Eating disorder event raises awareness

With the responsibility of balancing the many roles college students have, life can become overwhelming and chaotic. As life is spiraling out of control, some find comfort in being able to control one thing: the food they eat.Millions of men and women every year suffer from deadly eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia and compulsive overeating. The diseases are especially common among young people.

On Tuesday in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room, the Women's Resource Center hosted "Dying to be Thin," an event to inform the public about eating disorders and to offer suggestions for getting help.

"Eating disorders arise from a variety of physical, emotional, social and familial issues - all of which need to be addressed," said Lori Young, director of the Women's Resource Center.

Through cultural influences such as fashion models and magazines, America has developed an unrealistic ideal for beauty, Young said.

"I think we have this unattainable goal that we cannot reach in body image and sometimes we resort to eating disorders to try and reach it," Young said.

Rachel Tomlinson Dick was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and spoke about her ongoing struggle with the disease to an audience of approximately 60 students and faculty.

Tomlinson Dick said she grew up in a tense family environment and developed self-worth and body image issues.

"What really pushed it over the edge into a severe eating disorder [was] when I was 18, I was sexually raped," she said.

Eating disorders commonly occur alongside other emotional traumas.

"I've met so many young women who have had eating disorders and have been a victim of sexual rape or assault," Tomlinson Dick said. "I think the two things are very correlated."

Eating disorder problems are not just for women, though.

"Males who are preoccupied with shape and weight can also develop eating disorders, as well as dangerous shape control practices like steroid use," Young said.

Men also play an important role in providing a positive environment where the development of disorders can be stopped. Working to stop the objectification of women is an important part of preventing the basic causes of eating disorders: obsession with shape and shame about one's body, Young said.

Research shows that eating disorders start as early as third grade and can rear their ugly heads during times of transition in people's lives, such as moving to college, graduating and having relationship issues, said Marcia Adler, coordinator for Student Health Services.

It is important to bring up the topic of eating disorders, including with events like "Dying to be Thin," because it is a show of support to those who are struggling, Young said.

"If we don't talk about it," Young said, "it's harder for people to get better."

The Counseling Center and Student Health Services can help students develop a strategy to bring up the issue if a friend has a problem.

The best approach is to have personal one-on-one time with the friend to discuss concerns, Young said.

"In the end, they will thank you for bringing it up and having concern for them," Young said. "Above all else, impart that you care.