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i -%* j Body imaj By TANYA STROMAN Staff Writer f When a normal body doesn't seem good enough, even though it may look great to others, people will on In pvln>mp Ipnntfic tn moto QV vv/ VAUV111V tvllguio VV/ 11UUVV it look better. This obsession with feelings about the body sometimes results in either anorexia or bulimia nervosa, said Dr. Roger Bowersock, director of USC's Counseling and Human Development Center. l "If you ask patients if they look fat, they will agree they are not, but they say they feel fat," Bowersock said. In a 1992-93 survey about eating disorders sent out to 3500 USC students by the counseling center, 900 have been returned, Bowersock said. "The results are still being analyzed, but this is a high return," he said. These eating disorders are complex emotional disorders, that have a profound effect on the person's life, and the lives of those around, said Jane Littman, associate psychiatry professor at the School of Medicine. Anorexia is a mental disorder caused by an extreme fear of getting fat, an obstinate and willful refusal to eat, usually resulting in rapid weight loss. Bulimia is defined as repeated episodes of binge eating and fear of not being able to stop eating, followed by purging and severe depression. botn diseases are characterized by distorted body feelings Crime repo By KRISTIN BEARNATH Staff Writer Last year, 1,189 crimes were reported on the USC campus, according to the university's crime report "But only 61 were crimes against persons," said Carl Stokes, USC law enforcement and safety director. "That number may seem high, but you show me another community of 30,000 people with only 61 crimes against persons, and I'll show you a fairly safe community," he said. However, Stokes said people should never let their guard down in this increasingly violent society. "The reason campus crime is low is because people are being careful and not doing things that could ' make them a victim and ultimately 1 a statistic," he said. "We're not see- i ing girls walking alone at 2 a.m. or i valuables being openly left in cars." I ;e disorde and low self-esteem. People involved with appearance focused activities, like cheerleadinj athletics or modeling, often fin fhPTTlQPlvPC at thp mprpv rvf crvr?iof\/' ??WU?/WTVU wv Wiv nivi VJ VI OW1VIJ pressure for perfect bodies, accorc ing to Lester Lefton and Laur Valvatne's book, "Masterin Psychology." Nationally, as many as 40 out c every 10,000 young women ma develop anorexia; most come fror middle and upper-middle-clas backgrounds, Lefton and Valvatn said. They said bulimia is mostly female disease; the ratio of femal to male bulimics is 10 to 1. Susan Squire said, in "Thi Slender Balance," about 90 percen of anorexics are women. This disease couldn't be charac oc nlom/Mirnne ortH io ii ivt liiVU UO giOIlIVUlUUO) M*?V? IO, *1 fact, very dangerous, Littman said. "Mortality rates for anorexia ar< between 5 and 18 percent; bulimi; is seldom incapacitating,...but cai lead to death," Littman said. Anorexia and bulimia leave th< body worn down; organ breakdowi often occurs, sometimes leading t( death, as in the widely publicizet case of singer Karen Carpenter. Eating disorders aren't just pass ing fads, and the causes are real. According to Littman, the cause* discussed in the literature are com plicated. Often, it is a way to avoid growing up and becoming a mature, sexual adult. The afflicted do not wan to face the responsibilities thai accompany adulthood; they avoic this confrontation by remaining in ? >rt says US* Tips for ? 1. Avoid poorly lit streets. ] bushes, doorways or alley walk in the street. 2. If you are being followed panic. Go to the nearest lii place. If a car pulls up neai street or turn in the oppi 3. Know where all emerge are located and how to use t Another reason is simply the presence of 58 regular and 15 reserve officers, Stokes said. And he mentioned what he called "the deterrent effect" of the 41 emergency call boxes that dot the campus. The call boxes, which were installed in 1989, give students immediate access to police, similar to calling 911. Last year, 205 call rs stem fro childlike body. Subconsciously, 5- they make their bodies unattractive I, to the opposite sex. d Another cause is buried in the s personality of the individual. I- Patients are often perfectionists and a harbor some obsessive traits. Many 5 clit uiCApicMivc, cutuuuiicuiy C1USCU off, and insecure. They can feel >f trapped by two opposing forces, one y which wants them to simply eat and n be normal, and another which s points out all the hidden fat and e encourages the sickness. These characteristics are inborn a and developed through family life, e For example, a girl's relationship with her father forms deep psychoe logical origins. Or sometimes the t sufferers are victims of a traumatic circumstance, like sexual or mental - abuse. At times, the victims are the i products of overprotective parents. Treatment is frequently difficult ; because hospitalization is often i required to prevent death by starvai tion, Littman said. Lefton, Valvatne and Squires say ? that trying to get at the causes can i be confusing, but the signs are defi ) nite. me patient is thin to the point i of grotesque and they are often obsessed with exercising to burn "just one more calorie." They are consumed with how "fat" they look and exactly where the fat is accumulating. Peculiar eating habits, like systematic arranging of food, cutting portions into little pieces, or avoidt ing eating with others because this l is an added pressure, indicate there 1 is a problem with the overall i expectancy of eating. C campus f *>afe C7amp Don't walk near 4. Report burr s. If necessary, services (7-42 5. Think aheac 1 on foot, do not if you will be : and populated dark. As you a r you, cross the keys ready. L( osite direction, before getting (HPV PCll 1 KavAC \7A!ir VUIA VV/AVO JVUl UUU1. hem. boxes were activated, but only 15 of those incidents required police assistance. "In addition to aiding in crime prevention, I also feel that the boxes give students a sense of comfort to know they are that close to the police if something happens," said Investigator Rita Yarborough, USC victim and witness coordinator. m serious . ' i'1 t . ? * * * Peculiar eating habits reveal a s Sometimes they don't eat at all and sometimes they eat a great dea more than the average, at one sit ting. According to Lefton, Valvatni and Squire, a friend can offer th< unconditional love and support the] need. Criticism will only make tht problem worse. Because victim! will often become secretive abou their struggle, one needs to encour age them to open up and to be a lis tening ear. Victims will often have a hare time admitting their struggle, anc d 1 C ^ l-n /-i unij oaitus Travel led out lights to operational 17). 1 and park in a well-lit place returning to your car after pproach your car, have your 3ok around and in your car in. Then immediately lock Kathy Treble, a junior English major, confirmed Yarborough's belief that the boxes are sources of comfort. "Sometimes I walk around campus at night, and I feel better just knowing the boxes are there," Treble said. Although Treble has never had to use one, she said she would not hes ^ zj problems v ^ 'v J9H| ||| I Jp mm jjfl Eric Glenn/The Gamecock struggle at mealtime I, will have setbacks, but a good J friend is the best support anyone - can have. "On the bottom line, the current i epidemic of eating disorders results ; from tremendous cultural and psy/ chological forces impacting on i human biology;...a life of moderas tion may be more effective than t striving after some unrealistic 'ideal' form. A certain self-accep tance, of both our appearance and our psyche, may be necessary 1 before we can begin to make the 1 most of who we are," Squires says. - # ommunity' itate to call at the first sign of trouble. Incoming freshman, Jill Smith, who admitted to being slightly apprehensive about campus security, said she has taken a tour of the campus during which some of the call box locations were pointed out. In addition to the campus tour, she said she has also received help iui campus safety advice from friends and relatives who have attended USC. "They told me to always use lighted routes and to never walk alone at night, common sense type things," Smith said. And common sense and awareness are crucial to promoting safety, Stokes said. "Students need to pay attention to the various pamphlets, maps, billboards, etc. and adhere to the suggestions given in order to maintain the level of security we have at USC," he said.