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How can we develop a healthier body image as Latter-day Saint women despite beauty norms and pressures in the world today? How can we help the young women and girls around us learn to treasure the divine gift of their bodies as they grow and develop into women? Dr. Lauren Barnes is the director of clinical training for the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Brigham Young University and specializes in women’s issues, including body image and eating disorders. Join us as we talk with Dr. Barnes about these important issues affecting Latter-day Saint women and girls today.
Religion, in general, has prompted believers to have a more positive view of their bodies, and Mormonism specifically teaches that Heavenly Parents are embodied, that humans are created in their divine image, and that the body is a temple. Why, then, do some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints struggle with their body image? Why do many turn to cosmetic surgery to “improve” their bodies? Two researchers from Brigham Young University have just completed what they say is the largest study ever done of how Latter-day Saint doctrine and culture may affect body image. On this week’s show, study co-author Lauren Barnes, a licensed therapist and professor in BYU’s School of Family Life, discuss the findings — and suggestions for improving body image.
After betrayal, it’s common for women to turn inward, blaming their bodies and questioning their worth. In this important conversation, we talk with Dr. Lauren Barnes, therapist, researcher, and director of clinical training at BYU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program. Dr. Barnes shares how her clinical and personal experiences led her to work with women struggling with body image and eating disorders. Together, we explore the connection between faith, culture, self-worth, and body image—especially in the aftermath of sexual betrayal. If you’ve ever felt the impact of betrayal show up in your relationship with your body, this episode will help you understand why it happens, how cultural and religious messages shape that experience, and what you can do to reclaim your body as a source of power, connection, and joy.
In today’s podcast Tammy Hill, LMFT visits with Dr. Lauren Barnes about body image and relationships—relationships with yourself, in dating and marriage, and in parenting. Lauren has some exceptional advice for self-acceptance, especially in learning to love your body’s unique qualities. Start small by accepting the things that you appreciate about your body. As you start focusing on your own strengths and self-development, your ability to attract mature people increases. Confidence is sexy! You deserve to be with somebody who will respect and love your body.
In this important episode of the Stronger Marriage Connection podcast, Dr. Lauren Barnes shares her extensive knowledge about eating disorders and body image, exploring their impact on individuals and relationships. Offering hope and healing, Dr. Barnes discusses the prevalence, recovery, and the critical importance of addressing these issues within marriages. Listeners will learn from an expert in the field about the signs, effects, and treatment options for eating disorders, making this a valuable resource for those seeking to understand or cope with these conditions.
Lauren spent years working in eating disorder recovery and shares what she learned, and how we can gain perspective from looking through a lens of joy in our bodies.
We discuss how to use the word "fat" and find joy in movement.
Most people have a complicated relationship with their body, with many of us wishing we looked different. Fad diets, intermittent fasting, excessive exercise, weight loss injections, and liposuction abound as we search for perfection. The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) recently published a research and policy brief summarizing the findings from a complex study of body image in the Church, which is the topic of this episode.
In this episode, I am joined by two guests, both professors in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University: Dr. Sarah Coyne, Associate Director of the Department and a Professor of Human Development, and Dr. Lauren Barnes, an Associate Clinical Professor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.