The reality of eating disorders
MTV stars discuss solutions, give inspiration
Shanna L. Rasmussen
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News
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The Edgerton Center for Performing Arts was almost completely full on Nov. 17.
About 700 students took advantage of the opportunity to learn about the pressing issues of body image among young people as well as see two TV stars up close.
"It kept [students] interested," said Kaitlin Mullins, sophomore, Dumont, N.J.
Amaya Brecher and Veronica Portillo, two ex-cast members from MTV's hit reality shows "The Real World" and "Road Rules" known only by their first names on the show, lectured students as a part of a lecture series sponsored by Student Affairs.
This was the last lecture of the series this semester.
Each of the speakers had personal experiences with body image and eating disorders.
"[When I was younger] my ex-boyfriend decided my nickname should be 'Chubby'," said Brecher, "I decided that if I consumed some food and threw it up I wouldn't gain weight."
Brecher described her college life as a student at UCLA when her eating disorder started. She lived in a sorority house where she felt the need to compete for beauty.
"Everyone [at UCLA] was skinny," said Brecher.
Brecher gave the audience a dose of reality when she explained the long-term damages her body suffered because of her bulimia.
Brecher's esophagus was damaged from the years of purging and it will never heal on its own.
"I'll probably need to get surgery," said Brecher.
Although she has her eating disorder under control today, she is still haunted by her old habits. Brecher can't forget the feelings she used to have.
"It's like alcoholism, it never goes away," said Brecher, "I still to this day have issues, but I need to control them."
Veronica Portillo also had an eating disorder in the past.
Portillo, who told the audience she developed at a young age, always felt pressured to be sexy.
She was uncomfortable with the attention she received so she tried to lose weight in order to lose the parts of her body that drew attention.