Our Opinion: Students who want to achieve a fit figure this summer should do so safely and sensibly, with a healthy body image in mind.

With the hot days of summer quickly approaching, many students are taking measures to look good for the beach, the pool and those tasty outdoor barbecues. Around this time of year, it is not uncommon to walk past any stretch of campus that is not littered with construction fencing and see several young men and women flaunting their figures in the warm Carolina sun.However, the increase in students concerned over how their bodies look in a tank top or bikini often brings to light the issue of a healthy body image. Too often, students feel the societal pressure to look and feel a certain way and turn to drastic measures to achieve this. The summer months push the issue of slimming down with an increase of people spending time outdoors — and typically in less clothing. While we have heard it all before in our health classes, the importance of taking care of yourself and being comfortable in your own body is a message worth reiterating.Many people seem to think that weight loss can easily be achieved through cutting back on eating or through the use of over-the-counter drugs, such as diet pills. These methods rarely work and are also potentially dangerous. If you really believe you need to lose weight, then you need to work for it. Our society preaches instant gratification, yet a healthy weight is something that requires a dedication to sensible eating and exercise. For help in this endeavor, look no further than our own campus community. There are several organizations on campus, such as Student Health Services and Campus Recreation, which offer services and programs to help students achieve the body image they desire the safe and sensible way.For more information on the Student Health Center’s Health Promotion, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/health-promotion/.But if running around a track or taking a pilates class does not sound appealing, there’s always the option of staying inside with the air conditioning cranked up and your shirt on.