Fat Prejudice Makes Boulder Unhealthy
Tara Meyer
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News
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"Our society makes a lot of assumptions about people based on their size and shape just from that first encounter," she said.
In her lecture, Shanks asks students what they honestly think about people who are overweight. Most students yell out adjectives like lazy, undisciplined, unfit, and lonely.
On the thin side of the equation, students yell much different adjectives. Thin individuals in our society are described as successful, popular, and happy.
Because of these assumptions about overweight and thin individuals, many in Boulder struggle with eating disorders to potentially reach the happiness that is associated with losing weight.
"It doesn't matter what weight they had been at in their life, they could have been at a lower weight, they haven't been happy the whole time," said Dr. Malia Sperry, Clinical Director for the La Luna Treatment Center in Boulder. "So the notion that thinness is associated with happiness never pans out."
Rates of eating disorders at CU is about 2 to 4 times higher than the national average. The competition in Boulder to be thin seems even more fierce.
"In Boulder we have a health emphasis, we have a work out emphasis, not only are you supposed to be thin, but you need to be athletically thin," Dr. Shanks said.
Students with eating disorders can receive counseling from the Wardenburg Health Center. The La Luna Treatment Center is also a great resource for those struggling with body image.
Blood glucose, lipids, and triglyceride levels are the best indicator of health. Along with family history, the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease can be determined. Students can get their levels tested at the Wardenburg Health Center on the CU campus.
For more information on medical services on campus visit www.Colorado.edu/healthcenter
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