The Healthy Eating and Body Image Lab is located in rooms 104 and 214 of the Graduate Center and on campus in Family Life Center (FLC) rooms 417 and 418.

About Our Research

The rates of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image disturbances are increasing among male and female adolescents and young adults. It is imperative to understand the nature of these disorders as well as the factors associated with their development. Personal characteristics as well as family, peer, romantic partner, and other sociocultural influences play a significant role and are thoroughly investigated in our work.

Recent News

Awesome Tech in the Lab:
​Eye Tracking Software

We are thrilled that we have the Tobii X2-60 eye tracking system! The Tobii X2-60 does not require the use of special glasses or goggles. It is a small device placed at the bottom of the computer monitor, and it measures eye movement using infrared light. This technology is being used in the How We Look at Toys, and How We Think about Ourselves study.

Posters presented at the Society for Research in Child Development in Baltimore, Maryland

First Poster: Does Playing with Barbies in Childhood Affect Later Body Image? 
  • Authors: Elizabeth Blodgett Salafia, Emma Johnson, Kerrie Leonard, Maegan Jones
Second Poster: The Mediating Effects of Intimacy Between Sibling Body Talk and Body Dissatisfaction in Female Adolescents
  • Authors: Emma Johnson, Elizabeth Blodgett Salafia
Third Poster: Examination of Desire for Muscle Gain Among Non-Athletic Adolescents and College-Aged Women
  • Authors: Emma Johnson, Elizabeth Blodgett Salafia, Kerrie Leonard

Posters Presented at the International Conference on Education in Honolulu, Hawaii

For the past two years, Dr, Salafia and Emma Johnson's collaborative work was on display at the Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education!

Poster title 2019: The Importance of an Interdisciplinary Approach in Graduate Work in Developmental Science
Poster title 2020: What Does it Mean to be Interdisciplinary in Developmental Science Graduate Study?
 
​Authors: Elizabeth Blodgett Salafia and Emma Johnson
In the News!

NDSU's student run Spectrum recently interviewed Dr. Salafia about her thoughts on body image, as well as our recent research. Click here to read the article!

The Fargo Forum has also written about our research before.

What's to blame? NDSU study finds disparity between what people with and without eating disorders think causes them.

Revel vs. Rogue: Freedom, challenges can help parents curb risky teen behaviors
Magazine Articles
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​Blodgett Salafia, E. H. (2010). Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating: What Are the Differences? Eat Smart, Play Hard, Together Magazine (2010-2011 Edition), 10-11.
DifferencesEatingDOvDisorderedEating
File Size: 182 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Blodgett Salafia, E. H., Jones, M. E., Zolnikov, T. R., & Brennan, A. L. (2014). Busting Myths and Presenting Facts about Eating Disorders. Eat Smart, Play Hard, Together Magazine (2014-2015 Edition), 10-11.
EatingDisordersMythsFacts
File Size: 111 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Blodgett Salafia, E. H., Jones, M. E., Suffolk, M., & Carlson, B. (2016). Healthy Parents, Health Children: Be Mindful of Your Body Talk. Eat Smart, Play Hard, Together Magazine (2016-2017 Edition), 16-17.
Leonard, K. C. & Blodgett Salafia, E. H. (2020) Teaching your child to trust their body: How to incorporate intuitive eating in their lives. On the Minds of Moms. Fargo, North Dakota. 
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2018-2019 Lab Members
Lauren Grant, Emma Johnson, Kerrie Leonard, Victoria Krabbenhoft, and Dr. Salafia

Student Poster Presentations!

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Graduate students Kerrie and Emma presenting at Society for Research on Child Development (2019)!
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Victoria presented at the 2019 NDSU Explore Conference!
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Emma presenting at Society for Research on Child Development
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Lauren presenting at the 2019 NDSU Explore conference!
North Dakota State University | Human Development and Family Science Department
Mailing Address:  NDSU Department 2615 | PO Box 6050 | Fargo, ND 58108-6050
701-231-8268 | www.ndsu.edu/hdfs