By Jennifer Balmforth
“Talking leads to healing,” said Olympic Gold Medallist Tiffany Cohen Adams, who spoke of her recovery from the eating disorder, Bulimia last night.
She shared her recovery story to a full auditorium as a part of Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
Adams said she hoped her story would stand as proof that eating disorders are treatable and perhaps even preventable.
She said 25 percent of all college females do struggle with some sort of eating disorder.
Eating disorders can be caused by several different factors that are magnified by society-perverted images of reality, Adams said.
The dieting industry makes 50 billion dollars a year on telling women to cut fat out of their diet, Adams said, but this message is a lie. “A fat free diet is not a healthy diet. You need fat to burn fat,” Adams said.
Adams said her solution to our societies unnatural image of women is to not buy into it.
“Only 2 percent of the population can naturally look like those magazine covers,” Adams said
Addie Blake, 21, a junior from St. Anthony, Idaho, majoring in Therapeutic Recreation said she agreed with Adam”s views about society having a strong impact on women.
“We need to be aware not to support the falsehoods of advertising,” Blake said.
Adams said self worth is not something that can be physically measured.
“We can”t measure self worth by the numbers on a scale or a measuring tape”
She said human diversity is what makes us interesting and it is worth standing up for.
“We need to embrace our uniqueness and at times even fight for it.” Adams said. “We need to love people for who they really are,” Adams said
Lindsay Baker,21, a junior from Sugar City, Idaho, majoring in Therapeutic Recreation, said she was impressed by Adam”s presentation.
“Her story can benefit so many people because it is a message of self worth and personal excellence,” Baker said.
Now after winning two Olympic gold medals, Adams said she believes life is not all about winning.
“Life is about helping people act and live a healthy lifestyle,” Adams said.
