The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, will host an important event from December 6-8, 2024, addressing key topics of body image, eating behaviors, and mental health in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
This symposium,“Dying to be Beautiful? Body Image, Eating Behaviours, and Health in the Caribbean” will be hosted by the Faculties of Social Sciences and Medical Sciences at the institution. Psychological professionals, medical practitioners, and advocates are invited to join the conversation on critical health and wellness issues affecting Caribbean communities.
Dr. Caryl James, Professor of Eating Disorders, Body Image and Mental Health at the institution, and Co-chair of the symposium, reflects on the history of the event. She remembers that “Impelled by insights from extensive work across the fields of social sciences, medicine, the liberal arts and education, the symposium was launched in 2012 with an initial focus on body image concerns, including skin bleaching, disordered eating, and eating disorders. However, in keeping with the institution’s tradition of encouraging bold, robust discussions on often avoided topics, the symposium evolved to addresses a range of other mental health challenges faced by Caribbean people—both at home and within the diaspora.”
With a rising culture of body dissatisfaction and mental health challenges, this year’s conference aims to provide insights and practical strategies for addressing the increasing prevalence of eating disorders, disordered eating patterns, obesity, and skin bleaching across the region. These patterns, if unaddressed, pose a serious public health threat, making this forum an essential step toward regional health improvement.
Keynote Speakers and Highlights
The conference will feature distinguished keynote speakers, Dr. Charlynn Small, a Clinical Psychologist and Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and Chef Andre Fowles, a three-time Food Network "Chopped" winner and internationally acclaimed Jamaican-born chef.
Attendees can expect a range of exciting plenary sessions that tackle essential topics, including:
“The Bleaching/Browning Syndrome…Out of the Dark and Into the Light”
“Medical Complications of Feeding and Eating Disorders among Caribbean and Latin Americans”
Workshops and Presentations
The conference will also feature interactive workshops and presentations with subjects such as:
“Sleep Duration and Quality and their Associations with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in a Sample of Jamaican Adults”
“Beauty and the Bank Account…the Social Environmental and Financial Impact of Beauty Standards”
“Diverse Backgrounds, Diverse Needs: A Preliminary Examination of the Weight Loss Needs of Afro-Caribbean and Black American Adults Residing in the United States”
These sessions will give participants the tools to better understand the physical and mental health challenges facing Caribbean teens and young adults today.
Value for Attendees
Professor James believes that the event will provide attendees, including medical professionals, educators, HR managers, policymakers, and community leaders, with actionable strategies and expert insights to support the development of a healthy body image culture and improved mental wellness across the Caribbean. She states, “This conference encourages alliances across nations and disciplines, aiming to foster partnerships for continued research, advocacy, and policymaking to address the urgent health issues currently affecting our societies.”
Event Details:
Date: December 6-8, 2024
Location: The UWI, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica
For Registration and Further Information: www.mona.uwi.edu/dtbb
Join us in this pivotal event to create impactful change in Jamaica and the Caribbean’s approach to body image and mental health. We invite media representatives to cover this powerful conference and share its critical message across Jamaica, the Caribbean region and internationally.
