University of Michigan News Service – UM News

National Eating Disorders Awareness week brings super-model

ANN ARBOR—Kate Dillon, survivor of an eating disorder, who was named by Mode Magazine as 1998 Model of the Year, will join staff and students for the University of Michigan’s observance of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week March 10-14. Dillon’s presentation will be 7-9 p.m. March 11 in the Michigan Union Ballroom.

Dillon gave up her career as a super model at age 19, realizing that she had become anorexic in her battle to remain a size 6 at 5’11”. Now a size 14, she is again a leading model featured in Mode and in national advertising campaigns, according to Alison Brzenchek, health education coordinator for eating issues at University Health Service (UHS) and coordinator for the week’s events.

“Kate is an inspiration,” says Brzenchek, “because she chose health and well-being over struggling to meet what she came to understand was an artificial body image standard. She has been an advocate on a national level for education and research on eating disorders. Kate will be sharing her experiences and concerns about the issues of weight and body image portrayed in the media and how it can affect a woman’s self-esteem.”

According to Wendy Campbell, clinical psychologist with U-M’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and one of the week’s scheduled presenters, research shows that 91 percent of women on college campuses attempt to control their weight through dieting and 22 percent report that they are always dieting. “Our experience at CAPS is that problems relating to weight and body image are at least as prevalent among U-M students as they are nationally,” Campbell said.

Throughout the week there will be interactive exhibits, presentations and workshops led by staff from UHS, CAPS and the Center for the Education of Women. All activities and events are free and open to the public.

A complete list of activities is available online at www.uhs.umich.edu/uhs/whatsup/EDAW.html.

For further information, contact Alison Brzenchek at (734) 647-4699 or by e-mail at aokb@umich.edu.

Kate DillonUniversity Health ServiceCounseling and Psychological ServicesCenter for the Education of Womenwww.uhs.umich.edu/uhs/whatsup/EDAW.htmlaokb@umich.edu