SHS: H.O.M.E.B.A.S.E.

H.O.M.E.B.A.S.E. (Healthy Options for Movement, Exercise, Body Acceptance and Savvy Eating) is a taskforce formed in the fall of 2001. Members include representatives from Student Health Services, the Athletics Department, Recreation Services, Organization and Leadership, the Emily Taylor Resource Center, Housing, Counseling and Psychological Services, and student representatives.

The purpose of the taskforce is to provide ongoing education to the students at the University of Kansas about body acceptance, healthy eating and physical fitness. Goals will be accomplished through a variety of channels including but not limited to, visual and print media, class presentations, health fairs, etc. These educational goals include:

1. Dispelling myths about dieting and food restriction and describing the physical and emotional harm unhealthy food practices can cause.
2. Exposing weight and body discrimination at KU, and detailing its devastating impact on self- esteem.
3. Redefining physical health (fitness vs. thinness)
4. Examining cultural differences in beauty.
5. Promoting healthy, satisfying eating practices and advocating for healthier options for students on campus.
6. Identifying students at risk for unhealthy body image and/or eating practices and developing effective resources for them to avoid physical and emotional illness.
7. Exploring the media’s influence - its narrow definition of beauty and handsomeness and observing differences among treatment of males vs. females and resulting impact on both sexes.
8. Involving faculty and staff to promote greater body acceptance and healthier eating on campus through educational presentations, fliers, emails etc.
9. Promoting physical fitness through education and healthy modeling of appropriate fitness regimens.
10. Providing opportunities for peer health educators to present programs and coordinate educational efforts about fitness, body acceptance, and nutrition.