In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, several UCF organizations came together to host the Loves EveryBODY campaign. Loves Every Body is a week-long event going on from Feb. 23-27 that hopes to promote healthy body image to college students.
UCF Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Health Services, Wellness and Health Promotion Services and the Recreation and Wellness Center teamed up to host Loves EveryBODY, which includes programs and events geared towards educating people about eating disorders.
“This week is in celebration of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week,” CAPS psychological resident Susan Tweeten said. “It is a national event where people get to learn about eating disorders, warning signs and symptoms. We also want to generally promote a culture of body and self-acceptance on our campus.”
The week began with all the involved organizations setting up a photo booth in front of the Student Union on Monday, Feb. 23. Students were able to write positive messages to themselves on white boards and take photos with them.
“I really love how it makes talking about body image part of the conversation,” UCF Project HEAL President Amy Maitner said. “I really feel like people don’t talk about it enough. We want to see people walk by and look at it and then start to really question how they’re looking at their body and whether that’s a healthy relationship they have going on.”
Project HEAL: Help to Eat, Accept and Live, is a non-profit organization that raises awareness of eating disorders and also fundraises for treatment scholarships for people who cannot afford to go to professional treatment.
“Our main purpose at UCF is to hold biweekly support group meetings and educational meetings on healthy body image,” Maitner said.
CAPS provided mirrors for students to write positive messages to themselves on, and will continue to provide inspiring materials throughout the week.
“We embrace the opportunity to come out on campus and talk to different students about what they may be experiencing and give them the support they need,” CAPS intern Rebecca Lowe said.
UCF Loves EveryBODY will continue with other events and programs during this week. Tuesday will be dedicated to Multicultural Perspectives on Body Image and Eating Concerns. Wednesday is Healthy Eating 101, and Thursday is Journal To Self Discovery Day.
