Indiana University Bloomington

Campus Link Newsletter

Spring 2012

Celebrating Healthy Bodies

The 4th annual “Celebrate EveryBODY Week,” Feb. 27 to March 1, invited students to recognize and validate different body types and raise awareness about the potential harm of negative body image.

“College is a big life change for many students, and the resulting stress can trigger eating and exercise disorders,” said Andy Fry, assistant director of fitness/wellness for IU Campus Recreational Sports. “We started Celebrate EveryBODY week to encourage students to focus on what’s on the inside and not only what’s on the outside.”

Co-sponsored by IU Campus Recreational Sports, the IU Health Center, and the Coalition for Overcoming Problem Eating/Exercise (COPE), the event included several activities:

“Bust It! Banishing Negative Body Image Thoughts”, a kick-off event including a student pledge to appreciate their bodies and to abstain from “fat talk”. “It’s Not Only a Girl Thing: Males and Disordered Eating”, a presentation by COPE psychologist Stefanie Greenberg. An array of positive body image initiatives, including the Love Yourself T-shirt/sticker
project and posting positive body messages to create an art installation in the Student Recreational Sports Center. “Rock What You’ve Got: Zumba and Hip-Hop Party” closing event.

• “Bust It! Banishing Negative Body Image Thoughts”, a kick-off event including a student pledge to appreciate their bodies and to abstain from “fat talk”.
• “It’s Not Only a Girl Thing: Males and Disordered Eating”, a presentation by COPE psychologist Stefanie Greenberg.
• An array of positive body image initiatives, including the Love Yourself T-shirt/sticker project and posting positive body messages to create an art installation in the Student Recreational Sports Center.
• “Rock What You’ve Got: Zumba and Hip-Hop Party” closing event.

“We tried new things this year to add more celebratory and visual elements to the week,” Fry said. “Students really responded and seemed to appreciate the opportunity to voice  concerns about body image and to embrace new ways of thinking about what it means to be truly healthy and happy with who you are.”

Kathy Bayless

Recreational Sports
HPER