CONWAY, S.C. (AP) -- A South Carolina college wants people to love their bodies and stop obsessing about improving them.

Coastal Carolina University in Conway held a "Love Your Body Day" to raise awareness about a healthy body image.

The university's women and gender studies program and their counseling services hosted the event.

The program director says 80 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their bodies.

"I'm out here having people sign pledges saying that they're not going to talk about their weight, saying they're overweight and also filling out screens for eating disorders," said Kayla Martin, CCU Student Volunteer.

The program talked about getting rid of unrealistic beauty standards and encouraged people to be more comfortable with their own bodies.

---------------------------------------------

Earlier story on carolinalive.com (9:13am) -

Love your body and don't always obsess about improving it - that's the message at one South Carolina university.

Coastal Carolina University in Conway holds Love Your Body Day on Wednesday to raise awareness about health and body image for men and women.

The idea is to protest unrealistic beauty standards that can be unhealthy and combat stereotypes that discriminate against people based on looks.

The event is sponsored by the university's Women's and Gender Studies Program and Office of Counseling Services.

Program director Julinna Oxley says 80 percent of American women are dissatisfied with their bodies.

She says the program encourages people to think for themselves and be comfortable in their own skin.

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)