National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is February 24th through March 1st. Since body dissatisfaction is a major risk factor for eating disorders, the UC Berkeley Nutrition Outreach Workers (NOWs) invite you to join us in reflecting on how we can all come together to foster a more positive culture around body image on our campus.
The theme of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is "Come as you are.” This campaign expresses that, regardless of your body shape, weight, race, gender identity, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or stage of body acceptance and eating disorder recovery, your story is valid and deserves to be heard. During this week, it is important to take the time to challenge the appearance ideals set forth by our society. These ideals are often unrealistic and unattainable and can leave us feeling perpetually dissatisfied with how we look, depressed, and at risk for disordered eating.
We are working to spread a body-positive culture on campus. Below are some tips from us about how to feel good about yourself just the way you are. Because you are uniquely YOU, and that is beautiful!
- Alex Gomez: Life is too short to be unkind to yourself. Embrace who you are and never doubt your potential!
- Ami Alaniz: Body acceptance is a process. But you deserve the effort.
- Anisha Dosanjh: Feeling beautiful has nothing to do with what you look like. Beauty is who you are and what you value. It is all your amazing qualities that make you you, and I find comfort in knowing that my body is simply the vehicle through which I can let my personality shine through. Always be unapologetically you!
- Fiona Beltran: Every part of you is a burst of beautiful!
- Kimberley Tang: You are valuable no matter what size you are.
- Sydney Wexler: Something I always keep in mind is that achieving a healthy body isn’t about being perfect. It’s about celebrating the value my body adds to my life and practicing kindness towards my body through how I fuel it, move it, and perceive it.
- Maddie Connick-Stokeld: To me, the first step in loving your body is knowing that you can get there and you deserve it. It’s not your fault for feeling the way you do.
Remember, you don’t have to love everything about your body to accept it and appreciate the many miraculous things it does for you every day. We hope this post inspires you to celebrate what you love about your body and encourage others to do the same.
Want to get involved? Learn more about the eating disorder resources at University Health Services. Participate in our Eating Disorder Awareness Week events on campus. Join the conversation about food, exercise, and body image on social media, using the hashtags, #NEDAwareness and #ComeAsYouAre. Let's bust myths, reflect on our journeys, and point people to support and resources. Together, we can change the conversation around body image and help prevent eating disorders.