This thesis analyzes the community engagement landscape which offers support to those suffering from eating disorders, disordered eating and fatphobia. I argue that community engagement is an expansion on support networks, which are already proven to be successful in eating disorder treatment and sustained recovery. Community engagement spaces, both in-person and online, could fill the gap for those who don't have access to support networks or traditional eating disorder treatment methods, such as hospitalization. Moreover, community engagement allows for new norms to be set within a community and gives tools to those engaging to educate others. Thus, I conclude that community engagement can serve as a preventive measure for eating disorders by redefining norms regarding health and weight.

Links to Project Materials:

College of Arts & Sciences 2020, Social Science Projects 2020, 2020