Campus organizations invite all students to show pride on Love Your Body Day

Today we invite you all to celebrate Love Your Body Day, a national effort to reinforce positive body images. Each year, the United States spends more than $33 billion on weight-reduction programs, diet foods and beverages, and advertising for these products, according to the National Organization for Women (NOW).

Is it any wonder that psychcentral.com estimates 80 percent of women in the United States are dissatisfied with their appearance? Or that a Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology article, “The Impact of Media Exposure on Males’ Body Image,” states 95 percent of college-aged men expressed dissatisfaction with some part of their bodies? We refuse to be reduced to legs, lips, breasts, asses and muscles.

SASSE, What the Health Magazine and SHAPES have come together to stand up against the misrepresentation of beauty in the media. We will be on the Quad promoting this message from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17. We invite you to join us in celebrating different body types in all people.

Stop by to show your support and grab a sticker, lollipop or poster. We’ll be wearing T-shirts with positive body-image messages on them. As you make your way around campus today, we hope you’ll be reminded of how important, smart and beautiful you are. In addition, be sure to keep an eye out for fun, feel-good giveaways on our social media outlets, @WTHonline, @SASSEsyracuse, facebook.com/SASSE.SU and facebook.com/whatthehealthmagazine. Today, we celebrate healthy bodies, self-expression and happiness in your own skin.

The CDC, Mayo Clinic and other sources list society as one of the possible causes of eating disorders, along with emotional/psychological health. We’re celebrating Love Your Body Day to bring awareness to these sources of unhealthy body images. Take a moment today and every day to love yourself for exactly who you are!

Sincerely,

SASSE: Students Advocating Sexual Safety and Empowerment

WTH: What the Health Magazine

SHAPES: Students Helping Acquire, Promote, and Enhance Self-Esteem

For more information about our message and other events we promote, please feel free to contact: Erin Carhart, co-president, SASSE at [email protected]; Valentina Palladino, editor in chief, WTH Magazine at [email protected]; Colleen Baker, co-president, SHAPES at [email protected].