Caught at the end of Black History Month, just before everything turns pink in March for Breast Cancer lies Eating Disorder Awareness week, February 20-26. The National Eating Disorder Awareness Association (NEDA) promotes this week as a means to convey information about eating disorders and in hopes of preventing future cases. This year’s slogan is “it’s time to talk about it.”
Eating disorders, classified as a mental illness, includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating. An estimated 11 million Americans suffered from eating disorders in 2005, compared to 4.5 million Alzheimer’s patients. This does not include individuals who are considered to take part in “disorder eating,” which includes purging, restrictive dieting, and other similar behaviors. Furthermore, in 2005, estimated 70 cents on research money was spent on each person that was affected by anorexia, according to NEDA. $159 of research money is spent on each of the 2.2 million schizophrenia patients.
This week is particularly important to Quinnipiac senior Danielle Oliveri. Oliveri, with black curly hair as big as her bright personality, she hardly seems like the type to have self-confidence issues. She served on the executive board of her sorority, Phi Sigma Sigma, and is actively involved in Quinnipiac dance team, Dance Fusion. Few knew of Oliveri’s struggles with illness until she revealed her past to her sorority sisters in a presentation about positive self-image and eating disorders last fall. Even recounting her experience, Oliveri remains positive.
“A lot of people think it’s a phase,” Oliveri said. “Well, if it’s a phase then my ED phase lasted over 8 years of my life, gave me a bunch of medical issues, and ruined a lot of relationships. I didn’t choose that.”
Oliveri is referring to stunted growth and other ailments that resulted from not getting the right nutrients during her teenage years. Overcoming her illness is still a daily battle.
“ED never completely goes away because you’re constantly fighting the ED voice, especially in times of stress,” Oliveri said.
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The two most prevalent eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Those who suffer from anorexia often try to lose weight through excessive dieting, unhealthy amounts of exercising, use of laxatives and other means. Individuals with anorexia will view themselves as overweight even when their body is malnourished and underweight. Bulimia is characterized by a binging and purging process, in which the individual will eat excessively, then either rid their body of the food or excessively diet. Both have potential health risks and eating disorders are the highest leading cause of death among mental illness patients.
Eating Disorder Awareness Week is a means of spreading information about these illnesses and promoting a positive body image. The National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) encourages volunteers to spread the word through speakers, pamplets, posters, art, or any other means. Their website also provides materials for volunteers.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is an important cause to Oliveri, who shares information about eating disorders on her Facebook page and talks more openly about her experience.
“I want to raise awareness, so we can combat it because no one should have to feel like an ED patient does about [his or her self],” Oliveri said. “When you have ED, you’re not living, you’re just going through the motions.”
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In her presentation to her sorority last fall, Oliveri introduced many sisters to Operation Beautiful, a website that is dedicated to spreading self-confidence and positive messages. Founder Caitlin Boyle leaves optimistic messages on bathroom mirrors and other public locations to brighten another person’s day. When the next person walks into the bathroom and checks herself out in the mirror, she will see a Post-It that says, “you’re beautiful,” or a similar positive note.
What started out as a movement to end what Boyle calls “fat talk” amongst women has become something bigger to those who suffer from eating disorders While Boyle’s intention was not to target those who suffer from eating disorders, there are individuals with eating disorders who have responded to her message.
 “I actually founded Operation Beautiful in response to negative self-talk I was experiencing over my academic performance,” 26-year-old Boyle said via e-mail. “But people with EDs or in recovery have really championed this message, which is great.”
Boyle lives in Charlotte, North Carolina where she works on Operation Beautiful as well as another website, Healthy Tipping Points. Operation Beautiful launched in June 2009 and a book followed a little over a year later, in August 2010.
Boyle shared one of her favorite Operation Beautiful stories about Vit, a teenager in Canada suffering from anorexia. Her condition was severe and she was in a treatment center: “Her doctors were concerned that it was going to eventually kill her.  She slipped into the bathroom to throw up her lunch and found an Operation Beautiful note on the stall.  The simple message – “You are good enough the way you are” – made her pause and reconsider her destructive behavior,” said Boyle. A healthier Vit followed up with Boyle a couple of months later.
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Awareness about eating disorders can benefit those who are suffering from illness and encourage them to get help. Those who are in need of help or want more information, visit the NEDA website at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
Photo courtesy of Operation Beautiful.