EveryBODY urges positive body image

The average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 117 pounds, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Many Americans, men and women, have negative thoughts about their bodies.

This week is Celebrate EveryBODY Week, an event that lets students realize how beautiful they really are.

“Our goal is mainly to get people to realize the positives about themselves instead of the negatives that people usually focus on,” said Andy Fry, assistant director of fitness and wellness for Campus Recreational Sports.

People who accept the way they look and feel good about it have a positive body image, according to www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics.

“People really should be happy with the way they are,” freshman Samantha Shobe said. “I would say that I am lucky to be active. Paying attention to the details really make it hard for me to really think negative.”

A negative body image consists of feeling that one’s body does not measure up to social, media or family standards. It usually causes people to feel self-conscious or awkward and to have negative thoughts about how others might see them.

“I am not proud of the way I diet because of the stress and with classes,” senior John Gonzaba said. “It really makes me feel out of shape.”

The program consists of having people sign one of 500 cards that will be hung on the wall. They will write one good thing that they love about themselves. The multicolored cards will be posted on the wall to make an image that says, “You are beautiful.”

People can also write a negative thought on a card, which will be shredded.

“You always feel empowered when you do that,” said Kaydee Miller, a graduate assistant for the Student Recreational Sports Center.

In addition, some members have their own advice for improving their perspective of themselves.

“It is the simple things like reaffirming yourself once every day,” member Sara Garringer said.

Miller added that messages promoting positive body image can be found around the building. These little pick-me-ups can be found in places like the bathroom mirror.

“This program lasts a week, but this is a longer battle,” Miller said.