GUEST SPEAKER at the University of Hamburg (Faculty of Education)

The University of Hamburg invited me to speak about my book "Normalgewicht" (Normal Weight ) on November 4, 2025, as part of a lecture series at the Faculty of Education . Naturally, I was nervous – but in the best possible way. It was my first official book presentation at a university.

The presentation took place via Zoom and was divided into two parts: In the first 45 minutes, I spoke about the content, the background, and the motivation behind the book. I addressed current topics such as the competition among those affected and the role of social media in relation to eating disorders. Finally, I discussed the options available to family members and professionals to better support those affected.

This was followed by a 45-minute Q&A session – a discussion that impressed me. The questions were not only numerous but also very specific and thoughtful. I could sense the students' genuine interest in understanding the topic more deeply, listening attentively, and working together to find solutions.

I was incredibly happy about this opportunity to contribute. Experiencing that my book is being heard in an academic context and is relevant to the discourse in teaching has deeply moved me. This is especially true because many of the students will later work with children and adolescents and now know more about eating disorders than is taught in curricula or textbooks. Knowing that this will make them more attentive, better able to understand, and capable of providing early intervention makes me happy. That is precisely what I want to achieve with "Normalgewicht" (Normal Weight ).

At the same time, I learned a great deal myself – through the open exchange, new perspectives, and the respectful atmosphere. This presentation showed me once again how important it is to talk about eating disorders – not only from a medical perspective, but also socially, emotionally, and interpersonally.

I am grateful for this experience and look forward to everything that may come of it. If you are interested in a presentation, please feel free to contact me via the contact form or by email at info.johannaelsen@web.de

Watch the video for further insights.