GatorWell is educating students about positive body image this week.
The Celebrate Every Body event series started Monday and ends Thursday, said Natalie Rella, a health promotion specialist at GatorWell. In 2014, GatorWell hosted four events. It planned three events this year in honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
GatorWell held the BeYOUtiful Health and Wellness Fair on the Plaza of the Americas on Tuesday to allow GatorWell partners such as KIND Healthy Snacks and the Student Health Care Center to discuss positive body image.
KIND had students write something positive on a compliment card to give to another student. To receive a shirt at the event, students visited organizations’ tables and wrote three things they love about themselves that don’t involve their physical appearance.
Rella said GatorWell is trying to get students to accept their bodies.
“We are trying to reach people before they reach the point of having an eating disorder by giving them some love around and asking them to reflect on all of the wonderful and amazing things this organism that is their body does for them every day,” she said.
Meaghan Nguyen, a UF architecture sophomore, represented KIND. She said she wanted to promote body positivity and self-kindness.
“They thought it would be a good idea for me to come here and interact with the students because our message also is to be kind,” the 20-year-old said.
