Although Erin Ruth can’t pinpoint exactly when her eating disorder started, she does know when it became uncontrollable.
During her senior year in high school, the nutritional science junior became overly weight-conscious as she counted calories and eliminated foods from her diet. Ruth’s parents finally realized she had an eating disorder the summer before she started at MSU. Ruth was 5 feet tall and weighed 87 pounds. She began treatment, but dropped to 82 pounds.
“I weighed myself when I got back from vacation and it was first time I’d seen numbers in two weeks,” she said. “An hour later I looked at myself in the mirror and I was disgusted by the way I looked. Instead of seeing fat, I saw how sick I looked, and then I realized I needed to do something.”
Ruth was one of about 15 percent of young women who have disordered eating attitude and behavior, according to the National Eating Disorders Screening Program.
“Life is a lot more than just numbers” Ruth said. “Society’s price on appearance is too great, and I’ve realized my health and happiness is worth a lot more than conforming to those standards.”
To educate students on positive body image and eating habits, MSU’s Respecting and Understanding Body Image is sponsoring Eating Disorders Awareness Week this week.
“They should know it’s not something they should be ashamed of,” Ruth said. “They need to be aware of the damage they’re doing to their minds and bodies. I remember feeling very isolated, but there are people out there that can relate and help.”
Research from Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders Inc., suggest 1 percent of female adolescents have anorexia and 4 percent of college-aged women have bulimia. Five to 10 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are men.
A 1998 survey done by Exeter University said 57.5 percent of women between the ages of 12 and 15 listed appearance as the biggest concern in their lives. The study included 37,500 girls. It also indicated that 59 percent of the 12- and 13-year-old girls who suffered from low self-esteem also were dieting.
Olin Health sex advocate Shakthi Kumar said promoting women’s health is important for women and men.
“I think it’s important for men to know information because we are a very co-ed campus,” the psychology sophomore said. “Women’s health is important because we need to take care of each other. If you’re in a relationship, both partners need to understand what’s going on.”
Beth Weaver, president of the body image group, said most people are unaware that eating disorders are a growing problem.
“This week is important because the media’s image of the perfect body and shape is growing,” the dietetics junior said. “We need to show people that it can get out of control and become a health risk if someone’s not careful.”
