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Body Image
The Purdue: Body Image Lesson Plans for HS website is intended to help young individuals obtain a positive body image. The features include materials from a four-activity unit. A separate publication lists activities for middle school participants. Activities 1 and 2 are different, based on the intended age level, but the rest of the materials are the same for both age groups. Each activity begins with notes for the facilitator, followed by an outline for a discussion on that topic. What follows, is some general background information about body image. The site suggests that a few things are more central to our long-term health and happiness than how we view ourselves. The book also states how our body image is a vitally important part of our self-image. Our perception of our body often is influenced by how we think others view us. It also iterates that many people feel driven to comply with their perception of how society expects them to look. Not meeting these expectations frequently places people in a state of conflict that results in reduced self-esteem and leads to unhealthy diet and exercise practices. So the site offers information on exercise and information on nutritious foods, as well as information regarding unhealthy practices and how to deal with those situations.
I find the information used in this site to be accurate and useful, although I would like to see less stress on the issue of body image but more of promoting a healthier life style in general. I’ve read memoirs of individuals who have either battled with anorexia or bulimia; the site most likely couldn’t help those individuals, who have experienced eating disorders at a young age and well into adult hood but could possibly be used on middle students and teens with in the early stages of having an eating disorder. encouraging that person to obtain a positive body image while eating

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