266200 Empowering and utilizing college-aged women to mentor preadolescent girls: An evaluation of the Girls in Motion program

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Mandy Golman, PhD, MCHES , Department of Health Studies, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX
Marilyn Massey-Stokes, EdD, CHES, FASHA, ICŪ , Department of Health Studies, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX
Body dissatisfaction, disordered eating behaviors, and eating disorders can challenge females throughout the lifespan. According to recent studies, over 10 million women struggle with eating disorders, 90% of women are dissatisfied with their body, and 81% of 10-year olds are afraid of being fat. The presenters will examine these current trends in eating behaviors and body dissatisfaction among females in general, as well as across different ethnicities and age groups. The presenters will also discuss strategies for addressing body dissatisfaction in preadolescent girls and college-aged women, two of the most at-risk populations for the development of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. In addition, a review of the evaluation results of the Girls in Motion program will be provided. The Girls in Motion program, utilizing constructs of both Relational Cultural Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, consists of 8 weekly sessions focusing on healthy nutrition, physical fitness, and positive body image. College-aged women serve as mentors to the preadolescent girls and are the deliverers of the curriculum. In addition, the girls' parents attend two education sessions. Research findings from the Girls in Motion program include significant reduction in body dissatisfaction from pretest to posttest after participation in the 8-week program. In conclusion, strengths and weaknesses of the program will be discussed as well as recommendations for follow-up research and interventions aimed at promoting healthy body image and preventing eating disorders among all young females.

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Examine current trends in body image and eating disorders in diverse populations. 2. Identify strategies for improving body image and reducing eating disorders in adolescent girls and college-aged women 3. Discuss barriers to improving body image and preventing eating disorders in diverse populations

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Most importantly, I was the principal investigator on the submitted evaluation study. I have been involved in public health program implementation and evaluation for 17 years. Most of that time has been centered on adolescent health related issues, specifically addressing obesity and eating disorders. Currently, as a result of this study, we are in the process of collecting follow up data based on the recommendations of the current study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2058.0: Women's health across the lifespan