This media collection explores body image, social media influence, eating pathology, and recovery through personal stories, public health messaging, and evidence-informed media. Featuring lived-experience narratives and public awareness campaigns, these resources are designed to support reflection, education, and discussion around self-image, mental health, recovery, and the impact of societal pressures.

Videos

Are You Living an Insta Lie? Social Media Vs. Reality

This video explores the contrast between social media and reality, highlighting how curated posts, filters, and staged moments can create unrealistic expectations and distorted perceptions of everyday life. Through relatable examples, it encourages viewers to reflect on authenticity, self-image, and the pressure to appear “perfect” online.

Backyard BBQ

This skit explores how social environments, food choices, body image pressures, and substance use experiences can influence eating behaviors and self-perception. Through realistic interactions at a backyard BBQ, the video highlights how recovery, emotional health, and societal expectations can shape relationships with food and body image.

Carbohydrates: Friend or Foe?

This video explores the role carbohydrates play in overall health, energy, and nutrition. It discusses common misconceptions about carbohydrates while explaining how balanced nutrition and informed food choices can support long-term wellness and recovery.

Control Portion Distortion

Portion sizes have grown a lot over the years, and it’s easy to eat more than we realize without meaning to. This video explains portion distortion; what it is, how it happens, and simple ways you can take control of your portions without feeling deprived.

Goals after Recovery

This video shares Ashley’s perspective on recovery and the personal goals she hopes to achieve moving forward. Through her story, she reflects on growth, rebuilding relationships, and creating a healthier future beyond addiction and recovery challenges.

Jessica's Story

Jessica shares her personal journey through addiction, recovery, and healing, offering an honest look at the challenges she faced and the strength it took to rebuild her life. This video highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of support in the recovery process.

Triggers, Appearance, and Recovery

Ashley reflects on her substance use journey and the personal triggers that influenced her desire to maintain a certain appearance. She shares how body image pressures, emotional challenges, and external expectations played a role in her experiences.

What Addiction Really Feels Like

Ashley shares what addiction means to her, offering insight into the emotional, physical, and mental challenges that substance use can create.

Dove Campaign Videos

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

Dove Reverse Selfie

Dove Change One Thing

Dove Choose Beautiful

Dove Evolution

Dove Patches Beauty

Podcasts

Opioid Use Disorder Impact in Special Populations

This NOCE Dose listening session explores opioid use across special populations and across the lifespan. The panel brings together experts who will explore the intergenerational and biological impacts of opioid exposure—from infancy and maternal health to metabolism, long-term development, and opioid use disorder in older adulthood.

Healthy Steps to Freedom

Curious about how nutrition and exercise can impact recovery? Healthy Steps to Freedom is a 10-week program from the University of Nevada, Reno, created to educate women on overcoming addiction and body image challenges.

Lindsay, A., and Heleman, N. 2026, Healthy Living Sustainable Recovery Media, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Videos

Extension Associated Contacts

Anne R. Lindsay

Also of Interest:


Weight Stigma and Substance Use Recovery Recovery-related weight gain is a common concern for individuals in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). While negative attitudes or judgments about being overweight are commonly experienced by many people living in the United States, for those in recovery for SUD this ant... Lindsay, A., Warren, C., and Rynearson, C. 2025, University of Nevada, Reno Extension
Substance Use, Recovery and Body Dissatisfaction Body dissatisfaction is an aspect of body image that’s generally defined as having negative thoughts or feelings about one’s physical appearance. Such dissatisfaction results from a perceived discrepancy between their actual body image. Lindsay, A., Warren, C., and Ganim, L. 2024, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, FS-24-05
School-based prevention programs. In G.L. Fisher & N.A. Roget (eds.). Encyclopedia of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery (pp. 803-806) The scope includes behavioral addictions such as eating disorders, gambling and compulsive shopping. Preparation of the profession is heavily featured in numerous articles on standards, training, ethics and professional organizations. Luna, N. (2009). In G.L. Fisher & N.A. Roget (eds.) 2009, Thousand Oak, CA: Sage.
Substance abuse prevention specialist training (SAPST) manual Grounded in current research and SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework, this foundational training helps practitioners develop the knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement, and evaluate effective, data-driven programs and practices that reduce behavioral health disparitie... Luna, N., Hogan, J.A., Gabrielsen, K., Fisher, G., & Grothaus, D. 2000, University of Nevada, Reno
Impact of a program to improve nutrition, body image, and health-related behaviors for women in treatment for substance use The papers assesses whether a nutrition and body image program improved healthy food consumption, physical activity, eating pathology, and psychosocial factors for women in recovery from substance use. Lindsay, A. R., Warren, C. S., Heleman, N., & Elgeberi, N. 2026, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Associated Programs

Healthy Living, Sustainable Recovery

Program teaches nutrition and healthy lifestyles that address weight and energy concerns in women with substance abuse issues.

Healthy Living Sustainable Recovery Media