In an effort to mend body dissatisfaction among ISU students, Student Counseling Services will be hosting the national campaign “Operation Beautiful” this week.

Today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Student Counseling Services will have a table set up at the “Healthy You Healthy Earth” Wellness Fair. Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Student Counseling Services table will be in the Stevenson Hall lobby.

Both events will showcase life-size Barbie and Superhero banners to display the unrealistic standards of beauty and attractiveness, Jennifer Thome, Student Counseling staff counselor, said. Diversity ribbons of different shapes, sizes and colors will also be handed out to students to promote the idea that all bodies are beautiful.

The incorporation of “Operation Beautiful” into Student Counseling Services’ outreach efforts at ISU is an attempt to instill healthy attitudes in the minds of students, Thome added. Resources for those struggling with negative body image will be available.

“We want to help create a campus culture where issues related to body image and eating concerns could be openly discussed, healthy body image could be reinforced and information about resources for those struggling with negative body image and eating concerns could be provided,” Thome said.

According to the 2011 Student Counseling Services Program Evaluation, about 75 percent of students said they are not comfortable with their bodies.

In the 2011 Healthy Minds Study, 19 percent said they need to feel thin to feel good about themselves, while 9 percent of females and 4 percent of males at ISU said they have experienced an eating disorder in the past year.

For its third year incorporating “Operation Beautiful,” Student Counseling will also be teaming up with the Student Wellness Ambassador Team (SWAT) and Student Housing to promote positive messages.

Students that stop by the events can grab a positive body image post-it note to give to a friend or stick in an anonymous location.

If unable to attend, more information about positive body image or “Operation Beautiful” can be found at operationbeautiful.com or at the Student Counseling Services website, Counseling.IllinoisState.edu/outreach.