about their bodies, encourages healthy recovery, and reduces the risk of disordered eating.