By Mary Frances McCarthy
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 6/3/04)

In a world where young girls are bombarded by images of curvy Barbie dolls, stick-thin models and waif-like actresses, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to instill high self-esteem and love for what society might deem "imperfect" bodies. Young boys are equally pressured to look like a page out of Abercrombie and Fitch catalogues or to gain or lose weight in order to play sports like wrestling and football. Is it any wonder that eating disorders have affected so many lives?

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD), approximately 7 million women and 1 million men in America suffer from eating disorders. The death rate for eating disorders is higher than the rate for any other psychiatric illness. Although 86 percent of people suffering from eating disorders report that their suffering began before the age of 20, only a small percentage of schools and colleges have programs to educate youths about the dangers associated with eating disorders.

Blessed Sacrament Elementary School in Alexandria is attempting to combat this phenomenon by rewarding students for living healthy lifestyles.

A Blessed Sacrament alumna, Leslie Anne George, was an honor student, tennis player and all-around likable student. She attended James Madison University after graduating from Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria in 1999. On Sept. 29, 2000, at age 19, George lost a six year battle with anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

In order to keep her memory alive and raise awareness of the dangers of eating disorders, Blessed Sacrament School has established the Leslie George Memorial Scholarship fund. Peter Baroody, gym teacher at Blessed Sacrament and driving force behind the scholarship fund, has known the George family for many years. He started the scholarship fund because he was looking for a way to honor Leslie’s memory, and spread the word about the dangers of eating disorders. "Things have settled down (since her death)," he said, "but you don’t want to forget someone — especially when they have something to teach."

Last month Blessed Sacrament School held a fund run, where all third- through eighth-graders and a select group of kindergarten- to second-graders ran their hearts out. Out of 210 students, 120 were still running at the end of the hour. "Everyone felt really good," Baroody said. "It was really fun." They went through 4,500 plastic cups of water.

The fund run raised $3,500 for the scholarship fund.

On Monday, June 7, a fund-raiser will be held at South Austin Grill, 801 King St., Alexandria, from 5 to 10 p.m. A percentage of the night’s revenue will be donated to the scholarship fund. Baroody said that Leslie’s parents hope that "everyone who had ever met Leslie or could identify with her story (will) come and show their support."

When Baroody told Leslie’s parents about the scholarship fund, he said they "didn’t say much," but were excited and emotional. Mrs. George was at Blessed Sacrament for the fund run, and both parents will be at Austin Grill for the scholarship dinner.

The scholarship money will be used in three ways. An award will be given to a rising eighth-grader each year who shows characteristics of kindness and generosity, and who is living a healthy lifestyle while pursuing academic success. Baroody said a team of teachers who knew George or are interested in the cause, will meet each year to choose a student who they think would have been friends with George.

A portion of funds raised will go toward need-based scholarships, to students who want to attend Blessed Sacrament but cannot afford to, and to ANAD to support their research.

What are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa?

A person suffering from anorexia nervosa can be identified as weighing 15 percent or more below the ideal weight for their height and age, and they refuse to maintain normal weight because of an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. Looking in a mirror, a person with anorexia will criticize their shape and weight. They see themselves as fat, no matter how thin they are. Many people suffering from anorexia will severely restrict their diets, sometimes eating only a few hundred calories a day. Up to 50 percent of people diagnosed with anorexia develop bulimic behaviors.

Bulimia nervosa causes a person to binge and purge — at least two times a week for three months — in an effort to control their weight. A binge is considered to be a few to several thousand calories consumed within a two hour period. After this happens, an individual will feel physically uncomfortable, so in an effort to "undo" their binge, they will vomit, overuse laxatives or water pills, or exercise excessively. While a person with anorexia cannot see themselves as thin, a person with bulimia may see a more accurate reflection, but will still be critical and displeased with their appearance. A person with anorexia can be identified by their low weight, but a person with bulimia can be at a normal weight, underweight or even overweight.