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Body image fair boosts self confidence

Morgan Pratt

The Student Health and Wellness Center teamed up with graduating dietetic majors to put on a body image fair as a part of their senior practicum project.

The fair was essentially a live Pinterest board that included pictures, movies and quotes about body image. There were three aspects to the fair: negative self-talk, how the media skew body image and how to focus on a positive self-image through self-gratification.

Melodie Haslam helped put together the body image fair for her senior project. She said it is important to focus on a positive body image, especially for college students.

“The media has skewed positive body image, not only for women, but men too,” Haslam said.

Nichole Schollars, a sophomore studying nursing, said media don’t portray a realistic body image.

“I feel like a lot of girls get degraded from the high expectations that the media sets,” Schollars said.

Maria Sorensen, a freshman majoring in human movement science, said the fair stressed the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet as well as exercising.

“The fair demonstrated that there wasn’t just one body type that we are striving for,” Sorensen said.

Haslam said eating healthy is important to a healthy body image.

“People get obsessed with food,” Haslam said. “I want to help them establish a positive relationship with it.”

Jordan Price, a freshman studying economics, visited the exhibit.

“Everybody deserves self confidence,” Price said.

morgan.pratt.robinson@gmail.com