Dr Zali Yager
Enhancing outcomes through body-image
Dr Zali Yager is an internationally recognised expert in the body image space, known for figuring out ‘what works’ to help people feel better about their bodies. Zali is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Sport at Victoria University, with a background in health and physical education. She has been involved in the development of almost every evidence-based body image school program around the world, and a consultant on two EU-funded Erasmus+ projects – Body Confident Mums and Body Confident Sport. In 2021, Zali was awarded one of 10 Westpac Social Change Fellowships. She received a Creswick Fellowship to spend time at Harvard and Northeastern University in 2018, and a Leverhulme Fellowship in 2011 to complete her postdoctoral work at the Centre for Appearance Research in the UK. Zali co-authored the Embrace Kids book with Taryn Brumfitt from the Body Image Movement, and was the body image expert advisor on the EMBRACE KIDS film. She is also a Mum of 3 (10, 8, 8) and ridiculously passionate and driven by the desire to create a safer body image environment for the next generation.
The Workshop
Pregnancy is a time of significant bodily changes for women. For the first half of the day, this workshop will include an overview of the latest research and evidence around body image in pregnancy, and patient stories relating to their experiences of their growing, changing bodies and talk through the link between body dissatisfaction in pregnancy, gestational weight gain, and postpartum depression. Practical recommendations for body confident practice in pregnancy will be outlined, including a sensitive and non-stigmatising processes for weighing women in pregnancy where this is necessary. Participants will engage in role play of expectation management regarding bodily changes suitable for antenatal clinic visits, and engage in some brief, evidence-based tools and strategies to improve body image that could be embedded in antenatal classes in order to improve pregnancy outcomes, and enhance the physical and mental health of mothers and babies.
In the second half of the day, the workshop will focus on the postpartum period. The postpartum period presents significant challenges for women’s adaptation to their new bodies, and identities. Supporting women to accept and appreciate their bodies and appearance at this time is critical in promoting and maintaining optimal mental and physical health outcomes in the transition to motherhood. In this workshop, the research regarding body image in the postpartum period will be outlined. Participants will engage in evidence-based tools and strategies to improve body image, mental health, and adjustment to motherhood, suitable for embedding in new parent programs. Practical guidance regarding how to talk about bodies, weight, and health in clinical practice will be provided, and participants will use this in practical ways during the session.