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8 The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 16, 1999 Flowers say it best 487 Laurier Ave., 878-2881 Pullin self esteem, health back from brink pv _IRENE GENTLE lIn the age of the super-slim supermodel, only the fear of fat is getting bigger. Ever since Twiggy burst onto the scene in a blaze of bone and sinew ini the 1 960s, fat phobia bas taken on a life of its own. Today, about 70 per cent of women at any given moment are on a diet. About 40 per cent are on a roller coaster of yo-yo dieting, while about 15 per cent show many sighs of an eating disorder, according to The National Eating Disorder Information Centre Although only about five per cent of the population are in the throes of a fulI-blown food disorder, the sufferers are getting younger. Nowadays, girls entering kindergarten are learnini tojust say no to exceas fiab. "Kids as young as five or six are dcveloping nega. tive connotations around the word 'fat,' " aid Colleer Sigmundson, a public bealtb nurse at tbe Haltor Region Healtb Department (HRHD). "Beginning as early as age nine, they migbt begin dieting." By the time tbey reacb age 18, about 80 per cent of femnales have dieted, witb a startling 90 per cent expressmng unhappiness about their bodies. Media pressure, combined with confttsing parental messages, arc two villains of tbe picce, said Ms Signsundson. "Wc tee a lot of double messages," she said. "Adulta will be preoccupied witb tbeir own weigbt and shape but they'll say that every sbape and size is beautiful." When it comes to role modeling, tbougb, kids mami-c wbat they sec, not wbat tbey hear. "N you bave a mother wbo, is smoking to control ber weigbt, kids wiIl pick up on that pretty quickly," said Ms Sigmundson. While cutting calories to cut out fiab isn't always a direct route to a food fixation, it could be thc start of a slippcry siope tbat can lead to anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia, or drastic dieting, is oftcn accompanied by food rituals and restrictions. It is cbaracterized by extreme weight bass. Anorexia usually bits fairly young, often in thc teen ycars. Bulimia features out of contraI binge cating fol- lowcd by purging, eitbcr througb vomiting, laxatives or over-exercise. Bulimica tend to be sligbtly older tban anorexics and of a more normal weigbt. Either disorder can lcad to troubles such as hesrt 'palpitations, dizziness, nausca, bair and tootb bass, infertility, depression, anxiety, infcrtility and osteo- porosis. "Not evcryone Uiat dicta develops an eating disorder but everyonc wiUi an eating disorder stsrted by diet- ing," said Ms Sigmundson. "We reinforce Uiat dicta don't work." Standing on Uic front lime of Uic problem la Halton psycbiatrist Jane Gilbert. For 18 monUis, Dr. Gilbert bas been doing band-to- hand combat with Uic eating disorders of almost 200 patients in ber out-patient clinic, located at 345 Lakeabore Road East in Oakville.. * Te cinic is up and running courtesy of a two-year ifunding deal througb Uic Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial i Hospital Charitable Corporation. * Now, wiUi just five monUis of funding left, Uic situa- tion, as Uiey say, is critical. "Wc'vc rcally proven Uiat Uic necd bas outstripped wbat we can do," said Ms Gilbert. wbo bas been mun- ning the clinic on the sboe-atring budget of juat $17,500 per year. Tbat pays for a nutritionist and various support groupa, as wcll as one-on-one counsclling wiUi Dr. Gilbert berself. WiUi socîcty imposing sucb impossible standards for womcn, self-esteemn building and bealUiy food atti- tudes sbould start almost in Uic crib, said Dr. Gilbert. Hiking self-cstecm can begin by praisîng more Uian just Uic looks of even Uic youngest girls. "If you'rc always tclling girls Uiat Uicy're cute and pretty, a lot of other qualîties get lost," sbc said. "You're figbting a lot of media pressure that really enforces Uic ides Uiat you're a good person if you're good looking." Wbcnever possible, parents should avoid using food as a rcward or tuming meals into a battlcground, said Dr. Gilbert. "Any kind of association wiUi food and performance ia not good," she said. "We sec a lot of people wbo, tink that if you're good, you can cat. Then Uiey'll depnivc Uicmselves if Uiey'vc donc badly on a test." Replacing meal time wars wiUi patience and s daily vitam:in la anoUier good way to build bcalUiy attitudes around food. "Picky esters aren't starving. If you make a big deal, Uiere could be a lot of probleros down Uic moad," said Dr. Gilbert. Lctting kida follow tbeir own natural bunger cues as often as possible la also a good ides. "Biologically we cat wbcn we'rc bungry and stop wben wc're full. If you manipulate tbat, you get into trouble," abe said. At tbe clinic, Dr. Gilbert spends mucb of ber time coaxing bsck bunger cues Uiat bave been engulfed for years in esting disorders. In Uic clinic's sbort life, four patients, or two per cent of Uic total, were male. Patient ages ranged from 14 to a woman in ber 60s, who, bad battled ber disorder for 40Oyears before getting help. Many of tbe patienta had dual disorders, witb about 50 per cent also being diagnosed witb depression. Twelve per cent also bsd a substance abuse problem. For more information, cali thc NEDIC at 416-340- 4156, Sheena's Place at 416-927-8900, or the HRHD at 905-6060. Referrals to Dr. Gilbert's cinic at 905-337- 2190 must come fmom a family doctor. Beginner to Advanced Levels in DessaR an umil B.H.S.I. Senior Qualified Coach 30+ years of experience SSpecial Aduit and Special Children Lessons - Special Senior Group Lessons (over 50 years of age) Lessons include: Private, Semi-private or Group ( 6 persons max.) 120' x 70' brightly lit indoor arena with dust-free footing - 120' x 150' outdoor sand ring 8295 Indian Trail 519-856-0505 Situated on Guelph Line 12 minutes north of 401 near Hw. 7 00,