starved to death Eating disorders a grave concern “YOU CAN never be too rich nor too thin,” or so the saying goes, - By Layne Christensen Fashion Editor Health practitioners like Colleen Hyland of the Eating Disorder Resource Centre would love to wish away this “very dangerous myth.” “The fact is that there are a lot of women who take it (the saying) to heart, and it could lead to serious physical and psychological causes, including death.” There are women, and men, WARNING SIGNS DO YOU or does someone you. know have an eating disorder? The Eating Disorder Resource Centre of British Columbia offers these warning signs: ‘© refusal to cat @ excessive exercise . ‘@. preoccupation with food, . weight and dieting -® distorted body image - @ irregular or absent menstrua- tion ¢ frequent use. of laxatives, - diuretics or diet pills bd avoidance of friends and fam- ily - # uncontrolled or binge eating ® guilt and shame about eating -® responding to emotion by eat- ing or noteating _ © denial of hunger . ‘® unusual eating habits. . frequent weight fluctuations . | & self-induced vomiting |. ® frequent dental problems .® low self-esteem ® depression and moodiness ¢ perfectionism - “all or nothing” thinking. . “The: . Eating Disorder ‘|:Resource : Centre ‘of.. British : | Columbia is located at St. Paul’s “Hospital, 1081 Burrard St.,_ .Mancouver. its hours. are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am. to noon and | to’ 4:45: p.m.; Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon. Phone 631-5313 for more information. ~ Round Brilliant Cut Diamond .72 cts. Set in 16 kt yellow & white gold” Reg. $4,800" Sale 82 ,400 among us who are willing to starve themselves to death. Many do die. Among those who live are the chron- ic self-abusers whose pursuit of the body beautiful is a never-ending bat- tle. Some eat whatever they like then purge it from their systems, throwing up repeatedly until their teeth rot from the bile and acids in their vomit. Others calorie-count obsessively, or exercise excessively. “Binging” to someone with bulimia can mean half an apple or two glasses of water that must immediately be purged from the system for fear of getting fat. These are all forms of eating dis- orders. ; Statistics provided by the Eating Disorder Resource Centre reveal that 90% of women experience body- image dissatisfaction, as many as 80% of females have dieted by the - age of 18, and betwee: 5% and 10% “of young women may be struggling with anorexia nervosa or bulimia ner- yosa, To... mark Eating Disorder Awareness Week, Feb. 5 to 11, the resource centre has organized a num- . ber of events, two of which are to take place on the North Shore. On Thursday, Feb. 8, Capilano College screens the film, Slim Hopes, 12:30 to 2 p.m., in the Library Building, Room 309. A discussion period will follow. Event organizers are promoting Friday, Feb. 9 as Fearless Friday: A day without dieting. They’ve issued this statement: “On this day, we hope that people will be more accepting of themselves, to experience what life is like when their self-esteem is not weighed on a bathroom scale, and to cease putting their lives on hold while waiting to fit into those ‘thin’ jeans.” Rid yourself of those offending jeans once and for all by donating them to someone who can get some wear out of them. All day Friday, Capers in Dundarave is accepting clothing for the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. aoe ANAD, the Canadian Association of Ariorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, sponsors an eating disor- der support group on the North Shore. The group meets at the North Vancouver City Library the second and fourth Wednesday of every 2 month at 7 p.m. The sessions are free and new members are welcome at ': any time. ANAD is looking to start up a support group for friends and fami- fy. Anyone interested in attending is requested to phone ANAD at 29- 2070. Accepting yourself LOW SELF-ESTEEM can be a contributor to compulsive eating behavior. Marie Cochrane, a health practitioner who counsels peo- ple with eating disorders, offers the following suggestions to help build a positive self-image: © Trust your ability to learn, and.to falter and pick yourself up. View mistakes. . as learning; set strategies to avoid future errors. Take on new projects or beliefs, tolerating them. believing that with consistent practice and experience you will master them. -’ ® Accept praise from others and from yourself. Give yourself credit or the benefit of the doubt. Self-criticism is devastating to self-esteem. Notice when - you begin berating yourself, and despite your negative thoughts, refrain from *. ® Embark on seif-encouragement, Such phrases as “Tam likable; “Lam good at my job,” and “I am fun to be with,” help reinforce your strong points and remind yourself thet you are worthwhile. © Focus on how to succeed or.on what you really want for yourself, rather ‘tined to fail. . than: worrying. Worrying is, like a’ negative wish — when you put. all your “energies into not failing rather than into getting what you want, you are des- ® Know your own worth. Ask for what you want and ask for help to achieve it Entire stock 1/2 price after 25 years of business tn Dundarave, lam moving to a new location in the neighbourhood. My new address will be _ 2435 Marine Drive J. YIORD DESIGNS LTD. 2460 Marine Dr., West Vancouver. ‘DIVORCE LAWYER When ail else fails... 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