Eating Disorder Awareness Week with Ms. Jesse Carmen

During Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Marlborough was honored to host Jesse Carmen, a therapist and eating disorder specialist, for a Pushing Perspectives lunchtime talk. Ms. Carmen led an interactive discussion that encouraged students to explore healthy relationships with food and body image. 

The talk, organized by Jessica G. ’26 and Director of Educational Counseling Services Dr. Morgan Duggan, created a safe space for students to reflect on factors that influence their relationships with food and their bodies. Spurred by her passion for this topic, Jessica G. ’26 felt an event like this would be important and meaningful to the Marlborough community. She shared, “I believe [eating disorder] prevention and intervention can start early through education. Having Ms. Carmen speak seemed like a great opportunity to foster more conversations on the topic to break down stigma and encourage those in need to seek help.”

During the talk, Ms. Carmen introduced the concept of body neutrality as an alternative to body positivity. She explained that body neutrality falls in the middle of the spectrum between body hate and absolute body love, offering a more balanced and attainable perspective. 

“Body neutrality takes the pressure off of loving your body all the time,” Ms. Carmen noted. “It is actually okay if you have a not-so-great body image day. People aren’t going to love every aspect of their body all the time. But it also means not letting that have so much power over you.”

Jessica echoed this sentiment: “I think Ms. Carmen’s suggestion of body neutrality is a powerful way of thinking. I know some people see unwavering body positivity as problematic or difficult, and I think neutrality encourages self-compassion while recognizing that some days, you just don’t feel as good, and that’s okay.”

Through an interactive exercise, students identified numerous factors that influence their relationships with food and body image, including family, friends, social media, sports, and school culture. Ms. Carmen emphasized how these influences can shape our perceptions, both positively and negatively. “Your body is going to change throughout your lifetime,” Ms. Carmen reminded students. “Your body is not going to look the same in 7th Grade as in 12th Grade, and it shouldn’t. Bodies change and transform through different seasons, and that is completely normal.”

The discussion highlighted how comments about food and bodies—even when well-intentioned—can have unintended negative impacts. Ms. Carmen stressed the importance of food neutrality alongside body neutrality, suggesting that categorizing foods as “good” or “bad” can lead to inaccurately associating eating habits with personal worth. “The food you eat does not correlate with your value as a person,” Ms. Carmen emphasized.

Jessica hopes Ms. Carmen’s visit will have a lasting impact: “I hope that students are more informed about eating disorders and ways to maintain a healthy relationship with food and their body image. Education is so important. The conversation was a great way to reflect on and be more aware of the factors that impact an individual's relationship with food.” 

Ms. Carmen concluded her talk by encouraging students to reach out to trusted adults if they or their friends struggle with disordered eating. “Eating disorders can be very isolating, and they thrive in isolation and secrecy,” she cautioned.

Jessica was encouraged by her peers’ engagement with the Pushing Perspectives. “Something I didn’t expect was how open people were as they shared experiences with food and body image. It was amazing to hear diverse thoughts and voices ranging from student athletes to dancers. I think this willingness to engage in harder topics is so important to foster understanding and to raise general awareness on an issue that's not really discussed.”

This event is one of the many ways Marlborough demonstrates its ongoing commitment to educating and raising awareness about eating and body image. Over the years, Ms. Carmen and other experts have spoken to parents and students through a variety of formats—including parent events, Division Meetings, Class Meetings, Advisory lessons, and health classes. As the conversation around these issues continue to evolve, so too will Marlborough's efforts to provide meaningful education, open dialogue, and accessible resources. The School remains dedicated to empowering students with the knowledge and support they need to foster healthy relationships with food and their bodies throughout their educational journey.

- - -

For more information about eating disorders or to find support resources, students are encouraged to contact the Educational and Counseling Services Office or Health Educators on campus.