CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, April 29, 1985
Page 6
Bulimia continued from p.1
The meeting, a bulimia workshop given by leaders of the self-help group headed by Sharp, was attended by about 200 residents. After it, Landowski said, the plastic bags of vomit temporarily stopped.
In recent weeks, they have reap-
tened the benefits of the afflicted
women repaid in secret.
"I've certainly seen a lot more people from residence halls with our staff."
Cesari said she didn't know whether the problem of bulimia had increased recently or whether more had become aware of the problem.
MARTIN, A FORMER bulimia victim, said that she wrestled with the problem about five years ago, during her freshman and sophomore years at KU. As a cheerleader for the Kansas City Chiefs, Martin had a life filled with pressures pressed him overusing laxatives to keep he weight down.
"It wasn't until later, when I was A.R. a (a resident assistant), that I realized that the way I was using this behavior was undercored bulmic behavior." she said.
Although recent publicity about eating disorders has focused on anorexia nervosa, a disease that involves self-denial of food to the point of starvation, Cesari said bulimia affected more women than anorexia did. Anorexia occurs in one out of every 250 women, she said.
Cesari said bulimia may be a particular problem in residence halls and sororities because the close relationships promote stress among the women.
SHARP SAID. "IT becomes more of a problem for people who live in a residence hall or sorority because it is harder to hide."
But many victims have found ways to disguise their symptoms from those they live with.
Cesari said that although some women risk attention by vomiting in the residence hall and sorority bathrooms, many more will use bags in their rooms and secretly dispose of them later. Other women make the rounds of fast-food restaurants, gas stations or other buildings to vomit.
Martin said, "For the most part, you can hide it very well unless you are looking for it."
Jane Mitchell, president of Gamma Phi Beta, said bulimia was a problem in most sororities, as it was in other living groups. She said her sorority had found ways to help members suspected of suffering from the disease.
"If we suspect any of having anorexia or bulimia then we can confront them and encourage them to seek help," she said.
SARAH ROSSL, president of Pi Beta Phi, said she was unsure of the number of women with bulimia in her sorority, but all of those thought to use the drastic weight control measures were encouraged to seek counseling.
Martin said the high number of bulimics in organized living groups was compounded by residents who watched other residents keep their weight down by resorting to extreme methods.
JULIE GRONS, resident director of Gentrude Sellards Pearson's and Corbin halls, has worked in a counseling center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with people who suffered from eating disorders. She said bulimics tended to be loners who often ate by themselves.
"It's a closet disorder," Gross said.
But Gross said bulimic behavior could be spotted in several ways.
Some noticeable signs are women who repeatedly go back in the meal lines to get more food, she said. Some bulimics can be spotted by telltale marks on their knuckles from sticking fingers down their throats to purge
Martin said some of the characteristics of bulimics included loneliness, hair loss and a bad mouth odor. His family had decay from self-induced vomiting.
GROSS SAID. "It's an addictive disease, just as alcoholism is an addiction. After a period of time they are no longer in control of their
When this happens, she said professional help is needed.
Sharp said about six women attended the Bulimia Self-Help Group that meets every Monday night at Lawrence Memorial. The group provides education, discussion and support for the victims.
The group gives bulimics a chance to meet with other people with the same problem. Sharp said, because he was not a bulimic, they are ashamed to admit they have it.
Jamee Riggio, a resident assistant in GSP-Corbin, has had to deal with two cases of bulimia on her floor this year.
The two residents had not come to her with the problem, Riggio said, but she noticed the symptoms and confronted them with it.
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