Correction Appended
The January cover of Elle reads “21 Days to a Sexier Look, Sweeter Love Life, and Hot Bod.” The February cover of Marie Claire reads, “Winter Workout, Get a Gold Medal Bod.” The March cover of Cosmo reads “Curb Your Cravings without Feeding Your Face.”
Notice the similarities? It seems no matter the season, dieting is in and eating is out. The media have created a pressure to retain a single-digit waist size and society continues pushing it. Many people wonder if beauty should be defined as something other than a shirt or pant size.
This obsession with dieting and a thin figure has led more open and more prevalent discussions about eating disorders and negative body image. In an effort to make AU’s campus more aware of these issues, the Wellness Center, Women's Initiative, Eagle Nights and Delta Gamma organized the Body Image Awareness Week.
“We have been led to believe that there is one cookie cutter look that defines beauty,” said Alan Duffy, a health educator at the Wellness Center and coordinator of Body Image Awareness Week. “This week is about bringing issues to the front and encouraging a positive self-image.”
The week began last Friday with “Beautiful,” a play written by Gina Evers, an AU grad student. The play focused on five women and their daily struggle with being overweight. The performance gave a painfully real look into the unspoken insecurities of heavier women.
“This project confronts issues that are incredibly important because they are something we avoid,” Evers said at a post-show question and answer session. “People have told me that my characters say, out loud, what they have always felt but never been able to say.”
According to the Alliance for Eating Disorders Web site, eating disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide. Of those diagnosed, 5 to 10 percent die within 10 years of onset and 18 to 20 percent die within 20 years of onset. Only 50 percent report ever being cured. This statistic does not include those that suffer alone, or are too ashamed or scared to ask for help.
On Sunday, Feb. 21, AU hosted the Eating Disorders Awareness Walk. Starting on campus and continuing 3.6 miles around Northwest D.C., participants chanted their message of awareness and held signs in support.
“After last year’s Body Image Awareness Week, I had three or four girls come to me asking for help,” Duffy said. “It was amazing to see some of them at the walk. These events really make a difference.”
Duffy, also a specialist on eating disorders and body awareness, led the walk with Kathleen MacDonald, the outreach coordinator of the FREED Foundation. “Don’t let the walk just be for today,” she told fellow walkers. “Go home after this and feel the hope that we have created here.”
Elizabeth Gordon, Jacqui Kemp, Sarah Moss and Sarah Garby walked together in support of the cause.
“The reason we need to walk is because people shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help,” Moss said.
Another walker — Lauren Gentile, a sophomore in the School of Communication — was at the event to support a friend.
“A friend of mine suffered from anorexia and she asked me to participate,” she said. “This is a very important issue for college students to be aware of.”
The week continued with the screening of the award-winning documentary “America the Beautiful.” Directed by Darryl Roberts, the film examines America’s obsession with beauty. Roberts shows how unattainable media images contribute to the rise in low self-esteem, body dysmorphia and eating disorders in young women and girls. Coincidentally, they are also the beauty industry’s strongest consumer.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, “the average woman is 5’4” and weighs 140 pounds. The average model is 5’11” and weighs 117 pounds. Most fashion models are thinner than 98 percent of American women.”
To show that beauty is found in all sizes, looks and body types, the Wellness Center hosted a Positive Body Image Fashion show on Tuesday. The models came dressed in whatever made them feel most beautiful. Participants included both men and women decked out in their fashion of choice.
Some participants wore T-shirts and jeans; some wore clubbing clothes. One brave model wore a fabulous taco costume. Even Athena Ducockis, who previously appeared in the AU Drag Show, came out to emcee the event.
“It’s a positive image week,” Duffy said. “And our events are geared towards that. It’s about feeling confident in yourself.”
The week comes to an end with a talk by Chevese Turner, the founder and CEO of Binge Eating Disorders Association. Turner will share her personal struggle and talk about binge eating disorders. The discussion will be held Thursday, Feb. 26 in Butler Board Room at 8:15 p.m.
According to Duffy, even though the week is over, efforts will still be made and resources provided. With the Wellness Center, Duffy has developed the Reflections: Body Image Program which reaches out to campus sororities and fraternities. He has also brought the Body Project to campus which applies to the wider campus body.
“AU is doing great work at the moment,” he said. “In the future, we hope to reach more people who need help and to continue spreading awareness about eating disorders.”
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
Correction: An earlier version of this story only reflected the Wellness Center as the organizers of this event. Women's Initiative, Eagle Nights and Delta Gamma also contributed to its organization. This version has been corrected.
