Rodin addresses body image and eating disorders at Irvine

Noting that for many women the ideals of a perfect body lead to a "social mania," University President Judith Rodin addressed body image awareness and eating disorders at Irvine Auditorium last night. Christine Cook and Suz Dodd -- who both received clinical treatment to overcome eating disorders -- also spoke at the program, which was cosponsored by the Panhellenic Council and Guidance for Understanding Image, Dieting and Eating. Rodin, who has studied eating disorders and body image extensively, explained that many women see their bodies as "unfinished," adding that mass media dictates what feminine form a culture values as beautiful. Cook said the average female model -- whose figure is held by many women as the ideal form -- is 5'10" and weighs 110 pounds. Rodin stressed that "today's woman looks at a television and wants to see herself," adding that "for many of us, that is the image of beauty which we aspire to." She added that the number of plastic surgeries performed has increased by 61 percent over the past four years, in addition to the growing number of cases of anorexia and bulimia. "We no longer have to complain," Rodin said. "We feel -- or are made to feel -- that there are many ways to change [body image]." But Rodin said that creating a perfect body is not as easy as many think, because genetic factors often play a large role in determining a woman's body structure. "Only a minority of women could match the ideal," she added. For Cook, the ideal -- models she saw in magazines -- represented "something that [she] could not be? perfect." The aquatic instructor and Olympic rowing hopeful explained that she began binge eating and vomiting in high school because she "thought it was cool." But at college, bulimia quickly became overpowering, and Cook -- who has been in therapy for three years -- lost control of her life. "Every morning I woke up, I thought about food; every night when I went to bed I thought about food," she said, adding that she saw herself "going downhill fast." Dodd, a recovering anorexic, said she also felt overwhelmed by food, noting that while dieting she consumed 500 calories and ran six miles each day. "It was a sense of control -- a sense of accomplishment," she said. "Then, little by little, it began to control me." During her college years, the Villanova graduate sacrificed sleep, studying, social events and relationships in order to exercise and avoid food. "I was losing everything that I did and worked hard for," Dodd said. "I wasn't really living." Although the women admitted that recovery could be a "really long and intensive battle," they stressed the importance of seeking help to end eating disorders. GUIDE President Rachel Domers, a College junior and Kappa Alpha Theta sister, also urged students to make healthy decisions concerning their weight. "Each of you are capable of accomplishing whatever you put your mind to," she addressed the audience members -- the majority of whom were sorority sisters and new members. Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Ilene Rosenstein said the University offers many services to help students overcome eating disorders, including individual and group therapy sessions and nutritional advising. "The emphasis is really to help with coping skills? also with communication skills and interpersonal skills."