Jen Decker knows first hand the struggles of a woman with an eating disorder.
Hers started when she gained weight due to a medication she was on. Soon, she decided to go on a 500-calorie diet.
The junior social work major and event coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center said she felt good when she saw the numbers going down on the scale. But her use of diuretics and laxatives landed her in the emergency room.
“That freaked me out,” said Decker. “I said to myself, ‘I have to do something about this.'”
Relief came when Decker spoke to a friend of hers in the Women’s Resource Center. Soon she was in recovery through a program at Mercy Hospital.
Decker said she still fights with her eating disorder and she has to tell herself that “not every thing I put in my mouth is going to make me fat.”
“Five to 10 million adolescent girls and women suffer from eating disorders and borderline conditions,” according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Due to the high number of women like Decker who suffer from anorexia, bulimia and binge eating or related disorders, Eating Disorder Awareness Week was established. While the official week is Feb. 24 through March 3, USM’s Women’s Resource Center will be holding special events all throughout February into the beginning of March.
Decker helped organize the events with a friend who also shares a similar experience.
Minal Patel, a junior environmental science and policy major, and an events coordinator at the Women’s Resource Center fought her eating disorder from 1996 through 1997.
Patel said that it was a very stressful time in her life as she had just made a big move.
“I looked in the mirror one day and just didn’t like what I saw. I thought, I can’t do this to myself any more,” she said.
This was about the time that Patel sought counsel in a teacher who listened and believed in her.
Patel said she supports other people suffering from eating disorders.
“I want to let them know that they can get through it. They don’t have to focus entirely on their bodies, their personalities are beautiful too,” she said.
Decker’s advice to those who may have a friend struggling with an eating disorder is to “just listen” and not to judge. Then, encourage your friend to seek medical attention and to find someone to talk to whom they trust.
The first event will take place on Feb. 13 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in 301A Payson Smith and will be a panel discussion about the medical complications of eating disorders.
Both Dr. Vicki Hayes M.D. and Marianne Russo R.N. of University Health Services will speak at the event. There will be a question and answer session following their presentations.
During the month of February there will also be materials available in the Woodbury Campus Center to make collages about “What does it mean to have an eating disorder?” Also, on the Women’s Resource Center Web site there is the opportunity to light a virtual candle in honor of someone you know that has or is struggling with an eating disorder. You can participate in this by going to www.usm.maine.edu/womenctr.
The last event will be held on March 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Woodbury Campus Center and will be sponsored by Mercy Hospital, the Women’s Resource Center, and University Health Services.
Russo said that the purpose of the events is to “educate the community and inspire health, hope and healing through the process of sharing.”
The final event will include visual art and an open mic session.
Decker said events like these are important because “people don’t realize how wide-reaching the effects of eating disorders are. Awareness is especially important on college campuses because there are lots of young women there . I don’t think people realize how dangerous eating disorders can be.”
Russo agrees.
She said eating disorders can cause many health problems including electrolyte imbalances, hair loss, heart problems, bone fractures and the inability to become pregnant.
Her best advice is for women to “try and break the culture of size being what matters about people and focus more on health and the acceptance of all body types.”
If you or someone you know is dealing with an eating disorder there are places on campus that can help. Contact the Women’s Resource Center at 780-4996 or University Health and Counseling Services in Gorham at 780-5411 or Portland at 780-4211.
Staff Writer Natalie Frye can be contacted at: [email protected]