Purdue News
Purdue News
The activities are coordinated and sponsored by Health Promotion Programs, the Purdue University Eating Disorders Resource Group and its student committee.
"The local activities will focus on the need to create a societal wave away from our national preoccupation with thinness, body dissatisfaction and size discrimination," said Sue Abney, a registered dietitian with Health Promotion Programs. "Size acceptance can lead to a decrease in the prevalence of eating disorders and an individual's willingness to sacrifice health for the sake of achieving the 'perfect' body."
The featured activity will be three performances Tuesday, Feb. 4, of "Body Loathing Body Love" by the American Cabaret Theatre Troupe of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis. The first performance will be at 3:30 p.m. in Room 161, Mechanical Engineering Building. The second show will be at 7 p.m. in Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center. A final performance is scheduled for 9 p.m. in the West Rec Room of Earhart Hall. All the presentations are free and open to the public.
"What If," a modern dance choreographed by Carol Cunningham, associate professor of dance, will precede the 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. performances of "Body Loathing." Daria Cullen, a junior in the School of Liberal Arts, will perform.
At 8 p.m. Feb. 4, students can participate in a candlelight Body Image Challenge Walk. The march will start at the east steps of Stewart Center and continue to the Engineering Mall Water Sculpture. Participants will be encouraged to throw away items that represent unhealthy attitudes and behaviors about body image, such as empty diet pill containers, scales and fashion magazines.
A free, public workshop, "Shaping a Positive Body Image," will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, in the Warren Hall Rec Room.
Event organizers and 15 other campus departments and organizations are sponsoring Fearless Friday on Feb. 7. The idea is to have people consciously refuse to obsess about diets, weight or body dissatisfaction the entire day, Abney said.
Throughout the week, information tables and video presentations are planned in the Recreational Gymnasium, Stewart Center and Purdue Memorial Union. Body image videos will be shown on the university's residence halls cable television system all week.
CONTACT: Abney, (765) 494-1716
jmw/Abney.eating/no
