Office of Undergraduate Research

Weight and weddings: An examination of the influence of the wedding industry on weight ideals and shape management

The "Weight and Weddings" project series investigates (1) the ideal body shape constructed by adults on the marriage market, (2) the weight management behaviors (e.g., exercise, food choice, dieting, etc.) adopted by brides and grooms-to-be in preparation for their wedding day, and (3) how the wedding industry influences the body image ideals and weight management behaviors of adults on the marriage market.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Students working on this project series should expect to enter survey data into Microsoft Excel and critically review the content (ads, images, text) of mainstream bridal publications and/or websites. Advanced students may be given the opportunity to participate in data analysis, manuscript preparation, and scientific conference poster preparation.