Making the Most of Me is a comprehensive body image education program, containing complete lesson plans for use. There are eight lessons, which are intended to take eight hours of instructional time to cover. Topics covered are: "ME" and My Body, Taking Care of ME", Getting to Know "ME", Striving for Excellence, My Feelings Count Too, Developing Media Savvy, and Accepting Others.

 

The program uses a student workbook format to help students understand the importance of self-confidence based on what's inside, rather than on physical attributes. There is also a teacher manual, which outlines classroom activities, including homework assignments and a list of

resource materials needed to teach the lessons. An important part of this program is developing efficacy, so throughout, students have ample opportunity for practical application of the topics discussed (by way of the final lesson, which is called Putting It All Together, homework, and daily tracking of health Behaviors).

 

Making the Most of ME was developed for a research study funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR). This study, "Eating Disorder Prevention in Schools: A Wellness Approach", was a two year project evaluating the effectiveness of wellness-based education on eating attitudes, disordered eating behaviors, self-esteem, and general health behaviors. It has been extended by adding a 14-month longitudinal post-test, and will be completed by the end of the 2004 school year.

 

Currently the education workbook is only available as part of the research project; however, there is an interest in making this resource available for future use, beyond the scope of the study. If you are interested in obtaining more information about either the study results or the "Making the Most of ME resources, please contact the authors using the icon for "Making the Most of ME" on the webpage.