Spring Break
The Real World of Eating Disorders
Cast members of 'The Real World' talk about the very real dangers of eating disorders
Paul Hackbarth
Issue date: 3/14/05 Section: News
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Brecher and Portillo visited UM-St. Louis Thursday night in the Pilot House and spoke to a predominantly female audience about eating disorders. The event was held as part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which took place Feb. 28 through March 4.
Brecher and Portillo's presentation began with clips from the "Real World" relating to eating disorders. Afterward, both women shared their stories on what pressures led them to their eating disorders and how they continue to reclaim their bodies.
Brecher discussed how she developed bulimia nervosa, a disorder where she dieted by binging and purging. She talked about the irreversible damage she caused to her stomach and esophagus.
Her friend helped her realize that she needed to change her eating habits. "She got me to start changing my behavior and getting control of it. It definitely was a light bulb," Brecher said. She regretted never going to counseling, but she helped herself on her own.
"I have learned my lesson. I've learned that I'm always in recovery," Brecher said.
Portillo said her eating disorder started when she began dieting to control the food she ate. She said she would not eat for an entire day. She also resorted to stealing diet pills from her mother. "I really wasn't happy with myself," she said.
Portillo explained that getting compliments about her body kept her wanting to continue losing weight. "It's like alcoholism. It's a disease. But I think I'm strong enough to know what's good for me and my body," she said.
Portillo and Brecher demonstrated how the media plays a big role in the way women view their bodies. They showed pictures of offensive ads that show what women must live up to versus positive ads that show a variety of body shapes and sizes, as well as women eating balanced diets.
They named abuse, traumatic experiences, peer pressure and genetic predisposition as causes of eating disorders.
They also emphasized triggers, which set eating disorders in motion. Triggers consist of dieting, social factors, pressures to succeed or become perfect and changes in a person's life, especially during puberty.
Lori Tagger, psychologist for counseling services, mentioned health risks associated with eating disorders. Organ failure, osteoporosis, ruptured stomach and esophagus lining and infertility are all long-term effects of eating disorders.
While Tagger agrees with Brecher and Portillo's message, she differed in opinions about getting help through group counseling. "It's important that people understand that others are struggling and that they can share their problems," Tagger said.
Along with Tagger, Michelle Schmidt, coordinator for the alcohol and drug prevention program for Health Services, provided pamphlets on eating disorders. "Groups are a common way for them to see that others share their problems and can get support," Schmidt said.
Counseling Services and Health Services are sponsoring a new eating concerns group for interested students. Shame keeps people with eating disorders away, Tagger explained. This group can help counter that feeling of shame.
Tagger and Schmidt also set up an information table in the Nosh on Thursday, March 3 and provided free eating disorder screenings. These screenings let students answer simple questions to help them decide if they should get more information or talk to a counselor.
Tagger and Schmidt said UM-St. Louis provides different options for students to turn to and learn more about eating disorders.
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