Beauty, jock kick off eating disorders week

Miss Florida 2006 Allison Kreiger Walsh, founder of “Helping Other People Eat,” and former lacrosse player Patrick Bergstrom, the founder of “I Choose to Live,” talked Monday at the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom about how they coped with eating disorders.

The event, “Beauty and the Jock: Real People, Real Stories,” kicked off a series of events for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week presented by the University of Florida’s GatorWell, Accent, Athletic Association, Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council and Women’s Leadership Council. This year’s theme is “No Boundaries: Eating Disorders Across Genders.”

At 7 p.m. today, Feb. 24 at the Reitz Union Amphitheatre, people will have the opportunity to share their personal stories of hope, healing and recovery at a candle-lighting ceremony that will also remember those who have lost their battles with an eating disorder.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, a presentation called “9 Minutes of Nakedness” at the Reitz Union Colonnade will take a stand against the unrealistic beauty standards set by our society. UF RecSports’ group fitness demo team will perform and participants will receive a free T-shirt.

At 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 27, Rick Shriner, M.D., and Elizabeth Dizney, Psy.D., of the UF department of psychiatry will present a free “Living with Food” open house education clinic at the Springhill Health Center, 8491 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, 32606.

Events are open to all UF students, faculty, staff and the public. Call 352-265-8233 for more information.