Recently, I decided to share a secret I
had been keeping for quite some time. With the support of my friends and family, I was able to finally tell the story about my battle with an eating disorder. Even though I’m still nervous as to how some people might react, I am so happy to be able to use my experience in order to help others who are dealing with the same issues. So here is a glimpse into my story as well as some information on eating disorders that I feel is important for everyone to be aware of.
   Growing up I was very active in sports, playing softball, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and gymnastics. When I was about 13 I did my very first pageant. My obsession with my weight started at a young age, as it does for many girls, and I did not even realize it. Due to pressures from society, the media, coaches, and others, I created an unhealthy image in my mind of what I needed to look like. This caused me to have a negative body image that lead to my battle with bulimia nervosa eating disorder. My family began noticing signs of an eating disorder and would address them, but I just denied it and continued to hide my habits. That is, until the disorder became very serious and it was necessary for me to reach out for help.
   Over 8 million Americans currently struggle with eating disorders and nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of all causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old. At least half of young girls, ages 11-13, see themselves as overweight, and 80% of them have tried to lose weight, just as I did. Of the staggering number of people who suffer with some type of eating disorder, out of the seven million women and one million men, only 1 in 10 of these people will receive the treatment they need.
    I realize now that I was one of the lucky ones, and I want to use my story to inspire and motivate others to overcome this disease as well, to seek the help that they need, and to learn to live healthier lives. I also wish to educate patients, families, professionals, and communities about the signs and symptoms, prevention, and treatment of these disorders.
    I am a volunteer with the Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee as a spokesperson for their Speakers' Bureau and their Yes! Teams. One of the things that has really helped me throughout my struggle with bulimia was being able to continue volunteering and giving back a piece of myself to my community. I have worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, the Special Olympics, and Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, along with other organizations. I hope to encourage survivors of eating disorders to volunteer in an effort to assist them with their self worth issues and to help them find a new passion. I've created the Changing Tennessee Lives program for girls and plan to give presentations on healthy living and body image issues.