Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Lolly Wool speaks about building a better relationship with your body

Thursday, February 24, 2022
Lolly Wool, a guest speaker from Birmingham, Ala. and the Regional Executive Director of Alansa, talks about the different components that make up body image. Wool spoke at the University Center this Wednesday as part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Photo by Lizzy Stock

For many, comments from others, media and the world about what a body “should” look like are a regular part of life. These comments are not innocuous. They can be the start of a mental illness that, according to anad.org, takes 10,200 lives per year: an eating disorder.

Lolly Wool, eating disorder expert and Alsana’s regional executive director for eating disorder treatment, presented a lecture on eating disorders and how to improve one’s body image. The presentation took place at Noon Wednesday, Feb. 23, in the University Center Ballroom A and covered how body image is formed, what affects body image and how to love — or even just accept — one’s own body.

Wool’s presentation was part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Torie Grogan, licensed professional counselor with the Center for Behavioral Health and Accessibility, said bringing awareness to and normalizing talking about eating disorders is important.

“Historically on campus, we know that eating disorders are underreported, and sometimes, a very difficult area for students to seek resources and treatment,” Grogan said. “So, we’re creating awareness of concrete ways to boost body image [and] develop healthy habits around eating.”

Grogan recommended an app called BODY U for students struggling with body image concerns or who are looking for more resources for healthy habits. The app gives users custom resources to help with their mental and physical health based on a five-minute survey.

In addition to eating disorders, Wool said she wants to bring awareness to disordered eating since it is so prevalent in American culture. Disordered eating includes irregular eating behaviors that don’t necessarily meet the criteria for an eating disorder.

“A vast amount of college students engage in some type of eating disorder behavior. I think there’s so many things that have gotten pegged as ‘wellness’ and ‘health,’ and it’s diets. It’s just more disordered eating,” Wool said.

Wool believes our busy lifestyles and frequent use of social media as a tool of comparison exacerbate many people’s troubled relationship with food. She finds it helpful to frequently slow down and check in with her body, to avoid being disconnected from what is physically happening.

“I have to actually slow down and get into my body and be able to say, ‘What does my body feel like?’ I think so many people walk around, just disconnected from their body,” Wool said.

Psychology senior Indya Smith said she was especially interested in the presentation, since it related to a project she did for the McNair Scholars Program on intersectionality. She said it is important for people to know there are many virtual resources.

“If someone is struggling with body image concerns, you don’t have to be just in St. Louis to get resources,” Smith said. “I like that she also pointed out that this isn’t just one resource. She talked about the counseling department down here, as well, and counseling is free.”

Wool’s conviction that one’s body is not their enemy was woven throughout her presentation.

“I want people to know: Your body is good. It is not something wrong, or bad, or something to be changed or fixed. Just the way it is, it is good. And you don’t have to do anything to earn your worth, and your body doesn’t have to dictate that, “ Wool said. “I get that it can feel like that so intensely sometimes, but your body is not something that is broken. It’s just right.”

To explore more mental health resources provided by Southeast’s Center of Behavioral Health and Accessibility, click here.

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