Last week was Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
I hate Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Actually, I hate 'awareness' of any kind. I think it is a poor choice of words.
Autism Awareness. Breast Cancer Awareness. Domestic Violence Awareness.
Are there people out there not 'aware' of these issues? And what does 'awareness' do? 'Awareness' does not stop people from being sick or dying. ACTION does. While I am all for finding solutions to these problems I find myself annoyed by magnetic ribbons stuck to vehicles asking me to be 'aware' of something. I'm aware. Now what?
I digress....
For some reason Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) doesn't get a whole lot of mention. Maybe because people don't understand it. Maybe because there is yet to be a social movement trying to end anorexia and bulimia. I'm not sure. But I don't know of any organized walks, bake sales, magnetic ribbon sales, or telethons dedicated to EDAW.
My reason for hating EDAW is personal. It has affected me personally. And of course I think I know everything if what other people do does not coincide with what I think should be done I get annoyed.
During EDAW while I was a student at Ulster County Community College and again at SUNY New Paltz, EDAW consisted of a free eating disorder screening.
This screening was held in the cafeteria of all places. Really, people?
A corner of the room was sectioned off by the metal curtain rods you find in most doctors offices. Not only could you see through the cracks in the curtain you could see the people who were walking behind it to get interviewed. There was absolutely NO privacy. So, people who were questioning their eating habits were afraid to approach the curtain in fear that the cafeteria full of classmates might find out their secret and the ones who were brave enough to get screened had no anonymity.
What also irked me about this set up was the bowl of apples sitting outside of the display. Like eating disorders are about healthy eating or something. How about a box of donuts, two bags of Doritos, a frozen pizza, 4 grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, a loaf of garlic bread, a pint of ice cream, and directions to the nearest one person bathroom?
The year I started school at New Paltz a girl was found dead in her room after two days. She died of complications from years of anorexia. When Eating Disorder Awareness Week rolled around I thought there would be more activities and events planned to talk about what had happened. Nothing but the apples and screening.
Last week there was a table at the gym with eating disorder facts and warning signs on poster board. I can appreciate the intention. Especially at the gym which can easily become a part of someone disordered eating routine. But I can't help but feel something is missing in all of this.
I'm not sure what the answer is. Maybe I should talk to the magnet people and ask them to produce a ribbon. But then again, I'm pretty sure kids are still being born with autism.
