"I'm So Fat!": The Psychological Consequences of Fat Talk and What You Can Do To Stop It

Bradley University's Psi Chi and Psychology Club is excited to present Dr. Renee Engeln of Northwestern University, who will be giving a talk based on her research on body image. Dr. Engeln's research has appeared in such journals as 'Sex Roles' and 'Psychology of Women Quarterly.'

"We’ve all heard it: A group of women bemoaning the size of their thighs, the shape of their stomachs, the jiggle in their arms. Researchers call these conversations fat talk. Fat talk may seem like harmless bonding, but research shows it hurts both the women who do the talking and the women who hear it. Fat talk is common and contagious in groups of young women. This presentation will include qualitative, correlational, and experimental data demonstrating that fat talk reflects and fuels body image disturbance. Because fat talk conversations are easier to target than broader cultural norms or media trends, they may provide a promising route for prevention and intervention efforts."

The talk will take place in Marty Theater on Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!