According to Brittany Braswell, college can be one of the most difficult times for students struggling with their body image. With the beginning of a new semester, recruitment and a new routine, these issues tend to be compounded. During Alpha Omicron Pi’s educational chapter meeting on August 27, Braswell, a dietitian, private coach and podcaster, discussed the importance of trusting one’s body instead of chasing body positivity.
Braswell describes herself as a “Christ-centered food freedom coach.” As a registered dietitian, she works with clients through private coaching or pre-scheduled courses. Braswell is also the host of “The Joy-Filled Eater Podcast,” which aims to change its audience’s mindset around food and body image. The episodes feature a wide variety of topics, from challenging food fears to diet culture within the church.
A former client shared their thoughts on the program that Braswell offers. “I left behind an immense amount of shame and negativity, and transitioned into a mindset that allows me not to be burdened by negative body issues and food guilt.”
On Sunday, August 27, Braswell came to share her coaching tips and techniques for the sisters at Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She initially reached out to the Vice President of Programming and Enrichment, Elizabeth Flood, about the opportunity to speak to Samford students.
“I really hope it gives some girls that extra boost of confidence,” Braswell said. “Not just in their body, but in themselves; that they will give themselves grace, regardless of how they feel about their bodies.”
In her presentation to the Alpha Omicron Pi sisters, Braswell explained the toxic nature of the body positivity movement. Statistics showed that trying to be more positive about one’s body only leads to constant obsessing over it. People spend four hours per day focusing on changing or improving their bodies. This is why Braswell differentiated between body positivity and body trust.
Braswell’s main message was that a person’s worth does not come from their appearance or weight, but from their identity in Christ. Every human was created with dignity, and Braswell quoted multiple verses about God’s view of humanity. Man was the only creation God called “very good,” and Psalms says that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“Unlike other approaches that only focus on food-related behaviors, I help my clients replace negative beliefs with spiritual trust to discover their God-given identity without their eating disorder,” Braswell said.
According to Braswell, body trust is being aware of what your body is telling you instead of focusing only on what it looks like. This mindset allows individuals to take care of their God-given bodies while becoming more aware of what they truly need.
After the education chapter at Alpha Omicron Pi, Braswell said that she would like the opportunity to speak to more college students. She would like to encourage students to end negative language surrounding food because food is not “good” or “bad.” Braswell hopes that her efforts can help bring encouragement to anyone struggling with negative body image and food fears.
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