The Brown & White

Last week, Lehigh celebrated Healthy Body Image Week and scheduled speakers, exhibits and events to encourage both men and women to become aware of body image issues and how to deal with them. These events were organized by the Body Empowerment Alliance, a group coordinated by Women's Center student staff members.

As a part of Healthy Body Image Week, Courtney Martin, author of "Perfect Girl, Starving Daughter: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body," spoke to students about negative body image and its affect on a woman's daily life.

As students, we encounter pressure in almost every nuance of life. We must get good grades, join the best fraternity or sorority, get the competitive internship or job, have the largest tolerance for alcohol and most of all, have the perfect body.

And, almost as important as having the "perfect" everything is having it look effortless.

Although fraternities and sororities are often cited as instigators of unhealthy eating habits, other highly-competitive environments such as athletic teams, the gym and for some students, their home are often ignored.

A high-pressure lifestyle can lead to unhealthy habits and some students may not realize they don't have to starve themselves or purge their meals to have a diagnosed eating disorder.

Students who are addicted to working out, who consciously limit their caloric intake to the amount of calories they burned at the gym and who can't eat cookies without feeling intense guilt are all victims of disordered eating habits.

How many people do you know who are actually 100 percent satisfied with the way their body looks? Probably not many. How often do you hear students discussing their appearance, and if they look fat in a certain outfit? Probably more.

So, how do we reverse these numbers?

Lehigh not only has resources to help students with body image problems and eating disorders, but also resources to help their friends learn how to deal with the situation. Unfortunately, unless the victim wants (or recognizes they need) help, these resources can only go so far.

As much as we educate ourselves and try to be aware that the images presented in popular culture are unrealistic and only represent a small percentage of the population, the messages will still affect us.

But one way we can try to counteract its influence is by focusing on all of the other things that make us great.

Instead of complimenting someone's self-restraint because they ordered a salad when everyone was eating cheeseburgers or by telling a friend that certain shirt makes them look skinny, congratulate them on making Dean's List or for getting a second interview with their dream employer.

The admissions department didn't know what we looked like when they decided to accept our application. We were all accepted to Lehigh because we are intelligent, well-rounded individuals.

We each have many great qualities and so much potential, so why do we insist on wasting our time focusing on superficial details, such as our (and others') appearance?