ASU's Body Pride Committee showcased healthy body images Tuesday, using facts, like the average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches tall and 140 pounds, to promote healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
The Body Pride Fair, part of the annual Body Pride Week, was also meant to encourage responsible decision making for men and women.
Joana Pabedinskas, co-chair of the committee, said it was important to educate the University community about body image.
"[We need] respect for one's body, diversity of size, normal eating habits," she said.
Sociology senior Bianka Malecki said she stopped by the fair to get more information about body image, healthy eating and eating disorders.
"It seems to be a really big topic between my girlfriends, and even my roommate, who is a guy," she said.
She added that she thought it came up in conversation almost daily.
Pabedinskas said she thought most students had a healthy outlook on their bodies, but added that outside influences can affect a person's body image.
"Coming to campus, there are pressures to look a certain way," she said.
Pabedinskas added that she hoped events like Tuesday's, which shows an appreciation for all sizes and body shapes, would make a difference.
The fair had tables with information from ASU counseling services, campus club AIDS HOPE and the Student Recreation Complex, among others.
Malecki said she thought the water bottles the committee handed out, with labels bearing information about the bodies of typical American women, were a good idea.
"I'm really happy this is going on," she said.
Malecki said her only complaint was that it didn't seem to be very well advertised.
"If I wasn't in a women's studies class, I'm not sure I would have known about it," she said. Malecki added that she thought its location, on the north side of the Memorial Union, would draw people in who might not otherwise have known.
Trista Tuzik, a pre-dance freshman, said she was especially interested in a display that illustrated the differences between positive and negative portrayals of women in advertising.
"I don't think a lot of people realize the impact [ads] have," she said.
Tuzik said she hoped this week's events would be effective, especially considering how many women have a negative body image.
The fair was the third in a series of eight events this week, put on by the ASU Body Pride Committee.
Today's events include a leadership conference as well as "Love the Body You're In," which will feature a speaker on eating disorders and spa treatments, yoga and wellness education available to promote healthy living.
Thursday there will be a panel discussion about recovering from eating disorders and Saturday will feature "Body Pride Jam," a fitness event composed of popular Sun Devil Fit classes at the SRC.
For more information on each event, visit www.asu.edu/calendar/bodypride.html.
Reach the reporter at andrea.adams@asu.edu.]
