Eating disorders common at JMU
1 in 4 females afflicted on Madison campus
By Ashley Hopkins, contributing writer
Posted on September 25, 2006

One in four girls at JMU has an eating disorder. 

While this number is reflective of statistics estimating that 5 to 20 percent of females and 1 to 7 percent of males in college are afflicted, according to JMU’s Health Center Web site, it is nonetheless a cause of alarm for students and medical practitioners alike.

Kathryn Eck, a psychology graduate student, knows the emotional implications that come with an eating disorder, as one of her friends was once admitted to a treatment facility for anorexia for a number of weeks.

 “I was allowed to go see her once,” Eck said. “She was really embarrassed to be there and told me she wished I hadn’t come. After lots of uncomfortable silence and small talk, I left, feeling as though I had made a mistake. Many years later, though, she told me how much it meant to her that I made the effort to visit her and to continue our friendship.”

There are a vast number of health problems associated with eating disorders that run from liver damage to infertility, and even cardiac arrest.

On campus, the Health Center, the Counseling and Student Development Center and Stop Eating and Exercising Disorders provide students with the help they need to get on the road to recovery. Off campus, hospitals, eating disorders specialists and 12-step organizations are available to help those in need. 

“The biggest obstacle was the fact that their problem became the elephant in the room,” Eck said. “When someone won’t admit that they have a problem, it makes it impossible to talk about it, give advice or help the person find help.”

With help, those suffering from eating disorders can acknowledge their problem and take steps towards becoming healthy.

“People struggling with eating disorders are finding out there are people like myself trained to work with them so they have a place to go,” said Hillary Wing-Richards, associate director of the Women’s Resource Center on campus. With assistance, those suffering from eating disorders can acknowledge their problem and take steps toward becoming healthy.

While many of these organizations may help those suffering from eating disorders, many believe that the root of the eating disorder problem lies in the media’s unrealistic portrayal of women.

“Unfortunately there is not enough of a trust in the media to get ‘normal-sized’ people on TV,” said Linda Morrison, a registered dietitian at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. “There’s some of it happening, but not enough.”

“The friends I had with anorexia were beautiful and kind-hearted,” Eck said. “It broke my heart that they were not able to appreciate not only their physical beauty, but also their generosity and sensitivity to others.”

Laura Cason, a dietitian at RMH, however, credits the influence of the media with increased awareness of eating disorders. While she thinks that eating disorders have always been a problem, she said they are getting more publicity now that more emphasis is being put on the weights of various celebrities.

 “With all of the media scrutiny on ‘thin’ actors, actresses and models many are now recognizing what an eating disorder actually looks like,” Cason said.

For more information on eating disorders, check out jmu.edu/healthctr/eating disorder.