60 percent. Over half of UVA women stare into their mirrors and see someone completely different than what the rest of us see. Eating disorders consume the lives of its victims, ruin relationships, and leave some of the most beautiful women embarrassed about the bodies they have been blessed with.Â
   Recently I stumbled upon the store of Isabelle Caro, a French Model who passed away at 28 after battling anorexia since she was 13 years old. The story shocked and appalled me, and to better understand the problem I wanted to find out what is considered an eating disorder. According to the National Eating Disorder Foundation, eating disorders range from anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, but include any emotions, attitudes and behaviors that revolve around unhealthy eating habits.
   The symptoms for many of the disorders can be easily found in many women at UVA, and that was when I realized there is a problem we are all avoiding facing. The term “eating healthy” has become so diluted among college women, as they consume meager amounts of salad at every meal, in fear of gaining weight with any other option. With how hard the UVA population works out, there is no logical explanation for the limited diet of many girls. So often women complain about “eating too much,” or fuss over their inability to make it to the gym. I am guilty as charged, but reading about the effects of unhealthy habits makes me want to run to my fridge and feed my underfed body.
   According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Eating Disorders are also the reason for the death of 15?24 year olds 12 times more than any other cause of death. If the numbers don’t scare you, just think about how much happier every woman would be if they could just appreciate their beautiful selves. The gym should be an outlet of stress, not a cause of stress, and food should be there to provide comfort.
   Ladies, this blog is my attempt to push everyone to act out against something that has taken over the lives of one too many young women. Nobody at this school should be stressing about their image when there is so much opportunity to live and enjoy life. It is not about just eating healthy, it is about eating smart, and the truth is, less than 1000 calories a day is not “smart.” I love my vegetables and fruit, but even I need to step back and realize that with the amount we work and push our bodies, they deserve to be fueled with some food with substance. So my finals words are to do something. Do something to help your friend who doesn’t think she is beautiful enough, do something to make your body as actually healthy as possible, and do something to end the madness that is consuming 60 percent of women at UVA.
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Visit the Women’s Center page on Eating Disorder to learn more about what you can do to better under this disease http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/body?positive.php