EUGENE, Ore. -- (Feb. 16, 2011) - The University of Oregon's Healthy Campus Initiative will zero in on "positive body image" next week in a campaign intended to help all UO faculty, staff and students feel comfortable in their own skin.

"All Sizes Fit" is a weeklong series of displays, presentations and activities aimed at increasing acceptance of various body shapes on campus and raising awareness of disordered eating and body dysmorphia - the preoccupation with an imagined or minor abnormality.

The leadership for this year’s All Sizes Fit was provided by Peer Health Educators – a student program in the UO Health Center’s Health Promotion Department. The goal of the program is to counter societal beauty standards that are considered to be unrealistic and potentially unhealthy. The campus-wide action is supported by the Counseling and Testing Center, the Student Recreation Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, UO Housing and the University Health Center.

"The average US resident is exposed to approximately 5,000 advertising messages a day," campaign organizers said in announcing the week's activities. "The media's power over our development of self-esteem and body image can be incredibly strong."

For example, a study of 1,000 men showed that more than half were unhappy with their bodies and 40 percent would consider chest implants to achieve bigger pectorals. An estimated 80 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance.

All Sizes Fit organizers say that people with negative body images are more likely to develop eating disorders and to suffer from feelings of depression, isolation, low self-esteem and obsessions with weight loss. Positive body image is considered to be a person's clear, true perception of his or her shape, and the celebration and appreciation of natural body shape.

Highlights of the All Sizes Fit campaign include:

• Free Yoga every day for all faculty, staff and students;
• A presentation by Torrence Wimbish of the University of Utah on "Men & Muscles: The Growing Body Dissatisfaction Among Men," at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in the UO Student Rec Center Bonus Room;
• Brooks Morse of the UO Counseling and Testing Center will present "Making Peace with your Body: No matter what size or shape it is," at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 in Room 182 Lillis Business Complex;
• The Counseling and Testing Center's Alisia Caban and Jenny Wang will present "Fostering Healthy Body Image within the Home," at noon Feb. 25 in Room 219 Gerlinger Hall.

A full list of the week's activities and presentations is available on the All Sizes Fit website (http://bit.ly/eIXYHF) or on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/allsizesfit).

MEDIA CONTACT: Joe Mosley, UO media relations, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu

SOURCE: Keith Van Norman, UO health promotion marketing manager, 541-346-2750, kvnorman@uoregon.edu