Eating Disorder Awareness Week

Upcoming at York is Eating Disorder Awareness Week, running from February 4th to February 8th. All sorts of interesting talks and events are scheduled, and I would encourage those of us who do not have pesky classes and work obligations in the way, to check them out. Here are a few presentations:

"It’s Not our Bodies That Need Changing, It's Our Attitude"

Eating Disorders Awareness Week Speaker Series

Monday, February 4th, 7:00pm<>
Harry Crowe Room, Rm. 109, Atkinson Building

Michael Atkinson, PhD, presents:

Physical Cultural Studies: Bodies and Body Modification in Late Modernity

In this talk, Michael Atkinson engages a physical cultural studies analysis of radical forms of body modification such as tattooing, cosmetic surgery and dramatic forms of dieting. Based on first-hand research he has gathered on the socio-cultural meanings of these body projects and others, Dr. Atkinson addresses how and why radical physical cultural practices are growing in number in Western societies. Specifically, he discusses what it is like to experience radical body modification, how radical body modification shifts one’s sense of self-identity over time, and how body modification practitioners often walk fine lines between heath and illness through their flesh journeys.


Michael Atkinson, PhD is with the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, U.K. For his contributions to the Canadian social sciences, Michael was recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's prestigious Aurora Award in 2004. Michael is the associate editor of Deviant Behaviour Journal as well as a Member of the editorial board of the Qualitative Sociology Review, Sociology of Sport Journal, and Sport in Society. Michael is the author of Tattooed: The Sociogenesis of a Body Art.

Tuesday, February 5th, 7:00pm

Harry Crowe Room, Rm. 109, Atkinson Building.

Dr. Gail McVey, C. Psych presents,

Promoting Positive Body image and Healthy eating in a Diet-Crazy World: Findings from School- and University Based Prevention Programs.

In this presentation, Gail McVey will provide an overview of the factors that influence the development of body image concerns and eating-related problems. Strategies designed to help improve body satisfaction and prevent disordered eating will be discussed. Updated research findings concerning school- and university-based interventions designed to prevent disordered eating will be presented. The program is provided through Dr. McVey’s work as a Health Systems Research Scientist in the Community Health Systems Resource Group at the Hospital for Sick Children and Director of the Ontario Community Outreach Program for Eating Disorders.

A special program in recognition of Eating Disorders Awareness Week is being organized by the Counselling and Development Centre, the Atkinson Counselling and Supervision Centre, Health Education and Promotion, Faculty of Fine Arts, and Faculty of Arts. Also generously supported by the Student & Alumni Relations Unit, Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies.

All events are free and open to all members of the York University community.

I wrote an article for the school's paper, Excalibur, about using gender as a lens of analysis in discussing eating disorders. I may post it up later this week. Writing it was quite challenging because I wasn't sure how to talk about eating disorders in the first place. Its a difficult, and important subject matter that I didn't want to take lightly. Hopefully I can catch one of these lectures this week.