The Women’s Center is sponsoring the Athens NEDA walk on Saturday morning.
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) walks have been happening since 2009, and now take place in more than 95 cities worldwide.
According to the organization’s website, “NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders, and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures and access to quality care.”
Walkers can register on the day, and registration is free. However, any donation is encouraged and goes directly to NEDA.
“NEDA is keen to work with people in supporting their mission and helping with the fundraising efforts that support some of the crucial initiatives that NEDA does, like eating disorder screening,” Geneva Murray, director of the Women’s Center, said.
The first NEDA walk in Athens happened in 2014, organized by a graduate student Shelby Martin.
“Shelby was fantastic in organizing, and the Women’s Center is proud to support the legacy that she created with bringing NEDA here,” Geneva Murray said.
The Women’s Center has been working with someone at NEDA to bring the walk to Athens, but the walk is organized on campus. There is a planning team consisting of ambassadors from Campus Recreation, Housing and Residence Life, Fraternity and Sorority Life, LGBT Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Survivor Advocacy Program and Student Senate.
“We’ve been really proud to work with some amazing student organizations that have been organizing both as teams and also as volunteers,” Geneva Murray said.
Geneva Murray said the Women’s center accepts participants of all backgrounds and gender identities in their programs.
“We do look at gendered issues through and we approach things from a gendered lens. Everyone is welcome to participate in our programs, and we encourage people of all gender identities to participate,” Geneva Murray said. “The Women’s Center is interested in the NEDA walk because there are gender issues when it comes to eating disorders. It doesn’t mean that only women are impacted, but it does mean that a higher percentage of women suffer from eating disorders.”
There will be several activities at the walk, including a photo booth in which walkers can hold up notions reading quotes such as, “I am powerful,” or “I am mighty.” People can also write letters to people currently in treatment.
“We encourage people to take advantage of the eating disorder support team that’s available at Ohio University,” Geneva Murray said. “NEDA does not endorse any particular treatment but there is help out there.”
Deborah Murray, a dietician and associate nutrition lecturer, said personality traits are a big aspect of who develops eating disorders. It may not always be the same personality traits, but certain ones tend to create pressure.
“We (dieticians) recognize that disordered eating has a lot of influences, and one is personality,” Deborah Murray said. “We recognize that we tend to see folks that are very high achievers, very high standards, very competitive to be more apt to develop an eating disorder.”
Athletes, for example, are vulnerable to developing eating disorders because of their competitiveness, according to Deborah Murray. Wrestling and gymnastics are examples of sports that cause eating disorders because of their need to cut weight.
Deborah Murray said people are currently living in an era of unrealistic expectations on social media, with airbrushed images of how people should look. She believes people think that their body compositions need to be a certain way when most people on social media have photoshopped or highly posed photos.
“I’m participating in the NEDA walk on Saturday for all the people who feel too ashamed of their eating disorder to seek help,” Gabby Hayes, sophomore studying journalism, said. “As someone living in remission from an eating disorder, I want it to be okay to mention your disorder or triggers you have without being judged or side glanced. We should not be avoiding a discussion on this issue.”
Speakers will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the walk starts at Nelson Commons at 11 a.m., heading toward the Living Learning Center and back to the start.
