By: Megan Clark Campus Life Editor
In 2011, over 30 million people suffered from eating disorders and have the highest mortality rate out of any mental illness.
Abby’s House and Project HEAL presented on eating disorders this last week. There was a large focus on how society impacts body image and beauty ideals. They used Chinese foot-binding and ‘the cult of thinness’ as examples.
“From a young age, we are bombarded with images of ‘perfect bodies’ and learn to hate our own,” Andrea Coffee, senior education major, said, “I struggle with my own body image daily. It’s expected though if you’re called thunder thighs your whole life.”
The pressure felt by individuals in conforming to societal beauty standards is perpetuated in the general positivity surrounding weight loss and thinness.
Coffee said, “I have a few friends that have struggled with eating disorders. I remember one in particular lost a lot of weight really quickly and I complimented her on it. Then I realized that for lunch everyday she would only eat crackers.”
While bulimia and anorexia are relatively well known eating disorders, there are various other eating disorders that go unnoticed by the general public.
Sam Hughes, senior social science major, has an eating disorder called Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). ARFID results in food aversions, meaning that Hughes is limited in what she is able to eat.
“It makes it hard to go out, most social functions revolve around food and when you can’t bring yourself to eat what’s being served, people get frustrat[ed] when you won’t eat it. They get either angry or worried for your welfare or think you’re weird,” Hughes said.
She also mentioned that she detests when people call her picky. “It feels infantilizing and like it belittles what I go though,” Hughes continued.
Another point the presenters touched on was the importance of being kind, caring, and supportive when confronting someone about their eating disorder.
If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, the Student Health and Counseling Center can be called at 503.838.8313, or you can visit Abby’s House in the WUC or reach them through their email: abbyshouse@wou.edu
