Elon’s eating and body image group sponsors awareness events

‘Don’t fight your genes, change your jeans’ campaign allows students to donate jeans to Goodwill

Rachel Abbott / Reporter

From Feb. 22 to Feb. 29, Elon’s Eating and Body Image Concern (EBIC) group hosted an array of events to raise awareness about eating disorders and body image. The events were part of an initiative sponsored by the National Eating Disorder Association.

“We felt it would be good for Elon’s community,” EBIC chair Julie Schuldt said.

The week’s events included the jean campaign called “Don’t fight your genes, change your jeans,” a display at the library, healthier foods at College Coffee, a faculty brown bag lunch discussion, surveys at Moseley Center all week and a panel discussion about eating disorders.

Throughout the week, students were encouraged to donate their “dream jeans,” that is, those that no longer fit, to be displayed in Moseley and Koury center. The jeans were then donated to Goodwill.

Panelists participating in the discussion Feb. 25 included three Elon students, past and present.

Chris Nave, a senior psychology major, presented biological and psychological facts concerning body image and eating disorders.

“Celebrate and appreciate your natural shape,” Nave said.

Nave also discussed the effects of body image in the media.

“People get the idea that these (people) are the ideals,” Nave said.

According to a brochure distributed at the EBIC table in Moseley, 56 percent of women and 43 percent of men are dissatisfied with their general appearance.

In addition to Nave, freshman Stacy Lucius spoke about her sister’s eating disorder.

Lucius described how she had to take over the house when her parents would be at the clinic with her sister, and reflected on the day when her parents were told to plan her sister’s funeral.

Today, Lucius’ sister is doing better. “I think it’s a miracle,” Lucius said.

Jodie Poreskin ’03 spoke about her struggles also. “It’s not about food, it’s about control,” Poreskin said.

After battling anorexia for 15 to 17 years, Poreskin admitted herself to treatment this year in Florida. Although she said she felt that she was not too sick, Poreskin felt it important to get help.

“Never ever think that you are not sick enough,” Poreskin said.

Poreskin said her anorexia began at age five after a friend made a comment about Poreskin wearing a bathing suit.

As a student at Elon, Poreskin kept busy by teaching aerobics at Campus Recreation. She was in a sorority and was president of the Exercise Sports Science Society. She said she saw the groups she was involved with and noticed that she had distanced herself from them and admitted to needing help.

Poreskin said that after undergoing treatment, she felt better about herself.

“Courage is about facing things that you are scared to do,” she said.

Although Poreskin battles with her body image each and every day, she is positive and wants to help others.

“I guarantee at least five people you know have an eating disorder,” Poreskin said.

Although the panelist event had high attendance, not everyone agrees with EBIC’s events and ideas.

Freshman Bailey Hannapel attended an all girls private high school that held annual discussions about eating disorders.

“I think that it’s bad because it sparks ideas about body image that could give girls ways to have an eating disorder,” Hannapel said. “The whole thing puts too much focus on body image, which can have a positive or negative effect.”

EBIC members said they plan to join in the national candlelight vigil sponsored by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders in April.