The Point Loma Nazarene University Wellness Center collaborated with the kinesiology department to hold an event titled “Faith & Body Image” in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) from 7-8:30 p.m on March 14.
The event was led by speakers Brandon Sawyer, Department of Kinesiology chair and professor of kinesiology and biology, and Kara Lyons-Pardue, professor of New Testament. The speakers aimed to teach students about the relationship between body image, science and faith.
Sawyer approached the topic of body image from the scientific perspective, touching on concepts such as defining weight stigma and its harmful effects, weight stigma’s impacts at PLNU, Body Mass Index (BMI), weight cycling and the factors that determine our body weight.
Lyons-Parude approached the topic of body image from the faith perspective, referencing the book of Genesis and how God called his creation “good.” She also discussed how body weight and physical appearance are depicted throughout different moments of Scripture. The Point interviewed the event’s organizer, Molly Larson, to learn about the significance and impacts of her event and why she was inspired to host it. The Point also spoke to students who attended to gain an understanding of what they learned and how it influenced their attitudes toward body image.
Molly Larson, “Faith & Body Image” event organizer
The Point: Why do you believe it is important to hold this event for students?
ML: Weight is commonly misunderstood and oversimplified. Young people, especially those in college, are extremely susceptible to absorbing information about weight and body size from the media that is incorrect. The importance of hosting an event such as this for students is to educate them on weight science so they can approach outlets, such as social media, with a different frame of mind. Similarly, this event allows for a time to reflect on the implicit biases that we hold. Due to the demographic at PLNU, including the element of faith encourages students to accept their inherent body size using their religious faith as support.
TP: What do you hope students can learn from your event?
ML: I hope students learn that there is so much more to health than their weight and size. Society is oversaturated with the idea of “thinner is better,” and I hope to debunk that philosophy. I hope students can walk away from this event with a newfound sense of knowledge and empowerment.
TP: What inspired you to organize this event?
ML: I worked at an eating disorder recovery center for about a year and during that time I grew passionate about topics such as body neutrality, weight science and size inclusivity. It has always been a goal of mine to work in higher education doing health promotion, and I am so excited about the opportunity to intern with the Wellness Center at PLNU. I knew I wanted to combine my interests in body size inclusivity and health promotion, and hosting this event is a great way to explore my interests while providing education and support for students.
Faith Pino, first-year organizational communication major
TP: What insights did you gain from this event?
FP: This event called out the social stereotypes of what health is. They claimed being obese doesn’t mean being unhealthy and they ultimately want to change the narrative of discrimination against obese individuals. They talked a lot about the false teachings society says about obese people, such as losing and gaining weight and the effects of outside factors.
TP: What ideas really resonated with you? What moments were memorable for you?
FP: Health is so much more than a body image. It’s not about size or weight, it is about habits. It’s important to view each other as children of God and image bearers of Christ, and never discriminate based on size one way or another. Christ came for all and called us to love one another. We are also to take care of the temples Christ died for and nourish our bodies with healthy habits, not looking solely at weight or outward appearance.
TP: How did this event change your perception of body image and weight stigma?
FP: I would say what changed the most for me was an increase in knowledge about discrimination. I didn’t realize the correlation between weight and income and how much discrimination the obese community receives.
Lydia Poteat, first-year applied health sciences major
TP: What insights did you gain from this event?
LP: One of the biggest insights I gained was the knowledge that there are 500 gene loci completely independent of BMI. Meaning that the argument that weight is controllable if an individual has willpower is a lie.
TP: What ideas really resonated with you? What moments were memorable for you?
LP: The idea that really resonated with me was that Jesus also has scars and imperfections from dying on the cross. His perfect body was broken for us.
TP: How did this event change your perception of body image and weight stigma?
LP: This event allowed me to gain more knowledge — scientifically, spiritually and emotionally on the heartbreaking effects of weight stigma.
Natalie Dickerson, first-year nursing major
TP: What insights did you gain from this event?
ND: I was able to obtain a different perspective on a topic that is really sensitive for a lot of people. Dr. Sawyer and Dr. Lyons-Pardue brought forth the topic in a way that really made me feel “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
TP: What ideas really resonated with you? What moments were memorable for you?
ND: The scriptures that Dr. Lyons-Pardue read to us will really stick with me. The idea that God in Genesis deemed us to be very good and it was society that has soiled the way we see ourselves. She brought to my attention that the appearance of God was never mentioned in the bible but his human attributes and his characteristics were.
TP: How did this event change your perception of body image and weight stigma?
ND: This event really changed the way I viewed BMI and what we define as “unhealthy.” I learned that I shouldn’t be defining my worth and my health in a system that is filled with flaws.
