For Biggie Lemke, it took six years to feel comfortable with her body.
"There's no such thing as an eating disorder that's not that bad," the former MSU student said. "They suck the entire time."
Tears, laughter and hugs were part of the third annual Take Back Your Body on Tuesday night. The open forum brought about 50 students to talk and listen to issues on eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and compulsive exercise.
The event was part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, co-sponsored by Olin Health Center and Respecting and Understanding Body Image, or RUBI.
Artwork, poems, health statistics and food were also available for the audience.
Lemke, who battled anorexia for six years, was one of about 10 women to share her experience with food. During that time, all she thought about was eating, she said.
"I don't remember anything from when I was 17 to 22," she said. "It's just like any other addiction. It would have been a lot more fun to be doing heavy drugs and not remember anything."
Lemke spent 28 days in a recovery center where she was ordered to full-time bed rest until she gained enough weight to allow her body to function normally.
"You ate until you felt physically ill," she said. "Let me tell you how hard it is to gain two to four pounds a week.
"I felt like a Butterball turkey."
In addition to the forum, members of RUBI passed out about 20,000 candy bars in residence halls, sorority houses and around campus.
The idea of the event is to "fight the dieting and restricted eating philosophy which is so prevalent in our culture," Olin nutritionist Ronda Bokram said.
Other events included the showing of the movie "Real Women Have Curves" on Monday and a fund-raiser at Rio Bravo Fresh Mex, 1938 W. Grand River Ave. in Okemos, on Sunday.
About 2 percent of men and 5 percent of women on MSU's campus have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, Bokram said.
Lemke said she hopes those who are battling eating disorders can learn from her story.
"Whoever loves me or falls in love with me is going to love me for who I am. They're not going to love me for my ass or my legs," she said. "Life is to short to be anal about food."
