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Film uncovers eating disorders
By Tracy Valstad
 Media Credit: Jason Risberg Students watched a film presentation about eating disorders Tuesday evening in Atwood Little Theater.
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Sugar, spice and everything nice, that is what little girls are made of. Secret eating, shame and guilt, that is what eating disorders are made of.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week continued Tuesday evening in Atwood Little Theater with a presentation of the film "Recovering Bodies: Overcoming Eating Disorders."
The film chronicled the lives of several people who have suffered from an eating disorder and have since recovered or are recovering. It addressed several key points such as the fact that there are approximately six million people suffering from eating disorders and that women make up 90 percent of that figure.
Women are not alone in their struggle with eating disorders; men make up approximately five percent to seven percent of sufferers according to Rose Stark, counselor and assistant professor of counseling.
The film also went on to describe some symptoms that could signal a potential eating disorder: obsession with food, excessive exercising, binge eating and fear of weight gain, that could signal a potential eating disorder. It also described side effects of eating disorders, such as stomach rupture, loss of menstrual cycle, damage to one's teeth and depression.
Other topics addressed were factors that can lead to eating disorders, including stress and one's environment and ways to get treatment, that include nutritional counseling, therapy and behavior change.
A desire for control seemed to dominate the subjects in the film. At some point in their lives each person stated that he or she had felt out of control in some area and sought to gain control through his or her eating habits.
After the film, a not so lively discussion took place -- half of the audience left after the film finished. One interesting part of the discussion, however, came when Stark, the facilitator, asked those remaining who among them knew someone dealing with an eating disorder or someone recovering from one.
Over half of the audience raised their hands.
The film was an excellent wake-up call to realize the seriousness of eating disorders.
"Eating disorders are on the rise, particularly on college campuses," Stark said. "Conservative estimates indicate that up to 10 percent of college age women will suffer from a clinical or near clinical eating disorder."
The goal of Eating Disorder Awareness Week is for, Stark said, "increased awareness and education, prevention of the increase in disordered eating and clinical eating disorders on the SCSU campus and general thoughts and ideas about self acceptance."
Six percent of those suffering from an eating disorder will die. And treatment is a lifelong process that can only be successful when a patient realizes they need and want help.
Stark added that it is important to increase awareness about the dangers of eating disorders.
One student who wished to remain anonymous, said of the presentation, "It is difficult watching the film because I see myself in the people profiled. The shame and guilt of not eating or purging and knowing that you should not be doing this is so overwhelming at times that I consider suicide as my only alternative."
She said that Eating Disorders Awareness Week has had a positive effect on her, however.
"This week has been very helpful to me in getting a better understanding of the whole cycle of my disordered behavior and that I am not alone," she said.
Eating Disorders Awareness Week continues through Friday. In residence halls, all full-length mirrors will be covered. A drive is also under way in the residence halls until March 1 to collect jeans that no longer fit. The collected items will then be donated to goodwill.
The Counseling Center will be offering a support group for people dealing with an eating disorder beginning the Tuesday, March 18; call the counseling center for more information, 255- 3171.
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