Having experienced a personal battle with eating disorders, four of the women gathered at the “Love your Body” fair two weeks ago were more than passionate about helping others to recognize their illnesses.

Sponsored by the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance club, the event was designed to help Cerritos students come to term with this hidden epidemic.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, three out of four women at some point in their lives will experience some form of eating disorder.

Although the majority of the women at the table had experienced some form of eating disorder, each of their stories was as different as could be.

Rose (not her real name) became anorexic about a year ago and still suffers occasionally with bouts of depression and poor self-image.

“I am not sure what set me off, but suddenly I could not stand being me,” she said “I was too fat and nobody liked me.”

In a period of less than two months, Rose lost almost 30 Lbs. and was still determined to loose even more.

Even though her family noticed her rapid weigh loss and radical loss of appetite, there was little they could do to helpr.

Several trips to different doctors did not make any difference to a girl determined to fit into what she saw as society’s ideal of what she should be.

“There were some days when I would only have a diet soda… and I would feel guilty about that!” said Rose.

It was only after she began to have heart problems and fainting spells that Rose recognized the damage she was doing to her body.

Only by coming to terms with her body, was Rose able to stop the downward spiral she was on.

Jane (not her real name) never changed her eating habits but did become bulimic through the overuse of laxatives, vomiting and working out more than six hours a day.

“I immediately began to have problems with my esophagus, stomach and throat. Once I could no longer vomit, I would work out until I almost fainted.”

If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, the numbers you can call for help are:

Overeaters Anonymous

(505) 891-2664

Bulimia and Self help line

(314) 567-4080

National Association of Anorexia/Nerv-osa and Associated Disorders

(708) 831-3438

National Eating Disorders Org.

(505) 891-2664