Creating a Body-Inclusive School Environment
Schools can create a culture that is body-inclusive by making sure all bodies are supported and by proactively addressing bullying that targets aspects of students’ appearance. The following ideas relate to the “Relationships and Environments,” “Our School Policies,” and “Community Partnerships” components of the Comprehensive School Health approach.
Relationships and Environments
- Ensure that all students have access to chairs, desks, costumes, jerseys, gym clothes, and sports equipment that fit their body and are comfortable.
- Look for opportunities to create changes in the physical environment of your school to convey the message that all bodies are welcome. For example: select visual posters such as the ones from Nuton that celebrate body diversity; add inclusive equipment to your playground; establish universal washrooms; provide privacy stalls in change rooms.
- Even what seems to be a compliment about one’s appearance can be interpreted as unwelcome by some students. It is safest to not comment on students’ physical appearance and to encourage neutrality amongst students.
- Establish body-inclusive norms in your classes as part of classroom guidelines and remind students of this expectation. Mottoes like “We don’t talk about other people’s bodies” or “Every body belongs here” can be helpful to set the expectation and to refer back to if you need to interrupt appearance-based bullying or insult amongst students. Remember to revisit or reiterate these classroom guidelines throughout the year.
Our School Policies
- Research shows that weight-based bullying can have long-term negative consequences for victims’ physical and psychological well-being. It is highly correlated with eating disorders for all genders. Witnessing weight-based bullying can negatively impact onlookers’ body image. Appearance-based bullying should be treated as seriously as any other form of bullying.
- Weight and body size acceptance is a social justice, inclusivity, and accessibility issue. It should be included in anti-bullying and DEI policies and training, to show that appearance-based bullying, including teasing about weight, is unacceptable.
Community Partnerships
- Parents/caregivers are vital partners in supporting healthy body image for young people. Share body inclusive messages with them when relevant in home communication and respect their choices in terms of the food they send to school for their child.
- Connect your school to not-for-profits that focus on eating disorder prevention and body image, such as Embody BC or NEDIC, for further support and education on the topic.
- If you plan on inviting guest presenters who may talk about food or physical activity, learn about their inclusivity practices in advance. Ensure their philosophy and language is accessible, body inclusive and gender-inclusive. Consider resources like Teach Food First: a toolkit for K-8 educators to explore food and nutrition with your students while encouraging positive food experiences.
- Get to know about the supports available for children and youth so that students can be connected to appropriate services and supports.
- If you have a student with a diagnosed eating disorder, communicate regularly with their parents/guardians and (possibly) their treatment team. Students in treatment may require modifications to assignments and exams.
