BOX 2: BODY IMAGE-BOOSTING ACTIVITIES FOR CLIENTS (ADAPTED FROM GARNER (10)) n Find benchmarks other than appearance alone for self-evaluation – recognise your achievements at work, in your hobbies or in your relationships. n Think of your body as an instrument rather than as an ornament: focus on how your body functions rather than how it looks. n Do activities that help you feel good about yourself. Move your body in ways that feel good, and find ways to appreciate and take care of your body as though it were a trusted friend. Buy clothes that you feel good in – don’t wait until you are one size smaller. n Reduce your exposure to harmful media images: stop buying fashion magazines and watching celebrity-focused TV programmes. Focus on reality and self-nurturing rather than comparing yourself with unrealistic role models. n Exercise for strength, fitness and health rather than focusing on weight control. Throw away your scales! Focus on the actions you have done rather than on a number on a somewhat unreliable machine. n Find others who respect and care about your body. n Identify and begin to change negative or body-shaming statements.

THE AUTHOR

Some provocative articles n Field T, Schanberg S et al. Bulimic Adolescents Benefit from Massage Therapy. Adolescence Fall 1998;33(131):555-563 n Hart S, Field T et al. Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms are Reduced by Massage Therapy. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention 2001;9:217-228 n Orbach, Susie. Fat Is A Feminist Issue: The Anti-Diet Guide for Women. Galahad Books, 1997. First published as two separate volumes, Fat Is A Feminist Issue, 1978 and Fat Is A Feminist Issue II, 1982 n Pipher, Mary Bray, Ph.D. Hunger Pains: From Fad Diets to Eating Disorders – What Every Woman Needs to Know about Food, Dieting, and Self-Concept. Adams Publishing, 1995 n Thompson JK ed. Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Obesity: An Integrative Guide for Assessment and Treatment. American Psychological Association 1996. Chapter 12, Treatment of Body Image Disturbance in Eating Disorders pp303-319 n Thompson JK, Heinberg LJ et al. Exacting Beauty – Theory, Assessment and Treatment of Body Image Disturbance. American Psychological Association 1999.

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Fiona Holland, MA BA PGCE is a senior lecturer at the University of Derby (Buxton). She leads the exercise therapy and sports massage pathway and is programme leader for the MSc in Wellbeing. She is a nationally (USA) certified massage therapist with 9 years’ experience in private practice. She has worked in health promotion for 15 years

and has led continuing professional development workshops on body image for massage therapists and wellbeing professionals. She can be reached at f.g.holland@derby.ac.uk.

This article has been adapted from one previously published in sportEX dynamics magazine. sportEX dynamics focuses on the subject of exercise performance including injury prevention, manual therapies, sports injuries and strength and conditioning. For more information or to subscribe visit www.sportex.net or call 0845 652 1906.

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with images portrayed in the media - was it? situations – was it?

Q1 Q2 Q3

What is the optimum attitude trainers should adopt with clients – is it?

Research has shown body image becomes more negative in which

In the survey quoted what percentage of women felt inadequate compared

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a) 49 per cent b) 61 per cent c) 84 per cent

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promoting in HIGHLIGHTS

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n ATHLETES, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE