The Mac Weekly

Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Aaron Brown Bodies in bikinis grace the covers of magazines filled with articles on how to "get the perfect body."

According to a recent survey by M.E. Collins, 42 percent of girls in first through third grade want to be thinner. That's right, dieting is no longer for those looking to fit into that dress for Prom or even for that first dance in junior high. Being thin is a concern for almost half of all six-year-old girls on the playground.

However, the desire to be thin isn't confined to a specific age group or gender. Unhealthy body images, eating habits, and eating disorders are becoming more common throughout the country, including on college campuses.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, a recent study showed that 91 percent of women on a US college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting and another 22 percent dieted "often" or "always."

With a focus on the obesity in the United States, the eating disorder epidemic is many times overlooked. However, from Feb. 24 to March 1 a group of Macalester students are offering support and raising awareness about this illness as part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

When Evvy Daugherty '11 arrived at Macalester she listened to her newly-formed friends talk about the dreaded "freshman 15." From buffet-style eating in Café Mac to having to schedule time to workout, coming to college wasn't just about going to a new school, it was about adjusting to a new lifestyle.

"I think there's a lot of emphasis on this freshman 15," said Daugherty. "I've seen my friends become more and more concerned about their weight. A lot of my friends at home suffered from eating disorders and I've also seen it here."

With the help of four current Mac students, an '05 alumnus who is currently undergoing treatment for anorexia, and the guidance of Professor Jaine Strauss of the Psychology Department, Daugherty is helping to organize activities and events that will provide information about eating disorders and provide outlets for dialogue about "the pressure to be thin."

"Our main focus isn't on the eating disorders themselves but we really want to address positive body image," said Daugherty. "We would like to dispel that stigma."

Continued...

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