I wanted to thank The Observer for last semester's front-page article on eating disorders. I personally do not suffer from the terrible effects of these diseases, but they have touched almost every aspect of my life.

In high school, I watched one of my cross-country teammates slowly destroy herself with anorexia nervosa. The changes she experienced frightened many of her classmates, who finally pressed the guidance counselor to address her parents. Even after she received help, she struggled through her senior year with depression.

The hell didn't end there.

A few years later, a girl in my home parish killed herself because of an eating disorder. She was a perfectionist to the fullest extent and couldn't bear the thought of needing outside help to overcome her problems. She stayed home from school one day and overdosed on some medicines she founf in the bathroom cabinet. Her parents came home from work to find their only child's lifeless body in her bedroom.

The next year, nine girls from my high school were diagnosed with eating disorders, many because of life-threatening situations. I have since made it my personal mission to learn everything I can about the prevention and treatment of these evil diseases that tend to plague young women and to rid youth of this stupid image society has been feeding us.

I realize that the latter part of my goal is somewhat unrealistic, but often it only takes one voice to change the world. I beg all readers and the rest of the public to do what they can to prevent anymore unnecesary victims of this horrifying epidemic.

The best knowledge is prevention.

Margaret Sullivan

Junior

Saint Mary's College

November 30, 1999

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• Eating disorders
  
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