Undergraduate Public Health Association student volunteers Melina Santos, Gladys Muñoz, Lauren DuComb, Jessica Kline and Candice Deschaine pictured with Alison Oberne, undergraduate instructor

Thirteen undergraduates from the University of South Florida College of Public Health dedicated a Saturday to promoting body image awareness and advocacy. The co-eds joined Alison Oberne, MPH, an undergraduate instructor in the college, at the National Eating Disorders Proud2Bme Summit: Tune out the body hate, Turn up the confidence. The event was held on October 20 in Tampa.

The summit featured Julia Bluhm, a 14 year old who petitioned Seventeen magazine to stop Photoshopping their images. Other speakers included Sara Ziff, former model and founder of the Model Alliance, Roy Cui, a professional image retoucher, and Gabi Gregg and Lindy West, fashion bloggers.

The undergrads observed a live demonstration of photo retouching used by advertising companies. After the session, the students learned how to detect these modifications in media campaigns.

At the conclusion of the summit, one student shared, “I had a good time at the Summit. I found it very insightful and educational. It even inspired me a little bit to love my body.”

Alison Oberne MA, MPH, CPH is an an undergraduate instructor in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. She earned a master of public health degree in health education from the University of South Florida College of Public Health.

Kristina Aldana with Julia Bluhm