Research Week
When Body Ideals Become Unhealthy
In today's society, body ideals are a complex and influential topic that significantly impact our lives and well-being. While having healthy goals for physical well-being can be motivating and beneficial, unfortunately, it can also lead to unhealthy and harmful behavior when body ideals become distorted and unattainable. On November 2nd, from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM, you can learn more about this topic as part of Research Week.
Facilitator Lars Brandt, a specialist and research director at the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic at OUH, as well as a clinical lecturer and research leader at the Research Unit for Occupational and Environmental Medicine at SDU, explains why this subject is relevant:
Many factors contribute to how society shapes our perception of the ideal body. Media, advertising, and social media play a significant role in promoting images of people with perfect bodies, often the result of retouched photos, filtering, and editing. This creates an unattainable standard that many feel pressured to meet.
When body ideals become unhealthy, it can have serious consequences for both physical and mental health. People may resort to drastic measures to change their bodies, including extreme diets, excessive exercise, or even surgery. This can lead to health problems such as eating disorders, overtraining syndrome, and depression.
Furthermore, an unhealthy obsession with body ideals can negatively impact self-esteem and self-confidence. People may feel inadequate if they do not meet the ideals they see in the media. This can create a cycle of negative self-image and lead to anxiety and stress.
It is important to understand that the ideal body is not the same for everyone. Bodies vary from person to person, and it is healthier to focus on well-being rather than striving for a particular appearance. Health is about having a body that functions well and provides a good quality of life, regardless of whether it fits into society's stereotypical notion of beauty.
To combat the negative effects of unhealthy body ideals, it is essential to promote a broader understanding of beauty and health. This can be achieved by increasing diversity in media portrayals and highlighting different body shapes and sizes as beautiful. It is also important to encourage a healthy approach to exercise and diet that focuses on well-being rather than extreme transformations.
Finally, it is crucial to have open conversations about body ideals and their influence on our lives. By sharing our experiences and feelings on this topic, we can help break down unhealthy standards and create a society where everyone feels accepted and valued for who they are, not for how they look.
One of the presentations at the event is by psychologist Ina Storm Thøstesen, who will talk about Binge Eating Disorder (BED):
What is the most exciting/relevant aspect of this topic?
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a new diagnosis in Denmark, recognized by the Health Authority on January 1, 2022. BED is characterized by frequent episodes of overeating, where large quantities of food are consumed within a short period (2 hours).
Patients with BED often feel ashamed of their bodies and overeating, and they tend to hide their eating problems from others. This has consequences for both patients and healthcare professionals: patients may not receive the help they need, and healthcare professionals may overlook the disorder.
What can I gain from attending?
In this presentation, you can gain a better understanding of BED: we will describe how to identify (screen) and treat BED, as well as some of the key issues related to body ideals.Who is it particularly relevant for?
The presentation is relevant for patients with BED and their relatives, as well as healthcare professionals who have contact with BED patients, such as dietitians, nurses, midwives, doctors, physiotherapists, and psychologists.
Program for the theme: When Body Ideals Become Unhealthy
4:30 PM - 4:35PM Welcome by moderators: Clinical Lecturer Lars Brandt, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic, and TBD
4:35 PM - 4:55
PM Binge Eating Disorder (BED) and Body Image by Psychologist Ina Storm Thøstesen, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic
4:55 PM - 5:15
PM Behind the Athletic Body: Eating Disorders in Danish Elite Sports by Scientific Assistant Julie Thunbo Rivold, Department of Sports and Biomechanics
5:15 PM - 5:25
PM Panel Discussion
5:25 PM - 5:30
PM Closing Remarks by moderators: Clinical Lecturer Lars Brandt, Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic, and TBD
Research Week 2023
A week in the sign of health research. For you who are a student or employed.