This is a badge for the Fall 2021 SAC Fair.

This is a badge for the Spring 2022 SAC Fair.

Body Empowerment Project at Penn is a student group at the University of Pennsylvania. BEP runs a 10-week program that addresses eating disorder risk among Penn undergraduate students through an original curriculum led by trained Penn undergraduate volunteers. The program works to help participants develop a more balanced and accepting relationship with their bodies through a weight-neutral and health-centered approach to self-care. This program is not focused on weight, specific eating behaviors, or nutrition to avoid potential triggers. Rather, throughout the ten weeks, participants uncover the messages that have influenced their relationships with their bodies, food, and exercise. Participants acquire tools and strategies to live intuitively, develop self-love, expand their definition of beauty, and build a strong community of support.
Our group meets for one hour each week to explore participants’ experiences with their bodies, food, and exercise. Our trained facilitators incorporate weekly check-ins, individual and group discussions, supplementary videos and handouts, mindfulness meditation, and journaling in group sessions. Participants walk away with a greater acceptance of and a greater relationship with their bodies, as well as a toolkit of skills and practices to handle community and societal pressures.
Body Empowerment Project at Penn also has other ways for students to get involved. We host speakers, monthly GBMs, mini "pop-up" lessons for student groups and athletic teams on campus, and hold body-positive community events.

Zhaoyi Pan

Member

Alexa Petrosh

Mae Nagel

Sophia Glinski

Co-founder

Vanessa Chong

Audrey Singer

Owner

Ziqi Guan

Isabella Goosen

Madeline Kohn

Teja Vankireddy

Caroline Johansen

Cameron Sabet

Clara Choi

Malini Correa

Co-Director

Omonye Osezua

Alix Aguzin

Kylie Burcaw

Body Empowerment Project at Penn

Body Empowerment Project addresses eating disorder risk among Penn students through events and workshops led by trained Penn undergraduate volunteers.

“The Body Positive group made this semester so unique for me. I looked forward to every single weekly meeting. We experienced immediate vulnerability from the start. It was so nice to have this tight community with our unspoken bond. The activities were so eye-opening and great for small periods of reflection. I will be taking all the lessons with me and I will cherish the memories we made in our time together. Forever grateful for this experience."





"Truly, this group has changed my life for the better and came into my life at perfect timing in my recovery and learning to love, accept, and embrace the feeling of fueling my body and the changes the come with it. this has been the first space - outside of my family - that has allowed me to share my story, struggles, small wins, insecurities, emotions, and most importantly embrace my growth !!!! thank you so much!!! <333”




"The Body Positive program has forever changed my outlook on self-love, body awareness, and self-compassion. The moderators and fellow participants in the program were essential in giving me the tools and resources to re-wire my thoughts so that I can expand my definition of beauty and approach myself with more self-love than ever before. It’s a wonderful program and I recommend it with all my heart!”

Body Empowerment Project at Penn

Children of Body Empowerment Project at Penn

Parents of Body Empowerment Project at Penn