BODY CONFIDENT MUMS
We are supporting mothers of young children to improve their own body image and mental health, as well as their children's.
Becoming a mother involves huge body and identity changes. Our aim is to create awareness of this vulnerable body image period, advocate for more support for mothers, and provide access to a range of valuable resources.
Amongst other things, we are currently developing an evidence-based app that can help improve mothers' body image, to improve their own mental and physical health, and help them role model this positivity to their children.
RESOURCES
EMBRACE YOUR BODY PODCAST WITH TARYN B & DR Z
So many parents know the deep impact of body image concerns. We have felt this ourselves, and know it’s big for our kids, but it’s so big it feels overwhelming. This podcast is the first of its kind to bring together the science and the stories you need to raise kids who move, nourish, respect, and embrace their bodies.
MOVEMENT
Physical activity and joyful movement have a huge potential to enhance your body image and wellbeing but exercising for health and mood rather than appearance or weight loss is the key. Are you looking for some inspiration or some extra support in exercising safely during pregnancy or in motherhood?
RESEARCH
Take a look at our latest peer-reviewed journal articles.
Peralta, L. R., Yager, Z., & Prichard, I. (2022). ‘There’s Just Something Really Peaceful About It’: a Qualitative Exploration of Mothers with Young Children and Engagement in Group-Based Physical Activity Programs. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1-13.
Yager, Z., Prichard, I., Hart, L., & Damiano, S. R. (2022). Mumbod? A comparison of body image and dietary restraint among women with younger, older, and no children. Journal of Health Psychology, 1359105320967422.
Wallis, K., Prichard, I., Hart, L., & Yager, Z. (2021). The Body Confident Mums challenge: a feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation of a body acceptance program delivered to mothers using Facebook. BMC public health, 21(1), 1-12.
Peralta, L. R., Cotton, W. G., Dudley, D. A., Hardy, L. L., Yager, Z., & Prichard, I. (2021). Group-based physical activity interventions for postpartum women with children aged 0–5 years old: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMC women's health, 21(1), 1-16.
Raspovic, A. M., Prichard, I., Yager, Z., & Hart, L. M. (2020). Mothers’ experiences of the relationship between body image and exercise, 0–5 years postpartum: A qualitative study. Body Image, 35, 41-52.
Damiano, S., Yager, Z., Prichard, I., & Hart, L. (2019). Leading by example: Development of a maternal modelling of positive body image scale and relationships to body image attitudes. Body Image, 29, 132-139.
We developed a measure of role modelling of positive body image, validated in the Damiano et al (2019) paper
The Scale is freely available for others to use in their research.
BCM TEAM
We are body image experts in body image research. We are Mums. We are passionate about promoting physical and mental wellbeing for everyone.
Dr Zali Yager
Executive Director of the Body Confident Collective, and Honorary Associate Professor in Health and Physical Education at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia.
I have an education background and expertise in the evaluation of intervention programs and content in school settings, and enhancing teacher's capacity to promote body image in their schools. I also have three children, Jack (9), Evelyn (7), and Lucy (7). Since having children, I have become passionate about promoting positive body image among mothers in order to enhance their own wellbeing, and that of their children.
Dr Ivanka Prichard
Associate Professor in Health & Exercise Sciences at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.
My research focuses on promoting positive lifestyle behaviours (i.e., healthy diet and exercise) and body image. I worked in the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor for 15 years and am passionate about understanding ways of improving body satisfaction and increasing levels of physical activity among women and children. I also have two young boys, Hudson (12) and Carter (10). Having children, as well as my background in exercise and body image research, has made me increasingly aware of the need to promote positive body image and how parents might best do this for themselves and their children.
Dr Laura Hart
Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
I am one of the creators of Confident Body Confident Child, a program to help parents teach their children about healthy eating and physical activity without negatively impacting on child body image. I am passionate about the potential influence that parents can have on their children's physical and mental health. I also have two boys, Isaac (9), and Oscar (7). Since having children, I am aware of how post-birth and breastfeeding can really wreak havoc on women’s bodies and finding the confidence (and time!) to exercise and look after yourself is a challenge.