The Quad

Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: Features

Celebrities and supermodels dictate the latest trends, looks and body shape that the population needs to follow in order to "fit in." Some people go to extreme lengths to look thin, such as starving themselves or purging after meals.

However, eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, are not about vanity. They are serious psychological illnesses that occur in everyone. Nearly 10 million women and up to one million men in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. Eating disorders are more common than Alzheimer's disease in the United States.

With that said, the Sister to Sister Peer Mentor Program at West Chester University plans to inform students of facts just like those during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, occurring Feb. 25-Feb. 28, 2008.

The Sister to Sister Peer Mentor Program was started back in 2000 by psychology professor, Deanne Bonifazi. She is still the adviser to the organization.

"The group is comprised of about 24 strong, dedicated, passionate women from different sororities on campus who learn about body image, eating disorders and healthy lifestyles, and they learn how to improve self-esteem," Bonifazi said. "This group of women help their sisters by educating them on eating disorders in hopes that they will stop defining their self-worth based on their appearance. They are day in and day out positive role models for this campus."

The Sister to Sister Peer Mentor Program, along with other organizations on campus, participate in the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week on campus each year. This is the 20th anniversary of the national week.

The theme of this year's awareness week is "Be comfortable in Your Genes." According to the National Eating Disorders Association Web site, your genes play a large role in determining your body shape and size. NEDA is encouraging everyone to embrace their genes and to stop trying to turn the body into something it is not.

"The purpose of National Eating Disorders week is to increase awareness about eating disorders and to tell everyone to treat their bodies well," Bonifazi said. "People tend to think that eating disorders are about vanity, which is incorrect. They are serious, psychological conditions that reflect extreme personal unhappiness. Disodered eating affects around 20 percent of college women."

On Monday Feb. 25, there will be a multitude of events kicking off the week. There will be tables in Sykes from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with information about eating disorders and body image. The Sister to Sister Peer Mentors and WCU Student Dietetic Association will be staffing the tables, and they will also be handing out free pins and purple awarenss ribbons.

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