Health Services Event Oct. 17 Promotes Eating Mindfully

By Carie Schelfhaudt, Media Relations Writing Intern

In a noisy world of the media promoting what many consider an unattainable body ideal, poor body image has topped the list of unwritten rules contributing to unhealthy behaviors among people of all ages. By turning negative thoughts into positive outlooks, health educators are trying to make their voices heard to reach out to those suffering from a critical misperception of their bodies.

In an effort to promote the connection between mind, body and spirit, the UNH Health Services is sponsoring Love Your Body, Love Yourself Day Monday, Oct. 17, an event inspired by the National Organization for Women (NOW) Foundation. This year author Susan Albers will discuss her book, Eating Mindfully, which also is the theme of this year’s events.

The events are as follows:

• Beautiful Wall in Holloway Commons, Whittemore Center Lobby and MUB, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Creative Body & Soul Art Sessions, 11 a.m.-noon, MUB Room 203, and 2-3 p.m., Health Services Conference Room.
• Eating Mindfully Yoga Class, noon-1 p.m., Health Services Conference Room.
• Mindfully Eating Meditation, 1-2 p.m., Health Services Conference Room.
• An Evening with Dr. Susan Albers, author of Eating Mindfully, 7 pm, Granite State Room, MUB.

According to Suzanne Sonneborn, nutrition educator at the Office of Health Education and Promotion, Health Services eating mindfully means connecting the mind and body in an effort to strive for a more positive body image. In her book, Albers explains the disconnect between mind and body, and how better to balance this relationship.
“We are offering a variety of educational activities in the hopes of educating people on this important issue,” Sonneborn said.

All of the events featured on Love Your Body, Love Yourself Day coincide with Health Services’ holistic philosophy in which prevention and health promotion are better ways to keep people well. Wellness educators do not promote dieting, but teach eating with a conscious understanding of what certain foods do for health and nourishment. According to Sonneborn, food provides energy, nutrition and enjoyment.

The event was prompted by a survey done five years ago by UNH Counseling Center and UNH Health Services. According to the survey results, more than 50 percent of students said that their weight and/or body shape influenced how they felt about themselves to a significant degree. “A college campus is a ripe environment for disorder eating behaviors due to enormous peer pressure fueled by a large number of students trying to cope with the stress and anxieties of everyday college life,” Sonneborn said.