Anti-bias body image curriculum for high schools

Dear Friend,

Today’s young people spend more than eight hours each day on their phones and computers. They compare their appearance to edited and filtered images of people they see on their social media sites. 77% of adolescents report “body image distress,” feeling dissatisfied with their own appearance. We know from the research that having a negative perception of their own bodies leads to serious mental health consequences such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and low self-esteem.

BE REAL creates resources to help young people with their body image. We have evidence-based workshops for adults and curricula for youth that are designed to help children develop a healthy relationship to food and their body. 

Here are some notable highlights of BodyKind:

• BE REAL’s BodyKind high school body image curriculum is now available to educators nationwide. We train and test teachers on our resources via online video or in-person.Through 2024, we’ve trained over 300 teachers, reaching more than 30,000 high school students who will receive BE REAL’s BodyKind lessons.
• BodyKind, has been proven effective in improving body image through a Randomized Control Trial (RCT). The study, which involved 1,150 students in Ireland, found that BodyKind led to significant increases in body appreciation. These results make BodyKind the first curriculum to achieve such outcomes, offering a promising solution to body image challenges.
• BodyKind has been published 3 times. In 2023, we featured in Body Image Journal on BodyKind's pilot in Minneapolis, and in BMC Public Health on BodyKind's RCT protocol. In 2024, we were featured again in Body Image Journal on BodyKind's Irish cultural adaptation. Our fourth paper, focusing on the RCT protocol, is scheduled for publication in Spring 2025.
• BodyKind Goes Global. Be Real is adapting BodyKind for various countries by tailoring language, images, and stories to reflect local research and experiences. We collaborate with each country to address specific research and cultural issues. Currently, we are developing a Latin American version of BodyKind with academic partners from Mexico and Costa Rica, and preparing for a Chinese adaptation with partners from China. We've also received inquiries about adaptations from Canada, Germany, Israel, and Chile.
• College BodyKind is gaining momentum. Our peer-led body image seminar has trained over 50 college students at universities such as Washington University, Northwestern University, and the University of Toronto, among others. Our quarterly meetings are also growing in popularity.

Thank you for your past support at GlobalGiving.  We could use your help now more than ever to develop and expand the reach of BodyKind!

Confidently yours,

Denise Hamburger

Executive Director of BE REAL

Dear Friend,

Today’s young people spend more than eight hours each day on their phones and computers. They compare their appearance to edited and filtered images of people they see on their social media sites. 77% of adolescents report “body image distress,” feeling dissatisfied with their own appearance. We know from the research that having a negative perception of their own bodies leads to serious mental health consequences such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, and low self-esteem.

BE REAL creates resources to help young people with their body image. We have evidence-based workshops for adults and curricula for youth that are designed to help children develop a healthy relationship to food and their body. 

Here are some notable highlights of BodyKind:

• The BodyKind high school body image curriculum by Be Real is now available for educators across the nation. We've teamed up with schools and eating disorder non-profits in Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Rhode Island, Vermont, Colorado, Oregon, Arizona, Alaska, and Minnesota to bring Body Confident Schools to their communities. Thousands of teachers have been trained and are delivering BodyKind to their classrooms.
• BodyKind has been shown to significantly increase Body Appreciation among participants. We’re excited to announce that our high school body image curriculum, BodyKind, has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving students’ body image through a Randomized Control Trial (RCT)! Findings from a study involving 1,150 students in Ireland revealed that BodyKind led to significant increases in body appreciation. Our curriculum is the first to achieve these results, providing a promising solution to body image issues.
• BodyKind goes global. Be Real is adapting BodyKind for different countries. We adjust language, images, and stories to fit research and local experiences. We collaborate with each country for research and local issues. We have already developed an adaptation for Ireland and are currently working on one for Latin America, with implementation scheduled to start this November.
• Let’s Eat is almost ready for the public.We’re thrilled to share that we’re in the final stages of preparing Let’s Eat, a weight-neutral nutrition curriculum designed to promote healthy eating while prioritizing mental health. Let’s Eat emphasizes Tuned-In Eating, self-care, and body cues, enabling students to connect their food preferences to their identity and culture.

Thank you for your past support at GlobalGiving.  We could use your help now more than ever to develop and expand the reach of BodyKind and Let’s Eat!

Confidently yours,

Denise Hamburger

Executive Director of BE REAL